Admiral Kuznetsov. FILE IMAGE: RIA Novosti / British Defense Ministry
The flagship of the Russian Navy, the heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov will undergo upgrades that will allow it to carry deck-based generation 4++ MiG-29/MiG-29KUB fighter jets, TASS cited the Head of the Nevskoye Design Bureau Sergei Orlov on August 6th.
“MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB, Su-33 planes and some types of helicopters will be based on the warship. Some adjustments will be made precisely to accommodate MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB aircraft. Pilots want something new, something better and more reliable. Actually, the entire aircraft and technical compound of shipborne systems will be modernized,” Orlov said.
The warship is a Project 11435 heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser entered service in 1991. It has a length of 306 meters and displaces approximately 59,000 tonnes. It can also travel with a speed of up to 30 knots. The warship has not undergone any major overhauls, following a two-year refit between 1996 and 1998.
Admiral Kuznetsov has an air task force of 24-26 fighter jets, 12 helicopters, anti-ship and air defense missile systems, artillery guns and carries anti-submarine weapons. The warship’s crew numbers 1,300, whereas the aircraft personnel are 660.
The trials of new generation 4++ MiG-29/MiG-29KUB fighter jets started in the summer of 2016, while the warship was on its voyage to Syria in 2016-2017.
The Contract for the upgrades was signed in April 2018 with the Nevskoye Design Bureau, which is Russia’s sole institute for the design of aircraft-carrying and amphibious assault ships of various classes.
Sergei Orlov also said that the repairs and upgrades of the flagship will take two and a half years. The following delivery/acceptance is expected to happen after “an impressive set of trials likely to last seven months.”
Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bursuk was cited by TASS as saying that the repairs on the Admiral Kuznetsov began in May 2018. The Navy is expecting to get its warship back, repaired and upgraded, in 2021.
TASS also reported that the upgrade is expected to also include the new seaborne Pantsyr air defense systems.
The upgrades and repair to the warship were confirmed as early as March 2017, by Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice Adm. Viktor Bursuk. He announced that repairs would start in 2017, however delays pushed that back to when it actually started in May 2018.
In April 2017, Navy Veterans’ Union co-chairman Viktor Blytov said in an interview that repairing and upgrading the cruiser would cost much less than building a new one. “The addition of modern systems of electronic warfare, communication and replacing the warship’s aviation network could cost an estimated 40 billion rubles ($715 million). I guess this is not too much,” Blytov said, cited by Sputnik News.
Admiral Kuznetsov has been plagued by problems ever since its initial voyage. As Business Insider reported, in the 1990s it was so unreliable that it was accompanied by a cargo warship that had extra pipes for repairs. Ever since then it has always been accompanied by a special tugboat in case of likely breakdowns.
The warship’s major problem, and most likely the biggest reason for the repair and upgrade – the powerplant. Admiral Kuznetsov is powered by steam turbines and turbo-pressurized boilers, which are defective.
Kommersant, citing anonymous defense sources reported that the power plant will remain a boiler turbine. “In Russia, no gas turbine power plants are needed for the power required for such a ship. It would be possible to purchase and instal an American product, but the political situation does not allow this. In addition, the funds for the acquisition is clearly not enough, ” said the anonymous source. The boilers will be changed instead of changing the entire power plant.
In its 27 years of service it has been deployed once – in Syria in October 2016. Telegraph reported that it was spotted releasing thick clouds of black smoke throughout its entire journey through the English Channel.
Regarding the operation in Syria, the Russian Navy announced that it had been successful. Admiral Kuznetsov’s aircraft conducted 420 sorties, 117 of which at night, destroying more than 1,000 targets. However, there were losses. A MiG-29K was lost on the first day of flight operations and an SU-33 two weeks later, due to arresting cables problems.
Defense World reported in 2016, that the arrested cables issues were so severe that Admiral Kuznetsov’s entire aircraft fleet was moved and operation from a Syrian airbase.
