Gadjah Mada and General Soedirman Proposed as Names for Indonesia's First Aircraft Carrier

The Indonesian Navy has proposed naming the country's first aircraft carrier after the historic figures Gadjah Mada and General Soedirman. The vessel, formerly the Italian Navy's Giuseppe Garibaldi, was acquired by the Indonesian government through a grant process now in its final stages. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali confirmed that both names are under consideration, though no final decision has been made. He stated that the official name will be determined following input from the President or Minister of Defense. The Navy has prepared approximately 100 personnel as an advance crew for the carrier, with a target departure date of July 10, 2026, and hopes to have the ship in Indonesia before October 5, 2026. The delivery timeline may be affected by geopolitical conditions, including ongoing conflicts near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Brigadier General Rico Sirait, Head of Information and Data Processing at the Ministry of Defense. The Giuseppe Garibaldi measures 180.2 meters in length, can reach speeds of up to 30 knots (about 56 km/h), and is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and naval guns.