Admiral Kuznetsov will not participate in Syria. Through lies and NATO: “Admiral Kuznetsov” brilliantly completed his tasks in Syria

The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" returned from Syria to the North Sea roadstead. At the final stage of the long-distance voyage, the ships completed a number of tasks at sea ranges in the Barents Sea, Interfax reports with reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Earlier, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, reporting on how the Royal Navy was escorting a Russian military squadron returning from Syria, called the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov “a ship of shame.” The Ministry of Defense did not ignore the offensive statement and advised Fallon to pay more attention to his fleet, which was going through hard times. We propose, removing emotions, to shift attention from the verbal duel of the two defense departments to the real characteristics of the Kuznetsov and compare it with its NATO competitors in terms of key indicators. Does he deserve even one iota of the definition that Fallon gave him?

Of course, our aircraft carrier is not new. It was designed and created back in the days of the USSR, at the end of the Cold War. However, the best ideas and achievements of Soviet shipbuilding were embodied in it. The creators gave him unparalleled durability in battle. In the event of a nuclear explosion with a power of 30 kilotons at a distance of just two kilometers from the Kuznetsov, it must not only survive and remain afloat, but also maintain combat effectiveness. It will probably no longer be possible to use carrier-based aircraft. However, the Granit and Kinzhal under-deck missiles will be able to hit the enemy in water, on land, and in the air.

Photo: Global Look

In his attempts to stigmatize the only Russian aircraft carrier, the British minister apparently forgot that the Royal Navy does not have such a class of ships at all. And the British ships accompanying Kuznetsov - the frigate St. Albans and the landing helicopter carrier Ocean - cannot be compared with it in terms of aircraft-carrying capabilities. The St. Albans can carry no more than two helicopters, and the Ocean can only carry 18. While the Kuznetsov can simultaneously accommodate 28 aircraft and 24 helicopters.

The only NATO ship that can compare with the Kuznetsov in the Old World is the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. But it is also inferior to the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser both in size and in the possible number of aircraft on board - only 40 versus 52.

Photo: Wikimedia

Oddly enough, bile towards “Kuznetsov” is pouring not only from NATO offices, but also from the vastness of the Runet. The reason for caustic jokes, “photoshops” and other mockery was the thick smoke from the chimney of the Russian aircraft carrier, which supposedly testifies to its technical backwardness. Allegedly, in the West such ships have been operating at nuclear plants for a long time. Although the country - the founder of the nuclear fleet - can hardly be blamed for the lack of technology and the possibility of installing a nuclear reactor on an aircraft carrier if necessary. The reasons for equipping the Kuznetsov with a fuel oil propulsion system were serious. Firstly, the cheapness of fuel and ongoing repairs of the installation. Even the United States, with its highest defense spending, has had to abandon several nuclear-powered ships due to the high cost of repairing their propulsion systems. Secondly, fuel oil is stored in a layer along the entire hull of the ship, being an element of anti-torpedo protection. A torpedo, hitting the hull of a ship, transfers part of its explosive force and fragments to fuel compartments filled with fuel oil. Thus, Kuznetsov is capable of withstanding an explosion of up to 400 kg of TNT below its waterline.

By the way, thick smoke is also typical for US military ships that were built in the new millennium. American experts considered heavy smoke to be a normal phenomenon, which occurs due to the formation of carbon deposits during long-term parking without moving. When the ship begins to move, the carbon deposits gradually burn out, and the pipe stops smoking.

Photo: Wikimedia

Among other things, Kuznetsov has an undeniable advantage over all aircraft carriers in the world. He is the only one allowed passage to the Black Sea.

The fact is that Article 11 of the Montreux Convention allows only battleships, but not aircraft carriers, to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles. By aircraft carriers she means ships built and converted primarily for aviation operations. Since an aircraft-carrying cruiser carries the Granit anti-ship missile system and can be a full-fledged combat unit, completely deprived of aviation, it, from the point of view of the Convention, cannot be considered a “pure” aircraft carrier. It turns out that only Russia has the right to operate an aircraft carrier in the strategically important Black Sea region. And it is precisely thanks to the features of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov.

So the remark about the “ship of shame” expresses not so much a mockery of the Russian aircraft carrier, but the annoyance of the head of the British armed forces at his own powerlessness before the Kuznetsov: before its power, its capabilities, its freedom.

Syria News, October 22. Why is NATO so afraid of the march of Russian warships led by the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov to the Syrian shores?

Russian Navy ships in the English Channel

An aircraft carrier group of the Russian Navy, led by the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, entered the English Channel on Friday on its way to the eastern Mediterranean to the shores of Syria. Russian ships are sailing along the south coast of England under the supervision of NATO ships and aircraft.

Several Western TV channels filmed from helicopters and from different angles how the flagship of the Russian aircraft carrier group, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, approached the English Channel. In particular, the video footage clearly shows two fighter jets on the deck of the aircraft carrier.