On April 25th, Navyrecongition, cited an anonymous defense source of Kommersant newspaper claiming the refit work will be limited and in accelerated mode. Murmansk 35th Shipyard, a subsidiary of the Severodvinsk Zvezdochka is contracted to work for two years. According to Kommersant, the cost of the overhaul will only be about 55 billion rubles (approximately $870 million), which would reportedly not be enough for a radical modernization of the warship. According to the anonymous source, due to the limited budget the defense department will only repair the boiler turbine plant and will replace some electronic warfare system.
The analysis below was originally released by SF on May 21, 2016:
They should fit it with nuclear powerplant…
They tried
not at all.
You idiot. Seriously…. Where you dropped on your head as a child?
It would require a complete redesign of the hull. The Russians are doing what they can and within their means. Lessons from their Soviet days.
Too expensive. Once they rebuild the fleet with small combatants (corvettes, frigates etc) they will move on to a new carrier, and it will have nuke propulsion.
Gary, any idea on when that shipyard (forget the name) have been upgraded. A while back I read that is where the next carrier will be built.
Russia should test zircon hypersonic missiles on this ship and sink it.
Finally someone found a reasonable purpose for this relic
you are a relic.
Thanks! at least I’m not a burden for anyone. Unlike this rust that any sane country without a Napoleon complex – would melt it to build a new one instead, or test missiles on it.
sane countries don’t autodestroy themselves to maintain a military budget of 800 billions when in debt of 21 trillions.
and that, to buy things like “Toilet cover, C-17 Globalmaster, 10000$ apiece”, “Reheating coffee cup, USAF, 1200$ apiece”.
but if the above is your concept of sanity, it will be spectacular to witness how it will play out for your kind.
Russia military expenditures: 4.3% of GDP , USA 3.1% they are protecting their Dollar and corporations around the world with that. Russia keeping relics of a ‘great’ era.
they are protecting their sissy asses with 10000$ toilet covers.
1200$ for a coffee cup??
Who the fuck drinks from that, a soldier?
Bacon boy has been reprimanded by me. I think he turned into a complete wanker for the night.
For their money, the Russians have an effective military while the US simply plows a fortune into its corrupt privately-owned MIC and receives half-baked over-expensive junk in return.
Syria – Russia intervenes with small force and WINS Afghan/Iraq – US goes in BIG and fucks it up completely.
I rest my case.
Well, to be fair, if the US goal was spreading chaos, disruption and profiteering then it would be considered a win as well.
A win ??? – you created chaos inside the US !!.
there’s no way you can say you won, if in the end you lost.
spreading chaos and destruction won’t get any win to anybody – if only people could see past tomorrow, or in fact past the next few minutes.
Bacon boy – you are a complete knob. Your military couldn’t fight it’s way out of a paper bag. Now piss off (in a nice way and go chant USA USA USA, 15 x times and calm down you total Yanker.
“for your kind” …. that made me chuckle.
India is the biggest buyer of Russian weapons. Some of the planes must be carrier compatible, so the kuznetsov will continue to function.
India canceled the SU-50, better buy an helicopter carrier and put F-35 on it than sending airplanes in the sea faster than torpedoes.
India can’t cancel anything, it’s SU-57, and the reasons for India pulling out were already told hundreds of times (Russia denied technology transfer).
really, you are a joke.
My bad, it was named T-50 back then, India said it has too weak engines, but I believe both Russians and Indians. However I don’t think India will buy this joke aircraft-torpedo launcher. Not even for free
No, India did not say it had weak engines.
India wanted technology transfer, and was denied.
“However I don’t think India will buy this joke aircraft-torpedo launcher”
the only jokes here are your points, information like the one you pretend to use comes from sources on the same level of vulgarity as british tabloids.
Ignore the dumb-fuck… he is just here to troll and demonstrate his appalling level of inbred idiocy.
