Italy’s Garibaldi Carrier Sails for Indonesia to Become KRI Gajah Mada

ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi has left Italy. She departed on 24-25 August 2026, heading for Indonesia under Italian frigate escort through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

She will be commissioned as KRI Gajah Mada, Indonesia's first aircraft carrier, at a ceremony on 25 September attended by President Prabowo. Arrival is expected around 15 to 20 September. After commissioning, KRI Gajah Mada is scheduled to appear at the TNI Armed Forces anniversary parade in October 2026, the 81st anniversary of the Indonesian military.

Garibaldi is a light carrier launched in 1985. She displaces around 14,000 tonnes at full load. She is best known for operating Harrier jets during her Italian service years. Italy acquired a newer carrier, the Cavour, in the 2000s. That left Garibaldi surplus. She was transferred to Indonesia after years of negotiations.

Search interest around the departure location registered as a new breakout on MarineRadar. Italian port lookups and 'its garibaldi' text searches appeared together in a combined spike on 25 August.