Navy prepares Lampung base for Indonesia's first aircraft carrier

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) officially designated the Lampung Naval Base as a primary hub for the country’s first-ever aircraft carrier, the Giuseppe Garibaldi, a military official stated.

Speaking at a press conference at Navy Headquarters in Jakarta, Monday, Head of the Indonesian Navy Information Service Admiral Tunggul revealed that extensive infrastructural upgrades are already underway at the strategic maritime site.

"Lampung is one of the key bases being prepared to accommodate the Garibaldi for both its berthing and docking needs," Tunggul said.

The selection of Lampung is driven primarily by its critical strategic positioning.

According to Tunggul, the Navy is currently accelerating various infrastructure developments and expanding facilities at the naval base to fully support the operational and logistical demands of the massive flagship.

The Navy official guaranteed that all upgrading projects at the base would be completed before the aircraft carrier arrives in Indonesian waters, which is targeted ahead of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) anniversary in October 2026.

This announcement follows recent disclosures by Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, who noted that a comprehensive network of bases is being mapped out across the archipelago to accommodate the Giuseppe Garibaldi.

"Personnel have been prepared and will soon be deployed to Italy (for specialized training). At the same time, we are preparing strategic base locations across several regions in Indonesia,” Admiral Ali said earlier during a briefing at the Kolinlamil Pier in Jakarta.

While Admiral Ali withheld specific details regarding the exact locations of the alternative bases, he emphasized that the infrastructure overhaul remains a top priority for the Navy's modernization efforts.

The procurement process of the Garibaldi is currently being managed by the Defense Ministry, which is coordinating directly with the renowned Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri.

The acquisition marks a significant leap in Indonesia's blue-water navy capabilities, aligning the Giuseppe Garibaldi with the Navy's two newest Italian-built warships, the KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321.

The 180.2-meter-long aircraft carrier features high-powered propulsion engines capable of reaching maximum speeds of 30 knots, or approximately 56 kilometers per hour.

Designed for combat and fleet defense, the carrier is equipped with advanced radar jammers and a robust weapons system.

Its armament includes an Octuple Mk.29 launcher for Sea Sparrow/Selenia Aspide anti-aircraft missiles, Twin Oto Melara 40L70 DARDO close-in weapon systems, 324-millimeter triple torpedo tubes, and Otomat Mk.2 surface-to-surface missiles (SSM).

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Translator: Walda Marison, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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