The aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi set sail earlier this week, with an estimated 20-day journey to Indonesia. The warship will initially keep its original name and fly the Italian flag, escorted by Italian naval vessels. Upon arrival, it will be transferred to the Indonesian navy and renamed KRI Gajah Mada.

Indonesia is acquiring the Giuseppe Garibaldi through an aid agreement between the two nations, rather than a conventional purchase.

The aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi leaving the UK to participate in NATO exercises in 2/2024. Photo: Portsmouth Aerial Media

The commissioning of the Giuseppe Garibaldi will establish Indonesia as the second Southeast Asian nation to possess an aircraft carrier, following Thailand's HTMS Chakri Naruebet.

However, Thailand decommissioned the HTMS Chakri Naruebet's AV-8S Harrier squadron in 2006 due to spare parts shortages and high operating costs. Consequently, the HTMS Chakri Naruebet now operates solely with helicopters, primarily for disaster response, training, and VIP transport.

Thomas Newdick, an editor at the US military publication War Zone, stated on 28/8 that Indonesia's ability to operate the aircraft carrier will hinge on its capacity to maintain the warship, develop supporting infrastructure, and train specialized aviation personnel.

Newdick highlighted the "lesson from the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which rarely sailed for extended periods, demonstrates that acquiring an aircraft carrier is a relatively easy step. Building combat capabilities around such warships presents a far greater challenge".

Indonesia plans to operate the Giuseppe Garibaldi primarily with helicopters. Newdick suggested that Indonesia could integrate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with its helicopter fleet, offering surveillance and strike capabilities without the need for fixed-wing fighter aircraft units typically found on traditional carriers.

Newdick further noted that "Turkey converted its TCG Anadolu warship into a UAV carrier after its exclusion from the F-35B program. Navies globally, including the US and China, are currently experimenting with integrating UAVs onto amphibious assault ships and other similarly sized warships".

The warship Giuseppe Garibaldi (front) and the aircraft carrier USS America off the coast of Croatia in 1/1996. Photo: US Navy

With a displacement of 13,850 tons and a crew of 830, the Giuseppe Garibaldi was launched in 6/1983 and commissioned in 9/1985. It was Italy's first naval vessel built to operate fixed-wing fighter aircraft.

The warship boasts a top speed of 56 km/h and a range of 13,000 km. Capable of carrying up to 18 aircraft, the Giuseppe Garibaldi is also armed with two Sea Sparrow/Selenia Aspide anti-aircraft missile launchers (16 missiles ready), three 40 mm DARDO twin-barrel cannons, and two 324 mm torpedo tube clusters.

It served as the flagship of the Italian navy for many years until the newer, larger aircraft carrier Cavour assumed the role in 2009. The Italian navy decommissioned the Giuseppe Garibaldi in 10/2024.

Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, Reuters)