Admiral Kuznetsov

Admiral Kuznetsov. The Admiral Kuznetsov is a conventionally powered aircraft carrier serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy. Originally built for the Soviet Navy and commissioned in 1991, it is the lead ship of the Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier and is named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. Unlike Western carriers, it employs a ski-jump for aircraft launch and carries a powerful armament of anti-ship missiles, classifying it as a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser.

Design and construction

The vessel's design originated from the Project 1153 Orel and evolved under the direction of the Nevskoye Design Bureau in Leningrad. Intended to operate fixed-wing aircraft without catapults, the design incorporated a distinctive ski-jump at the bow, a concept previously tested on the Kiev-class carriers and the INS Vikrant. Construction began at the Black Sea Shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukrainian SSR, with the keel laid under the name Riga before being renamed Leonid Brezhnev and then Tbilisi during construction. Its launch in 1985 was a significant event for the Soviet shipbuilding industry, and fitting out continued through the tumultuous period of perestroika and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Operational history

Following commissioning, the carrier conducted flight trials with prototypes of the Sukhoi Su-33 and Mikoyan MiG-29K in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea. Its first major operational deployment was in 1995-96 to the Mediterranean Sea, showcasing Russian naval power. Subsequent years were marked by limited activity due to funding shortages, though it participated in major exercises like Summer-X in 2004. A notable 2007-08 deployment to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea was plagued by accidents, including a fatal fire. The ship saw combat for the first time in late 2016, launching Sukhoi Su-33 and Mikoyan MiG-29KR aircraft in support of the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War from the Eastern Mediterranean. This deployment was also marred by the loss of two aircraft and was followed by a lengthy and problematic refit.

Aircraft and air wing

The carrier's air wing is centered on the Sukhoi Su-33, a navalized derivative of the Sukhoi Su-27 designed for air superiority. These were supplemented and are being replaced by the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29K. For airborne early warning and control, it operates the Kamov Ka-31, while anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue duties are performed by variants of the Kamov Ka-27 helicopter. The air wing's composition and size have fluctuated, but its primary missions include fleet defense, strike warfare, and reconnaissance. The lack of a dedicated carrier onboard delivery aircraft has been a logistical limitation.

Propulsion and performance

Admiral Kuznetsov is powered by a conventional steam turbine propulsion system, consisting of eight boilers and four turbines driving four shafts. This system, derived from the Kirov-class battlecruisers, is notoriously unreliable and has been a persistent source of operational problems, including frequent breakdowns during long-distance voyages. The ship's maximum speed is approximately 29 knots, with a range of over 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots. Its ski-jump limits the maximum take-off weight of its aircraft compared to catapult-assisted take-off systems used by the United States Navy and French Navy.

Upgrades and modernization

A major refit and modernization program began in 2017 at the 35th Ship Repair Plant in Murmansk, intended to extend the carrier's service life by decades. The project, repeatedly delayed, aims to overhaul the ship's propulsion system, upgrade its electronics and sensor suites, and modernize its air defense systems, including the P-700 Granit missiles and Kinzhal launchers. The flight deck and arresting gear are also being refurbished to better support the Mikoyan MiG-29K. The refit has been beset by significant setbacks, most notably a major fire in December 2019 and the sinking of the PD-50 floating dry dock in October 2018, which caused damage to the ship and severely disrupted the schedule.