Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced on Monday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT PAL Indonesia. The new agreement establishes a framework for cooperation on the future modernization program of the Indonesian Navy’s KRI Sriwijaya.
KRI Sriwijaya is Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier, which was donated by Italy. The country officially welcomed the 41-year-old vessel, formerly known as Giuseppe Garibaldi, earlier this month. The ship previously served for the Italian Navy and was retired in 2024.
The signing ceremony took place in Jakarta and was attended by Mauro Manzini, Vice President Sales of the Fincantieri Naval Vessels Division, and Djenod Kaharuddin, President Director of PT PAL Indonesia.
Under the MoU, Fincantieri, as the ship’s original designer and builder, intends to contribute its extensive knowledge of the platform. PT PAL will leverage its established capabilities in naval shipbuilding, integration, maintenance, and support services.
The program is intended to maximize the vessel’s operational effectiveness across a broad range of missions, from defense and maritime security operations to humanitarian assistance and emergency response, while supporting the Indonesian Navy’s long-term capability development objectives, according to Fincantieri’s press release.
The agreement envisages the participation of additional stakeholders.
“This agreement reflects the strong and steadily growing relationship between Italy and Indonesia in the naval and defense sectors. Southeast Asia is a key market for Fincantieri and a strategic area for the Group’s international growth, with Indonesia playing a central role in our long-term ambitions in the region. Over the years, our cooperation has expanded well beyond the delivery of advanced naval platforms, paving the way for broader industrial partnership based on technology, local capabilities, and shared expertise,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri.
Originally commissioned as the aircraft-carrying cruiser ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, the vessel was built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard and delivered to the Italian Navy in 1985.