The Ministry of Defense ensures that the TNI has prepared personnel to be the crew of the flagship ship.

JAKARTA - The Head of the Defense Public Relations and Information Bureau (Karo Humas Infohan) of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait said that so far the TNI has prepared soldiers who will be the crew of the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier.

"The Ministry of Defense and the TNI have also prepared candidates for the crew to carry and operate the ship, including the necessary training and training," said Rico when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta, Friday, February 13.

However, Rico did not explain in detail how many crew members had been prepared and where the training program took place. He only ensured that the aircraft carrier crew who had been prepared were trained and experienced soldiers in the field of shipping.

Until now, continued Rico, the Ministry of Defense is still discussing the process of the aircraft carrier grant by the Italian government.

Rico continued, the receipt of the ship by grant does not mean that the Ministry of Defense does not spend a penny.

The government still has to dig into its pockets to modify the engine and technology of the former Italian navy ship.

"Giuseppe Garibaldi is a grant from the Italian Government. The budget prepared by the Indonesian government is allocated for the needs of retrofit or adjustment to meet the operational needs of the Indonesian Navy," said Rico when confirmed by ANTARA in Jakarta, Friday.

However, Rico again did not explain in detail how much the government had spent on adjusting the aircraft carrier technology.

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali said that the first Italian-made Indonesian aircraft carrier, Giuseppe Garibaldi, is targeted to arrive in Indonesia before the TNI Anniversary, namely October 5, 2026.

"For Garibaldi, it is still in the process. Hopefully it can arrive in Indonesia before the TNI Independence Day," said Ali at a press conference at the AL Puspom Headquarters, Central Jakarta, Thursday (12/2).

Ali explained that until now the government through the Ministry of Defense is still negotiating with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri as the party that produces Garibaldi.

He continued, the negotiations between the Ministry of Defense and the Italian Navy as the party who previously used the ship until now are still ongoing.

To note, this aircraft carrier has similarities with two new KRI owned by the Indonesian Navy, namely KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321, which are both made by Italian company Fincantieri.

The aircraft carrier, which is 180.2 meters long, is equipped with a super-propulsion engine that can move the ship at a speed of 30 knots or 56 kilometers per hour.

The aircraft carrier is also equipped with several jamming radars to weapons such as the Mk.29 octopod launcher for Sea Sparrow / Selenia Aspide anti-aircraft missiles, Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO, 324 mm triple torpedo tube and Otomat Mk 2 SSM.