Yes, India said they don’t like the engines. However I didn’t deny that India asked for technology transfer also. They said they need to upgrade the planes by themselves, in the future. Russia asked for 7 billions for this technology and India said they are still thinking. IMO they can’t use that technology yet.
Russia promised better engines. They never excluded the technology transfer for this airplane, which was projected from the beginning to be coordinated with the Indian partners.
and the source for this information is no less than:
“business-standard-dot-com”, an indian financial review.
The day I’ll look for information – any information – on a combat aircraft on financial newspapers I’ll put a pistol to my head because I’ll know I’ve reached dementia.
But you can keep trying to sell that shit to yanks needing reassurance that nobody’s gonna best the raptor.
Weak engines? The development prototypes and inital serial batch will have interim engines based on the Al-41s, but these are not “weak”, they are fine engines with very good performance (and are used on the 4++G Su-35S), but the ultimate engines (now in testing) will be an order of magnitude better.
Sux to be you, and have no friggin idea…
You believe the Indians? Good joke kosher man.
India cancelled the so-called FGFA, which was intended as a modification of the Su-57 once development was complete (ie, two seater version with 3rd party radars and weapons). Russia refused to hand over the IP, and the head-wobblers had a dummy spit.
BTW the wobblers never got to see the real Su-57 models, just the early prototypes developed for flight and structural tests. The haven’t a friggin’ clue as the Su-57 real performance which will be broadly equal to the F-22 and superior in many regards.
It also appears that India did not take the refusal for tech transfer very well. For a certain period they were all keen on singing like the pentagon sings on Russian aircraft industry, also proved by the highly competent technical sources the above user adopts as quintessential truths.
Do you read CNN ?.
I don’t think you’ve actually looked at the ship. There isn’t a spot of “rust” on her, just a set of defective boilers.
Dumb cnts like you are a blight on society.
Bravo Sir.
She is a heavy weaponed war ship, which carries aircrafts. What do you say about the UK aircraft carrier, with no planes? Or the brand new US one, the USS Gerard Ford, with the exploding generaters?
“What do you say about the UK aircraft carrier”
That it has been launched because of propaganda and most likely money (add to that that british admirals ate a lot of their hats when remembered that the US Navy had at least ten fleet carriers while they have had 2 harrier carriers. Hell, even the French got real carriers) but imho it won’t be really operational for the next 10 years.
Also I don’t see much value in having US-like carriers without having a US-like amphibious organization.
“Or the brand new US one, the USS Gerard Ford, with the exploding generaters”
That is probably minor, compared to the flaws of the UK ones. The US Navy has an established tradition and lots of experience in operating carriers, and would not consider the whole class a failure for such reasons – although currently they are entirely able to inflate the costs of implementing it to unspeakable amounts of taxpayers money.
SO negative, keep the faith.
We are getting the incredible, unbeatable F-35B’s soon (circa 10 years) and now we have welded the plates on that huge leaks we had during testing, they can almost stay afloat.
As long as we dont go into warmer waters, the engines work 80 % of the time +, we’ll save up for the armaments (5 years +). The crew salaries, well, I agree that is one of the main problems; but we are British – so no worries. The other major problem is for cupboard space for all the LGBT crew’s dresses and stuff (as for the US).
BUT WE ARE BRITAIN AND WE RULE THE WAVES…..
http://www.pctipp.ch/fileadmin/media/bilder/teaser/Unbenannt-4.jpg
Funny, how they can no longer build weapons, plus systems, that come in on time, on budget or in full working order. How far we have regressed, in the last century.
imho it’s not only a matter of weapons.
it seems to me that nothing good is being produced in western countries in general,
Watched movie “Dunkirk”, do people realize it’s the worst war movie ever made? Do we remember the war movies from the 70ies, with ppl like Michael Caine and Ben Gazzara ?
same goes for tv series, netflix has destroyed any hope, they seem to be produced in series; they are all alike no matter the themes.
music? you gotta be kidding. All you hear is 1-latino like, danceable gibberish. 2- “rap” of the most trashy variant with the concept of “trappers” having taken over the entire industry and exploited well over above its potential content. 3 – effeminate males harmonized voices over all kinds of synthetic bases, which don’t matter anyway.
