By Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor
Russia has lost a staggering amount of military equipment in Ukraine.
While the mainstream media has covered the failure of Moscow’s antiquated Soviet-era main battle tanks and the lackluster performance of its fighter jets, one area of Russia’s military capabilities has been ignored.
Perhaps Russia’s only aircraft carrier dodges the news cycle so easily because it is consistently out of service.
Saddled with a long history of unfortunate events, Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov might never even sail again.
Although Russia’s navy has had limited involvement in the invasion of Ukraine, the failing carrier continues to cause the Kremlin a massive headache.
Just One Carrier, and What a Carrier It Is
Developed in the early 1990s, the Admiral Kuznetsov was the only aircraft carrier to survive the collapse of the Soviet Union. A sister ship was meant to accompany the Kuznetsov but ended up in the hands of Ukraine when the USSR dissolved.
The carrier was built to answer the Soviets’ need to bring fixed-wing jets to a fleet. In the past, only helicopters and other vertical-takeoff-and-landing airframes could launch from Soviet carriers. Around 18-24 fighter jets, including Su-33s and MiG-29s, in addition to a dozen or so Ka-27 or Ka-31 helicopters, make up the Kuznetsov’s air wing. Measuring around 1,000 feet long and displacing nearly 58,000 tons, the Admiral Kuznetsov is essentially the same length as America’s Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, but with only half the displacement.
The Kuznetsov’s troubled history began with its first deployment. In 2016, the carrier sailed to Syria for its first combat tour. Two fighters were lost due to faulty arresting wires at the time, forcing the remaining carrier-based platforms to relocate to shore. This rendered the Kuznetsov functionally obsolete. Over the last five years, a floating crane crash, a fire, and a welding accident have afflicted the carrier, painting an even bleaker picture of the Kuznetsov.
No Contest With the U.S. Nimitz-Class Carriers
Although almost a decade older, America’s currently deployed Nimitz-class carriers have excelled since entering service with the U.S. Navy in the 1970s. Thanks to the vessels’ advanced technological capabilities, the capable warships remain a staple of America’s sea-based deterrent. Considering the Kuznetsov has largely been relegated to dry dock duty over the last few years, the carrier is obviously no match for the Nimitz class.
Even in working condition, the Admiral Kuznetsov would be an easy target for its American counterparts. Senior Chief Petty Officer James Shannon detailed how a Nimitz carrier would easily crush Russia’s Kuznetsov. Quoted by The Aviation Geek Club, Shannon said:
“To sum it up the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier can send 4 complete Strike Fighter Squadrons and 1 Electronic Attack Squadron, fully loaded with full combat radius, with full Airborne Early Warning support and Organic Tanking support. The Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s aircraft can hit Kuznetsov from outside of the P700 range and also the range of the Su-33 and MiG-29. Kuznetsov’s surface to air missiles would not be able to reach Reagan’s airwing. Kuznetsov would need to focus its small airwing completely on fighting AAW. The problem is that all of the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s aircraft coming in their vicinity will be capable of AAW, even the Growlers will have AMRAAM’s.”
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, 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.
