Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov in 2017
History
→ Soviet Union → Russia
NameAdmiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov (Russian: Адмирал Флота Советского Союза Кузнецов)
NamesakeNikolay Kuznetsov
Ordered3 March 1981
BuilderNikolayev South
Laid down1 April 1982[1]
Launched6 December 1985[1]
Commissioned20 January 1991[2] (fully operational in 1995)
Identification063
StatusUndergoing overhaul and repairs[3]
General characteristics
Class and typeKuznetsov-class aircraft carrier
Displacement
Length
  • 305 m (1,000 ft 8 in) o/a[1]
  • 270 m (885 ft 10 in) w/l
Beam
  • 72 m (236 ft 3 in)[1] o/a
  • 35 m (114 ft 10 in) w/l[1]
Draft10 m (32 ft 10 in)[1]
Propulsion
  • Steam turbines, 8 turbo-pressurised boilers, 4 shafts, 200,000 hp (150 MW)
  • 4 × 50,000 hp (37 MW) turbines
  • 9 × 2,011 hp (1,500 kW) turbogenerators
  • 6 × 2,011 hp (1,500 kW) diesel generators
  • 4 × fixed pitch propellers
Speed29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)[1]
Range8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1]
Endurance45 days[1]
Complement
  • 1,690[1]
  • 626 air group
  • 40 flag staff
Armament
Aircraft carried

Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov (Russian: Адмира́л фло́та Сове́тского Сою́за Кузнецо́в, "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov") is an aircraft carrier (heavy aircraft cruiser in Russian classification) that has served as the flagship of the Russian navy. It was built by the Black Sea Shipyard, the sole manufacturer of Soviet aircraft carriers, in Nikolayev within the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ukrainian SSR) and launched in 1985, becoming fully operational in the Russian Navy in 1995. The initial name of the ship was Riga; it was launched as Leonid Brezhnev, embarked on sea trials as Tbilisi, and was finally named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov.[7]

It was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy, and was intended to be the lead ship of the two-ship Kuznetsov class. However, its sister ship Varyag was still incomplete when the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991.[8] The second hull was eventually sold by Ukraine to China, completed in Dalian and commissioned as Liaoning.[9]

The ship has been out of service and in repairs since 2018. The repair process has been hampered by accidents, embezzlement of funds, and other setbacks.[10] After the floating drydock PD-50 sank in Kola Bay (Murmansk) in an accident that killed one worker in October 2018, the ship was towed to Sevmorput Yard No 35.[11] In another mishap in December 2019, a major fire killed at least one worker and injured ten others.[12] In June 2022, the ship was transferred to a drydock at the 35th Ship Repair Plant in Murmansk,[10] where it remained until February 2023. The current projection is that repairs will be completed and the ship will be transferred back to the Russian Navy in 2024, but this may be pushed back to 2025 if issues arise during overhaul and testing.[13][14]

As of October 2024 the non-operational Admiral Kuznetsov is the Russian Navy's only carrier, leaving the Russian Navy without an operational aircraft carrier.[15]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Apalkov, Yu.V. (2003). Korabli VMF SSSR, Tom 2, Udarnye Korabli (in Russian). Sankt Peterburg: Galeya Print.
  2. ^ Karpenko, A.V. "Тяжелый Авианесущий Крейсер "адмирал Флота Советского Союза Кузнецов" Проекта 11435 Подборка материалов по авианосцу от Карпенко" [Heavy Aircraft Carrier "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" Project 11435]. Bastion (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  3. ^ Axe, David. "The Russian Navy's Only Aircraft Carrier Is Stuck In Overhaul. So Her MiG-29 Fighters Have Gone To War In Ukraine". Forbes. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov". Rusnavy.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Kuznetsov Class – Project 1143.5". Globalsecurity.org. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  6. ^ each 2 × 30 mm Gatling AA plus 32 3K87 Kortik SAM
  7. ^ Balakin, Sergey; Zablotskiy, Vladimir (2007). Sovetskii Avianostsy [Soviet Aircraft Carriers] (in Russian). Moscow: Yauza.
  8. ^ Apalkov, Yu.V. (2003). Korabli VMF SSSR [Ships of the Soviet Navy] (in Russian). Sankt Peterburg: Galeya Print.
  9. ^ Storey, Ian; Ji, You (Winter 2004). "China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions: Seeking Truth from Rumors". Naval War College Review. 57 (1). Archived from the original on 12 December 2006.
  10. ^ a b Suciu, Peter (2 December 2022). "Why Would Russia Bring Back Its 'Dumpster Fire' Aircraft Carrier?". MSN. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  11. ^ Staalesen, Atle (30 October 2018). "Aircraft carrier is damaged as dry dock sinks". The Barents Observer. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  12. ^ Ullah, Zahra; Tarasova, Darya; Lendon, Brad (12 December 2019). "Russia's only aircraft carrier catches fire; 1 dead and 2 missing". CNN. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  13. ^ Alona Mazurenko (9 January 2023). "Russians brought their only aircraft carrier to critical condition and looking for those responsible". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Источник ТАСС допустил сдвиг сдачи "Адмирала Кузнецова" на 2025 год". flotprom.ru (in Russian). 4 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  15. ^ Axe, David (22 September 2024). "The Kremlin Pulled Sailors Off The Decrepit Aircraft Carrier 'Admiral Kuznetsov' And Sent Them To Fight, And Die, In Ukraine". forbes.com. Retrieved 24 October 2024.