Maintenance Budget Being Prepared for KRI Sriwijaya: House

RRI.CO.ID, Semarang – Indonesian lawmaker TB Hasanuddin said the Ministry of Defense is preparing a budget to maintain, repair, and modify the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier, which arrived at Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Friday, September 18, 2026. According to him, the vessel is not yet ready for deployment and still requires several modifications to meet Indonesia’s operational needs.

"The Ministry of Defense is currently making plans. This includes maintenance, repairs, revisions, and other requirements, according to our needs," TB Hasanuddin said in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday, as quoted from dpr.go.id.

He explained that the aircraft carrier, renamed KRI (Kapal Republik Indonesia, "Ship of the Republic of Indonesia") Sriwijaya, is planned for use in responding to natural disasters, fighting fires, and serving as a field hospital. To support these functions, the vessel will also need helicopters, transport facilities, and other supporting equipment.

"In the event of a natural disaster, we need field hospitals. Therefore, the vessel must also be equipped with helicopters, transport facilities, and other equipment," he said.

He said these facilities are necessary to ensure the vessel can be used effectively and efficiently. In terms of personnel, TB Hasanuddin said the Indonesian Navy had already prepared personnel to support the vessel’s operation.

"The human resources have already been prepared by the Indonesian Navy," he said.

Previously, Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) had approved the acceptance of the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier as a grant from the Italian government to the Ministry of Defense. In its approval, Commission I emphasized the importance of operational doctrine, human resources, sustainable funding, and the transfer of knowledge and technology.

The ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived at Pier 107 of the port at 7:58 a.m. local time after entering Indonesian waters. KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321 escorted it as it entered Indonesian waters.

The vessel was initially named KRI Gajah Mada, after the mapatih, or prime minister, of the Majapahit Kingdom. The Indonesian Navy later decided to name the vessel KRI Sriwijaya, after the Southeast Asian maritime kingdom that flourished from the seventh to the 11th century and was centered in what is now Palembang, South Sumatra.