KRI Gajah Mada

Former Giuseppe Garibaldi in 2024
History
Italy
NameGiuseppe Garibaldi
NamesakeGiuseppe Garibaldi
BuilderFincantieri, Monafalcone Shipyard, Monfalcone (Gorizia)
Laid down26 March 1981[1]
Launched11 June 1983
Commissioned30 September 1985
Decommissioned1 October 2024
Home portTaranto
IdentificationPennant number: 551
MottoObbedisco ("I Obey")
FateTransferred to the Indonesian Navy
Indonesia
NameKRI Gajah Mada
NamesakeGajah Mada
Acquired20 July 2026
Home portRatai Bay, Lampung
StatusTo be commissioned
General characteristics as Giuseppe Garibaldi
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement
  • - 10,100 t (9,900 long tons) (standard)
  • - 13,850 t (13,630 long tons) (full load)[2]
  • - 14,150 t (13,930 long tons) (full load, after 2003 MLU)
Length180.2 m (591 ft)
Beam33.4 m (110 ft)
Draught8.2 m (27 ft)
Propulsion
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)+
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement
  • - 830, of which:
  • 550 Crew
  • up to 180 for Naval Aviation
  • up to 100 C4 staff
Sensors &
processing systems
  • - Selenia MM/SPS-768 (RAN 3L) long-range radar
  • - Selenia SPS-774 (RAN-10S) early warning radar
  • - Hughes AN/SPS-52C early warning, E band radar
  • - Selenia SPS-702 CORA surface search radar
  • - 2 × GEM Elettronica SPN-749 navigation radar
  • - Selenia SPN-728 approach radar
  • - 3 × Selenia RTN-30X fire control radar, for Albatross/Aspide
  • - 3 × Selenia RTN-20X fire control radar, for CIWS 40/70 mm
  • - Raytheon DE 1160 LF hull sonar (replaced by WASS DMS-2000 in 2003)
  • - Selenia CMS SADOC-3
  • - TACAN Face Standard URN-25
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carriedup to 18 aircraft
Notesflight deck is length 174.0 m (570.9 ft) and 30.0 m (98.4 ft) wide

KRI Gajah Mada is a future aircraft carrier of the Indonesian Navy.[3] Originally built as Giuseppe Garibaldi and commissioned in 1985, the ship served in the Italian Navy for 39 years before being retired in 2024. The ship was acquired by Indonesia in 2026 and is planned to receive a modernization upgrade.[4]

History

Acquisition

It was reported in March 2025 that the Indonesian Navy was interested in acquiring the former Giuseppe Garibaldi from Italy, along with her air wing of Harrier II jets.[5][6] Fincantieri presented a proposal to the Indonesian Navy in July 2025 to convert the ship into a helicopter and UAV assault ship.[7] In September 2025, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Muhammad Ali stated that the acquisition of Giuseppe Garibaldi is still being discussed with the Italian side.[8] In late August 2025, the Indonesian government approved loan plans of up to US$450 million to acquire the ship and its supporting equipment. The government also approved US$250 million loan for transport helicopters and US$300 million loan for utility helicopters procurements, which likely will operate from the aircraft carrier.[9]

As of 17 February 2026, negotiations remained ongoing between the Indonesia and Italy navies and Fincantieri, with the ship set to be transferred as a grant.[10] On 10 March, a Senate Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee (Commissione Affari esteri e difesa del Senato) vote for the transfer of Giuseppe Garibaldi was delayed by the opposition Five Star Movement (M5S) and Democratic Party (PD).[11] M5S members also asked if the ship could be sold rather than gifted for free to the Indonesian Navy.[12] On 24 March, speaking in front of the committee, Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani said that maintenance and scrapping costs made the transfer of the ship for free the "most convenient solution" (soluzione più conveniente).[13] The draft decree for a vote was approved by the Committee the same day,[14] and forwarded to the Committees of the Chamber (Commissioni competenti della Camera).[11]

Representatives of M5S, PD and Italia Viva (IV) indicated that their parties would vote to oppose the transfer, while Brothers of Italy (FdI) and Lega (LSP) representatives expressed a favourable opinion.[14] On 28 April 2026, the transfer was approved.[15]

Indonesian Naval Aviation has begun training for carrier flight operations in May 2026 using a mock outline of flight deck at the Juanda Naval Air Station in Surabaya.[16] Indonesian Navy chief stated in June 2026 that several names are proposed for the aircraft carrier, among them are Gajah Mada and Panglima Sudirman. The Indonesian Navy also sent advance party of 100 personnel on 10 July 2026 to receive training and operate the vessel.[17] The ship will be delivered with a mix of Indonesian and Italian crew, with the aircraft carrier slated to be handed over once it arrived in Indonesia.[18] In June 2026, Indonesian Navy announced that Lampung Naval Base in Pesawaran Regency, Lampung will be the homeport of the ship.[19]

