Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Defense Ministry stated that Indonesia’s inaugural aircraft carrier, ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, to be renamed as KRI Gajah Mada, will reinvigorate the national defense industry.
“This is a momentum to elevate the capability and involvement of the national maritime defense industry,” Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, the ministry’s public relations and information bureau head, said here on Thursday.
He said that the transfer of technology from the Italian builders of ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi will enable the domestic defense industry to optimize its capability and improve their maritime defense products.
The Defense Ministry will ensure the involvement of the domestic defense industry in maintaining the aircraft carrier, especially after they adopt new technologies obtained through the technology transfer.
The transfer will also help Indonesia bolster the quality of its human resources in the defense industry, he added.
Meanwhile, Sirait said that ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi is set to undergo a handover ceremony in Jakarta following its voyage from Italy.
“The handover procession will be marked by the signing of the grant document,” he stated.
He did not elaborate on the sequence of events planned for the ceremony, noting that the process would be carried out by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL).
Sirait simply added that the aircraft carrier would proceed to its new base in Lampung, which will be its new home in Indonesia, following the Jakarta formalities.
Earlier, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali confirmed that Indonesia expects to welcome its first aircraft carrier in September, adding that the ship will be officially renamed upon its arrival.
“Its name is still ITS Garibaldi for the time being, bearing the Italian ensign. However, the vessel will switch to Indonesia’s red-white flag and be renamed KRI Gajah Mada once it has arrived here,” Ali noted.
Last March, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said that the nation’s first aircraft carrier will be modified according to Indonesia’s maritime defense capabilities by state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia.
However, Sjamsoeddin did not provide details about the planned modification, yet he gave assurance that the ministry has prepared the budget for the refurbishment.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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