Indonesian Aircraft Carrier Delivery Delayed Due to Strait of Hormuz Conflict

The Indonesian government is set to strengthen its combat fleet with the arrival of the donated warship Garibaldi Aircraft Carrier. However, the delivery is delayed due to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.

The aircraft carrier is currently undergoing maintenance, repair, and retrofitting at PT PAL Indonesia, a domestic defense industry, before its shipment to Indonesia.

The procurement process for the warship is still ongoing, with the Head of the Defense Information Bureau, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, stating that the ship is in its final preparation stage.

'The Garibaldi ship is still in process, currently underway, and is in the stages of preparation for shipment to Indonesia. Hopefully, it will arrive this year,' Sirait said.

The delivery of the aircraft carrier has been targeted to arrive in Indonesia in October 2026. However, the escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East may impact shipping routes and international logistics supply chains.

The aircraft carrier is capable of carrying up to 18 aircraft or helicopters and is projected to support Military Operations Other Than War (OMOTW), particularly in disaster response missions.

The Indonesian Navy has confirmed that at least 500 personnel are needed to operate the Garibaldi Aircraft Carrier. The total personnel requirement may potentially double if the ship operates at full capacity.

The maintenance, repair, and retrofit process of the former Italian ship will be managed by PT PAL Indonesia, with the ship changing its identity to bear an Indonesian name upon arrival.

'So we're tidying up Garibaldi in Indonesia. So it won't be called Garibaldi anymore,' the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said.