Indonesian Navy Commissions KRI Sriwijaya-100: Indonesia's First Aircraft Carrier and a Message from Nusantara's Maritime History

Indonesia officially has its first aircraft carrier after the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) announced the name KRI Sriwijaya-100 for the vessel previously known as ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi. The announcement was made at a handover ceremony at Dermaga 106-107 Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Thursday (24/9/2026), marking a new chapter in Indonesia's maritime power projection.

The choice of the name Sriwijaya was not without basis. The Indonesian Navy has internal regulations governing the naming of warships according to their type and function, as set out in Chief of Naval Staff Decision Number Kep/907/VI/2006. The regulation stipulates that an aircraft carrier—as the ultimate symbol of maritime power projection—must be given a name referring to a great maritime kingdom of Nusantara, such as Sriwijaya and Majapahit.

Sriwijaya was chosen for its glory as the dominant maritime power in Southeast Asia between the 7th and 13th centuries. Its center of power was around Palembang, with influence stretching from Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Java, to other parts of Southeast Asia. According to the narrator at the ceremony, Sriwijaya's strategic position allowed it to control important trade routes, especially in the Strait of Malacca, so that its network of power expanded.

In the context of defense, this naming is not merely administrative. The narrator described it as an effort to recontextualize imported defense equipment within Indonesia's national narrative. "The proposal to name the former Italian Ship Giuseppe Garibaldi as KRI Sriwijaya can thus be read as an effort to recontextualize imported defense equipment within the framework of Indonesia's national narrative," he said. This shows that defense procurement is not only about technology, but also identity and history.

For Indonesia, the presence of this aircraft carrier strengthens its position as an archipelagic state with broad maritime interests. An aircraft carrier enables farther maritime power projection, protects strategic shipping lanes, and supports humanitarian operations. However, operating an aircraft carrier also demands a large budget and trained human resources, so long-term planning is needed.

Several observers assess this step as a signal of Indonesia's seriousness in safeguarding sovereignty at sea, especially amid the region's geopolitical dynamics. With the name Sriwijaya, the vessel is expected to become a symbol of Indonesia's maritime revival as well as a reminder of past glory. Going forward, the public will await how KRI Sriwijaya-100 is integrated into maritime defense doctrine and whether there will be a next aircraft carrier following in Majapahit's footsteps.