Indonesia's carrier to be stripped of weapons ahead of modernisation

Indonesia's newly acquired KRI Sriwijaya, the former Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, is to have remaining weapons and communications equipment removed before a planned modernization. The stripping process reflects the condition of the transfer and clears the ship for an Indonesian refit whose final sensors, armament, aviation role, cost, and schedule have not been publicly settled. The vessel's arrival expands Jakarta's options for training, aviation, command, or amphibious support, but it is not yet an operationally modernized carrier. Modernization decisions will determine whether the aging hull delivers useful capability or becomes an expensive support burden.