Years ago there was people like Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Beach Boys and other thousands.
This is cultural, and intellectual impoverishment, and it reaches a new low point every single day – the alarming thing that nobody seems to realize it – and there aren’t only millenials around, societies are already old like never before.
So agree with you. Grew up, watching the ‘war films’ either on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, thoroughly enjoying them. Kenneth Moore, could always pull in viewers. The old ‘Ealing Film Industry’, could come out with something worth watching. Must admit, I just cannot watch anything that comes out of Hollywood, or enjoy much from the music industry. Owing to politics and propaganda. Plus, nothing worth watching or listening to. Not forgetting the asset strippers, who resented creativity, in their lust for accountant controlled industry. Destoyed Western industry, all forms.
Oi you. That idiot “Russ”, his comment on Christopher Columbus above is a blatant lie and you up ticked him / it. You’ll get a damn spanking if we meet.
Promises, lol. In the meantime, will go and sit in the corner, with mouth shut, uptick banned and serve my punishment.
The USS Enterprise was decommissioned at the age of 56, the Kitty Hawk was 50 when decommissioned. The Admiral Kuznetsov is only 33 and still has some life in her.
I guess you think the Nimitz the Eisenhower and Carl Vinson are also relics, because all are older?
Surely you understand the value in using it as a testbed right? Just taking it to Syria was one hell of an education. By the way, the flight deck is secondary to all the other amazing air defense anti submarine and anti ship capabilities. Just having it sit in the Mediterranean is a major deterrent over a very large area.
I know Russia calls it aircraft carrying missile cruiser. But they lost 2 jets during the Syrian campaign for no reason.
There were reasons, and lessons have been learned. It’s foolish to think otherwise. All things considered, it was a successful debut for the first ever Russian carrier in a combat mission.
As Israeli spies yesterday assassinated Aziz Asbar the head of the Syrian defence research centre. Similarly Israeli spies have assassinated all Russian patriotic politicians in Latvia, Litvania, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia etc. A person trip once or twice but if a person trip every time so then this is an alarm of danger.
why??its to old…
As they said in the media piece, Carriers can be upgraded and used for decades with no problems. Putin announced to the Navy on Navy Day that significant funds will be invested in creation of a bigger Navy. The Russians turn around in just over a couple of decades has been astounding
Too old? Its been in service for less time than the US carriers Nimitz, DD Eisenhower, Carl Vinson, Roosevelt & Lincoln….
I don’t see the USN retiring any of those any time soon.
US and Israel have many things common for example both are made on stolen lands, both are liers, plunderers, both have slaughtereds millions of innocent civilians even women and children, both are expending by taking lands from other countries, both have dedicated themselves to rule over whole world and keep all world nations to surrender to them.
both will fall in line and evolve, or face extinction.
Christopher Columbus and his brother were Spanish Jews that were involved in the enslavement and deaths of one and a half million indigenous American peoples.
What stupid things go on saying, Columbus was Italian, of Genova not Jewish. The three caravels had the cross on the sails. Cortez and Pizarro conquered south America. In 1500 the Jews driven out of Spain did not navy. In Venice they were closed in the ghetto.
Agreed.
Absolute BS.
Irish and French Catholics have argued that Columbus, who “brought the Christian faith to half the world,” should be named a saint. Though the move had the approval of Pope Pius IX (reign 1846–1878), Columbus was never canonised because he fathered an illegitimate child, and there was no proof he had performed a miracle.
Your comment is blatant disinformation.
