Fincantieri and PT PAL Team Up to Modernize Indonesia’s KRI Sriwijaya
Fincantieri and Indonesia’s state shipbuilder PT PAL have signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize KRI Sriwijaya, the former Italian Navy carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. The agreement was signed on September 28 in Jakarta by Mauro Manzini, Fincantieri’s vice president for sales, and Djenod Kaharuddin, PT PAL’s president director.
The document sets a cooperation framework rather than a work package. Neither company disclosed a contract value, a schedule or a list of equipment to be replaced, and the two yards will define their respective roles as the project takes shape.
A Carrier With a New Flag
Giuseppe Garibaldi was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and entered Italian service in 1985. It was a 13,850-tonne, 180-meter aircraft-carrying cruiser with a 174-meter flight deck, able to operate up to 18 Harrier jets and helicopters. Italy retired it in October 2024.
Rome later approved a free transfer to Indonesia, and the ship sailed from Taranto in late August under the new name KRI Sriwijaya. Reference accounts of the handover say the Italian flag came down in late September, with an inauguration ceremony reportedly planned for October 5, the anniversary of Indonesia’s armed forces. Those dates have not been confirmed in the companies’ announcement.
What the Indonesian Navy will use the ship for is spelled out only in general terms. According to Fincantieri, the modernization aims to improve operational effectiveness across defense, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and emergency response missions, and to support Indonesia’s longer-term naval development.
Fincantieri’s Southeast Asian Foothold
The deal builds on a relationship that already includes hardware. Fincantieri has delivered two PPA multipurpose combat ships to Indonesia, KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321, and the yard has positioned itself as a supplier to a navy that is expanding its surface fleet.
Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s chief executive, said Southeast Asia is “a key market for Fincantieri and a strategic area for the Group’s international growth.” Pairing with PT PAL, based in Surabaya, gives the Italian group a local partner for work on a ship that will operate from Indonesian bases.
Fincantieri has been busy on the naval side at home as well. Days earlier, Fincantieri and Leonardo signed a €3.7 billion deal for two 13,500-tonne DDX destroyers for Italy, a program covered here.
What Remains Undefined
The gaps are worth noting. A carrier of this age normally needs work on its propulsion plant, electrical systems, combat management and aviation facilities, and the scale of that work drives cost. The Sriwijaya was also built to operate short-takeoff jets that Indonesia does not fly, so the ship’s air wing is an open question that the MoU does not address.
For now the next step is for the two companies to define scope and responsibilities. Neither company has said whether a formal contract will follow.
