Russia only has one aircraft carrier and there’s a question whether it will ever be effective again. Now, there’s a design for the Russian carrier of the future – although there’s no assurance it will ever be built.
It was developed by the Nevskoye Design Bureau (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, known as USC) and was unveiled last month at the International Naval Defence Show Fleet-2024 in Kronshtadt. Designers say this future flattop has everything the Russian Navy could want – and more.
It will be used for both conventional and vertical takeoff aircraft, along with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). There will be both electromagnetic catapults and a “ski jump” with two starting positions. Artificial intelligence technologies will be employed, and the ship’s systems will be highly automated – in theory leading to the need for fewer crewmembers.
Still, Russia’s recent history with aircraft carriers doesn’t give observers much confidence that this carrier of the future will turn out the way the designers want, if it’s even built at all. The prime example of this is the Admiral Kuznetov, Russia’s only aircraft carrier. You could write a book about the problems this ship has had.
Admiral Kuznetov has spent more time undergoing repairs than it has projecting Russian sea power around the around the globe. It has a history of on-board fires, crane accidents and other catastrophes while in port.
And it hasn’t been a bargain at sea, either. A deployment to Syria in 2016 gave Western observers a chance to assess the ship’s operations. They weren’t impressed.
Blame that in large part on the small size of the Kuznetov’s air wing. According to Real Clear Defense, the carrier could handle more than 40 tactical aircraft, but embarked with just 13 fixed-wing planes – 10 SU-33 Sea Flanker jets and three MiG-29KR Fulcrum multi-role aircraft.