Russ is right.Columbus was a Marrano ,a “converted”Jew. Importantly he left Spain on the day or the day before all Jews had to be out of Spain.other so-called converted Jews;British PM Benjamin Disraeli and US FDR of WWII of distant Sephardic Jewish ancestry from Holland.
Countries always use foreigners or naturalised foreigners in their military and explorations ;John Cabot was an Italian andJuan De Foca Of Canadian waters was a Greek.
Thank you!!!
I wasn’t going to spend the effort on replying to him…
Meh all nations are built on the corpses of people who lived there before.
Mainly US and Israel struggle to built countries on the corpses. They have slaughtered millions of innocent civilians in America and Palestine.
All nations have dark chapters, if you look deep enough in their histories.
Yah
So did the Vikings, Chinese, Mongols, Indians, Mayans, Italians, Turks, Bob’s uncles Country – everyone.
God didnt place people in certain places and give it to them all time. Every patch of earth has lost cultures on it.
When any nation drift from certain rules of God then God destroy them in such a way that become lesson for others.
Stolen lands……what a crock of shit. If you think about it, almost all lands are stolen throughout history; no offence Rob, but I am bored of that senseless, inane BS.
“As Business Insider reported, in the 1990s it was so unreliable that it was accompanied by a cargo warship that had extra pipes for repairs”
Business insider should worry themselves about jewish finance and banks and stay away from military subjects.
In fact, a “cargo warship” they are blathering about is nothing else than a support ship, a kind of unit able to perform all kinds of repairs and maintenance – a class which almost every blue water navy in the world has.
US/French carrier groups have support ships embedded pretty much all the times.
It’s kind of hard to separate oneself from Jewish financing/banking and the Industrial military complex
Just be poor like me. No yids anywhere to be seen.
The more you accumulate and possess the more leverage there is over you… and most of what we have is bought on credit. That’s a very real enslavement.
Well the Donald Cook which was biggin itself up in the black sea needed a tow back to some traitor port. When it was shutdown by new Russian weapons system carried by one of two SU – 25s that jam’s and rendered the ship a paddle boat. Reported upto 30sailors resigned on return to port.
Not forgetting, the same thing happened to it, a year or two later, plus, not forgetting the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The pair of them, different years getting too close to Khaliningrad, when the Russian jammers got them.
Ive heard a saying theres two types of ships in a navy subs and targets. I doubt any aircraft carrier will win a ww3 unless its american ones sinking signalling its defeat.
Well submariners say something similar, but a submarine is generally referred to as a boat, not a ship. Subs can be hunted with planes and helicopters, a plane will drop sonar buoys and once found will drop a torpedo, perhaps 3, to make sure no matter which way the sub runs, it will meet a torpedo. Generally speaking, at sea, whoever sees the enemy first wins.
Honestly surprised that it took this long for the refit to begin. However, it’s good to hear that they’re going forward with it. I can’t wait to see the Admiral Kuznetsov and Liaoning sail together in future joint exercises.
The K will be a fine ship when she emerges from drydock. Muricanz and their indentured satraps can mock all they like, but as the old Russian proverb goes, the dogs bark but the caravan moves on…..
With most of their weapons acquisition programs going on including S500, hypersonic missiles, warplanes, and various other equipment it’s only natural the Carrier that will need very expensive cost per it’s deployment last in line. My opinion though they should just scrap them altogether.
I love same Hyde. Picasso.
Images I have seen of the ship whilst underway show that the fuel to air mixture is wrong. Perhaps the fans don’t supply enough air, or perhaps the fuel delivery system is the problem, but whatever the cause, soot will soon block the gaps between the boiler tubes and reduce the steam temperature, and or volume. Removing and replacing the boilers on a ship is extremely non trivial.
MIG-29 … 4++ generation aircraft?
lmao OK. After the syrian fiasco and losing 2 planes within a few days, the Kuznetsov should just stay for “repairs” way longer than 2.5 years, preferrably forever.