On 20 July, at a meeting of the First Commission of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, Air Vice Marshal Haris Haryanto, the director general of defense power of the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the former Giuseppe Garibaldi is expected to arrive in Indonesia on 20 September 2026.[20] The Indonesian House of Representatives also approved the transfer of the aircraft carrier in an open parliamentary forum. The decision was made after the Ministry of Defense requested approval for transfer of the ship to Indonesia at a cost of €54 million. The forum explained that the construction of the Ratai Bay Naval Base in Lampung had reached 76% and is expected to be completed before the ship's arrival and its inauguration at the Indonesian National Armed Forces Anniversary on 5 October 2026.[21][22]

The former Giuseppe Garibaldi departed Taranto for Indonesia on the evening of 24 August 2026. The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Muhammad Ali stated that the ship will be renamed as KRI Gajah Mada once it arrived in Indonesia.[3] The ship is planned to arrive in Indonesia on 15–20 September and to be commissioned on 25 September. The ship would pass through Suez Canal and the Red Sea. The vessel is also escorted by several Italian frigates during the journey.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Gardiner, Robert (1983). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1982, Part One: The Western Powers. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-87021-918-9.
  2. ↑ "Giuseppe Garibaldi Portaeromobili". GlobalSecurity. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 Rahmawaty, Laily (24 August 2026). Kusbiantoro, Didik (ed.). "KSAL: KRI Gajah Mada tiba di Indonesia Pertengahan September" [Navy chief: KRI Gajah Mada arrived in Indonesia mid-September]. Antara (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Aswara, Dani (1 March 2026). "Modernisasi Kapal Induk Garibaldi Dilakukan di Indonesia" [Modernization of the Garibaldi Aircraft Carrier to be Done in Indonesia]. Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Toremans, Guy (6 March 2025). "Indonesia interested in Italian carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi". Jane's. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  6. ↑ Indonesia's Italian interest Ships Monthly May 2025 page 15
  7. ↑ Rahmat, Ridzwan (23 July 2025). "Fincantieri lays out proposal to convert Giuseppe Garibaldi into helicopter carrier for Indonesia". Jane's. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Aditya, Nicholas Ryan; Belarminus, Robertus (8 September 2025). "TNI AL Berupaya Akuisisi Kapal Induk Italia untuk Perkuat Armada Laut". Kompas.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  9. ↑ Rahmat, Ridzwan (19 September 2025). "Indonesia assents plan to fund carrier acquisition with foreign loans". Jane's. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Indonesia to acquire first aircraft carrier from Italy in 2026: Report". CNA. 17 February 2026.
  11. 1 2 "La Commissione Esteri-Difesa del Senato approva la cessione del GARIBALDI all'Indonesia" [The Senate Foreign Relations and Defense Committee approves the sale of the GARIBALDI to Indonesia]. Rivista Italiana Difesa (in Italian). 25 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Carli, Andrea (16 March 2026). "Nave Garibaldi all'Indonesia a titolo gratuito, stallo in Parlamento: voto slittato, ecco perché" [Garibaldi ship to Indonesia free of charge, stalemate in Parliament: vote postponed, here's why]. Il Sole 24 ORE (in Italian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Carli, Andrea (24 March 2026). "Il Direttore nazionale degli Armamenti: «La nave Garibaldi gratis all'Indonesia? Costerebbe di più demolirla»" [National Armaments Director: 'Free Garibaldi ship to Indonesia? It would cost more to scrap it']. Il Sole 24 ORE (in Italian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Schema di decreto ministeriale concernente la cessione a titolo gratuito di Nave Garibaldi a favore della Marina militare della Repubblica d'Indonesia (n. 383)" [19th Legislature - 3rd Permanent Commission - Summary report n. 177 of 24/03/2026]. Senato della Repubblica (in Italian). 24 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Italy approves free transfer of Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia after final parliamentary vote". Army Recognition. 30 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Malufti, Fauzan (17 May 2026). "Indonesia prepares for carrier operations ahead of Garibaldi transfer". navalnews.com. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Tartinia, Aini (18 June 2026). "KSAL Sebut KRI Gajah Mada dan Panglima Sudirman jadi Kandidat Nama Kapal Induk Baru" (in Indonesian). Indonesia Defense Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  18. ↑ Walda Marison; Tegar Nurfitra (13 July 2026). Primayanti (ed.). "Indonesia, Italy plan joint crew for aircraft carrier handover". Antara. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Walda Marison; Yashinta Difa (13 July 2026). Rahmad Nasution (ed.). "Navy prepares Lampung base for Indonesia's first aircraft carrier". Antara. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Putra, Erik Purnama (20 July 2026). "Kapal Induk Giuseppe Garibaldi Tiba di Indonesia 20 September 2026". Republika (in Indonesian). Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Novarina, Arie (20 July 2026). "Indonesia's first aircraft carrier Garibaldi due in September 2026". Antara. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Malutfi, Fauzan (20 July 2026). "Indonesia Set to Receive Ex-Italian Aircraft Carrier Garibaldi on Sept 20". Naval News. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Syarifudin, Taufiq (24 August 2026). "Tiba di RI Bulan Depan, Kapal Induk Garibaldi Bakal Bernama KRI Gajah Mada". detik.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
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