Jakarta. Indonesia has begun preparing sailors to crew its first-ever aircraft carrier, the Giuseppe Garibaldi, as negotiations continue with Italy over the transfer of the former Italian Navy vessel, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of public relations and defense information at the Defense Ministry, said the government and the Indonesian military (TNI) have already selected and trained personnel who will operate the ship once it enters service with the navy.

“The Defense Ministry, together with the military, has prepared prospective crew members to sail and operate the vessel, including the necessary training and capacity-building,” Rico said in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

He declined to disclose how many sailors have been assigned or where the training has taken place, saying only that those selected are experienced and professionally trained naval personnel.

Indonesia is set to receive the Giuseppe Garibaldi as a grant from the Italian government, a move that would mark a milestone for Southeast Asia’s largest military. However, Rico stressed that a grant does not mean the acquisition will be cost-free.

“Giuseppe Garibaldi is a grant from the Italian government. The Indonesian government has allocated a budget for retrofit and adjustments to ensure the vessel meets the operational requirements of the Indonesian Navy,” he said.

Rico did not provide details on the size of the budget, but added that modifications would cover propulsion systems, onboard technology and other operational needs tailored to Indonesian naval doctrine.

Negotiations and administrative processes between Indonesia and Italy are still ongoing, involving the Defense Ministry, Italian authorities and the ship’s original builder, Fincantieri. Only after these talks are completed will the navy proceed with full technical adjustments to the vessel.

Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Muhammad Ali said earlier this week that Indonesia is targeting the arrival of the carrier before the Indonesian Armed Forces’ anniversary on Oct. 5, 2026.

“The government, through the Defense Ministry, is still negotiating with Fincantieri and the Italian Navy regarding the transfer,” Ali said during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.

The Giuseppe Garibaldi, which previously served as a flagship of the Italian Navy, would become Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier and significantly expand the navy’s blue-water capabilities. The ship measures 180.2 meters in length and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 knots, or about 56 kilometers per hour.

The vessel is designed to operate fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and is equipped with electronic warfare systems, radar jamming capabilities and a range of defensive weapons. These include Mk 29 octuple launchers for Sea Sparrow or Selenia Aspide surface-to-air missiles, twin 40L70 Dardo guns, triple 324-millimeter torpedo tubes and Otomat Mk 2 surface-to-surface missiles.

Indonesian defense officials say the carrier shares design similarities with two recently commissioned Indonesian Navy vessels — KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321 — both of which were also built by Fincantieri. That commonality is expected to ease maintenance and crew familiarization.

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