Admiral Kuznetsov: Why Russia’s Troubled Lone Aircraft Carrier May Never Sail Again

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington DC) Admiral Kuznetsov is Russia’s one and only aircraft carrier – and it might be their last.

The warship has a lot of problems – that much is clear.

Will she ever sail again? We asked a top expert to explain the vessels issues:

Admiral Kuznetsov: Explained

Russia’s apparent inability to bring its sole aircraft carrier back to active service is merely one of many challenges, complexities, and problems associated with the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier.

Apart from its troubled history including an onboard fire and massive fuel spill, the ship also suffers from several clear performance deficits.

AIRCRAFT CARRIER PERFORMANCE

For instance, the Russian Navy’s only aircraft carrier does not launch fighters with steam catapults but instead relies upon a bow ramp. This “forces reductions in the planes’ takeoff weight and patrol time,” according to a 2013 report from War is Boring. 

What this means simply is that to whatever limited extent the carrier can operate, its performance would appear to be marginal at best.