Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Ali said the KRI Sriwijaya-100, Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier, is ready to operate and carry out state duties.
“Yes, we are waiting for orders. The point is, this ship is ready,” Ali said after attending a ceremony to name the aircraft carrier and raise the Indonesian flag aboard the vessel at Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, on Thursday.
Ali said the aircraft carrier had previously been prepared to take part in a sailing pass in Jakarta Bay as part of the 81st anniversary celebrations of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) on Sunday (Oct. 4).
However, the event was canceled and replaced by a simpler celebration at TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap. The aircraft carrier therefore prepared for other missions.
Ali said the Navy also did not rule out the possibility of carrying out a retrofit of the KRI Sriwijaya-100 in the near future.
“However, we will see. If the ship is assigned a mission in the near future, the mission will take priority over the retrofit,” he said.
He added the retrofit would be carried out by Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL together with Italian company Fincantieri.
The former Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived in Indonesia and docked at Pier 107 of Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Sept. 18 under an intergovernmental grant scheme.
The arrival of the vessel marks the first time Indonesia’s Navy has an aircraft carrier capable of operating aircraft and helicopters from its deck.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Kuntum Khaira
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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