The Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser is going to be repaired and upgraded in 2018.
The Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser (Photo: Wikipedia)
The Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser will be repaired and upgraded in 2018, after the end of its combat duty, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday, citing vice-president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Igor Ponomaryov.
Currently, the Admiral Kuznetsov is heading a group of ships of the Russian Northern Fleet, performing combat tasks in the Mediterranean Sea near the Syrian coasts.
“We expect that in 2018, after the return of the vessel from its military service, the Zvezdochka shipbuilding center will begin to repair and upgrade the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier,” Ponomaryov said.
He also stressed that the issue of further operation of the Admiral Kuznetsov is in the competence of the Russian Defense Ministry and the Main Command of the Russian Navy.
The USC vice-president reminded that in October of this year, Zvezdochka successfully completed works on recovery of technical readiness of the aircraft carrier and other ships and vessels of the battle group, which is currently carrying out combat missions in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser entered service of the Russian Fleet in 1991. It is the Russia’s only ship, capable to carry the Su-33 heavy deck-based fighters, and the only ship in the world, from the deck of which fighter jets take off in the polar latitudes.
Along with fighter jets (26 warplanes, according to the project), the ship is also equipped with the Granit anti-ship cruise missiles and its own air defense system.
The length of the deck of the aircraft carrier is 306 meters, the width – 75 meters; full load weight is 60,000 tons. The crew of the vessel is 1,980 people, including 518 officers. Features of the Admiral Kuznetsov allow to use it as a command ship for the Mediterranean squadron of the Russian Navy.
A lot of people including SothFront on occasions make a point of saying that Russia has only one aircraft carrier. I suppose they contrast this with the usa nine such vessels. The point is that a lot of aircraft carriers are only needed if the intention is to invade the World – as is the case with the usa. I very much doubt that Russia’s strategic stance would justify large number of aircraft carriers or indeed an over bloated navy. I think Russia is far better advised in putting effort into missiles which will sink ships rather than build them.
And where would these missiles be deployed? The costal reach is limited, you need to be able to strike conventionally any target the enemy presents, including cities, airfields, shipyards, submarine bases thousands of miles away. You need a submarine, ship borne and air borne platforms that can deploy in the proximity of these targets and engage them.
I did not say there should be no navy.
I agree, Russia does not have to compete with the US in naval development and deployment, Russia needs to counteract US from having a free reign of doing whatever it wants. Projection of Russian naval power is to augment situations where ground and air elements are deployed to counteract US agression against Russian clients.
@Jesus you say: “…you need to be able to strike conventionally any target the enemy presents, including cities, airfields, shipyards, submarine bases thousands of miles away.” That’s the US doctrine, Russia is not an aggressor power.
That is called conventional deterrence , making sure US aggression would pay a significant price at home, without involving nuclear weapons. Currently US is goading the Europeans to challenge the Russians, in case of war Europe will suffer heavily, while US will think they are safe…..except the nuclear threshold is crossed. I say, Russia should be able to fire 500 Kaliber missiles to the continental eastern US coast and surgically remove hundreds of targets.
Russia has focused on the tank industry: 15.000 tanks, the largest mechanized army in the world if I’m not wrong.