Russia’s only aircraft carrier has remained relegated to dry dock duty for the better part of the last 10 years.
Russia’s defense arsenal has taken several hits over the last three-plus years of its Ukraine invasion. From aircraft and main battle tanks to munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles, Moscow relied more heavily on storage-ridden platforms and foreign deliveries to keep up with its offensive efforts. Today, the Kremlin is still reeling from the recent “Operation Spiderweb” Ukraine-launched drone strike that impacted many of its bomber platforms. Despite these major setbacks, Moscow has continuously demonstrated its prioritization of fielding next-generation projects. In order to keep up with Washington’s and Beijing’s upcoming, futuristic endeavors, the Kremlin has alluded to its own new programs intended to serve as direct competitors. Last year, the former Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of the Russian Navy said that a new aircraft carrier capable of displacing 70,000-90,000 tons and launching the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet could be in the works.
According to Vice Admiral Vladimir Pepelyaev, “Our promising aircraft carrier should have a displacement of 70 to 90 thousand tons, but the most important thing is not the displacement, not air drones, but aircraft. Today, we have Su-33 and MiG-29K/Cube. In the future, our aircraft carrier should be armed with Su-57.” Considering the current state of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and Moscow’s sole existing aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, the production of this new super-vessel seems more like a dream than reality.
Introducing Admiral Kuznetsov
Russia’s only aircraft carrier has remained relegated to dry dock duty for the better part of the last 10 years. Admiral Kuznetsov, constructed by the Black Sea Shipyard, has served as the flagship of the Russian Navy. However, a series of mishaps and misfortune has rendered the massive warship largely useless in recent years. Kuznetsov’s conception dates back to the Cold War period, when the USSR envisioned a two-ship class of new carriers that could lead its naval forces. When the Soviet Union collapsed, however, so did this initial carrier plan. Ultimately, the second Kunzetsov ship was sold to China before it even completed its construction phase. The lead ship of the class, Kuznetsov, would stay on and serve the newly installed Russian government’s naval fleet. Perhaps the most recognizable design flaw associated with the Russian carrier is its Mazut fuel source. This black and tarry substance gives off a heavy and visible trail of dark smoke when underway, making the carrier very easy to detect. Improper piping installations onboard the ship also prohibit the mazut from being properly preheated and pressurized.
During the Kuznetsov’s limited time in operational service over the last decade, several mishaps have further eroded the carrier’s reputation. From faulty arresting wires and fires to falling cranes and missed deployments, Kuznetsov has suffered from a litany of unfortunate events. While the Kremlin may hope that its sole carrier will return to service in the near future, Kuznetsov’s history and current shape paints a very different picture.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: kojoku / Shutterstock.com