Earlier, Western media reported that NATO was seriously frightened by the entry of a Russian strike group of ships into the coastal waters of Great Britain. The Alliance fears that the Russian military squadron may be involved in the battles for Aleppo, where the Syrian government army, with the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces, is trying to drive out the terrorists of the Jabhat al-Nusra group banned in the Russian Federation from the eastern part of the city. (Currently, a humanitarian pause has been declared in Aleppo; the Syrian government army and the Russian Aerospace Forces are not conducting combat operations, which cannot be said about terrorists who shell and mine humanitarian corridors and terrorize civilians.)

Syrian campaign of "Admiral Kuznetsov"

By sending a carrier group of naval ships led by the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the eastern Mediterranean, to the coastal waters of Syria, Russia sent a powerful signal to the world. This was stated by a CNN correspondent Matthew Chance.

The reporter noted the power and versatility of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and emphasized that the ship had recently undergone refitting. In particular, the journalist noted that the ship can carry up to fifty combat aircraft on its deck, including bombers, as well as attack helicopters.

If the need arises, the Admiral Kuznetsov air group will be able to take part in air strikes against targets in Syria, the journalist noted. This circumstance causes concern among Western observers, who regard Russia's actions as a sign of a significant strengthening of the Russian military presence in Syria, Chance emphasized.

According to the journalist, sending the Russian flotilla to the shores of Syria is an important symbolic step by Moscow, saying that Russia is not only capable of bringing powerful force into battle, but is also able to ensure its military presence in the most remote regions.

"Kuznetsov" can sink the NATO fleet

The day before, a video of the passage of “Admiral Kuznetsov” appeared in the media, published by the Polish TV channel “BelSat”, broadcasting in the Belarusian language. The video, with the mocking caption “Admiral Kuznetsov smokes like a steam locomotive,” shows thick clouds of smoke rising above the Russian aircraft carrier. The video caused great joy among Internet users, which was actively fueled by the Ukrainian media.

Federal News Agency, why such a reaction is common.

“This is a diesel steamer - it smokes and smokes - what's wrong with that? This is a common thing for diesel military equipment, especially since the ship was created in the early 90s,” a military expert noted in an interview with a FAN correspondent Dmitry Litovkin. - In the ship group next to us is the Peter the Great, from which no smoke comes out at all, and two modern destroyers, from which no steam comes out either. The next aircraft carrier, the Storm, which is planned to be laid down after 2020, will be nuclear-powered and will not smoke.”

For the first time, the ship comes out with a full air wing and can be used for its intended purpose, the expert emphasized. “There are modernized Su-33s that can use high-precision weapons, the latest MiG-29s that can sink the NATO fleet with anti-ship missiles. This is what is most important in maritime affairs, and not the philistine reaction,” Litovkin emphasized.

"Admiral Kuznetsov", affectionately - "Kuzya"

The affectionate nickname “Kuzya” was given by the sailors to the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral Kuznetsov”, which is going to carry out its assigned tasks in the Mediterranean Sea. The full name of the ship is “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov.”

This heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser (TAVKR) of Project 1143.5 is the only ship in its class in the Russian Navy. The ship was laid down in Nikolaev (Ukrainian SSR) at the Black Sea Shipyard on September 1, 1982. TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" is designed to destroy large surface and ground targets and to protect naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy.

The ship is named after the admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Kuznetsov. However, this name did not appear on the aircraft carrier right away. Previous names of "Kuznetsov": "Soviet Union" (at the design stage), "Riga" (during laying), "Leonid Brezhnev" (during launching), "Tbilisi" (during testing).

"Admiral Kuznetsov" is part of the Northern Fleet. During cruises, the cruiser is based on MIG-29K, Su-25UTG and Su-33 aircraft, Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters, as well as the latest Ka-52K attack helicopters. The ship's crew is 1960 people, including aviation personnel - 626 people. The ship's commander is captain 1st rank Sergei Artamonov.

On October 15, 2016, at 15.30, a naval group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR set off on its first military campaign to the shores of Syria. The group includes the TARKR "Peter the Great", large anti-submarine ships "Severomorsk" and "Vice Admiral Kulakov", as well as support vessels.

The aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" as part of a group of ships reached the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft carrier can participate in the Syrian operation, but what is more important is the political effect, experts say

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, as part of a group of six ships, reached the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, November 4. The composition of the group was previously reported by the Interfax agency with reference to the press service of the Russian Northern Fleet.

In addition to the aircraft-carrying cruiser, the group included the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, anti-submarine ships Severomorsk and Vice Admiral Kulakov. The warships are escorted, according to the BBC, by the rescue tug "Nikolai Chiker" and the tanker "Sergei Osipov". Information about escort ships is also confirmed by data from the MarineTraffic service, which tracks the movement of ships in the world's oceans.

According to the British newspaper The Times, the Russian group is larger: it also includes three submarines armed with cruise missiles. The newspaper cites data from the Royal Navy of Great Britain, which located two submarines of the Shchuka-B project (NATO classification - Akula-class) and one of the Halibut project (Kilo-class). The Russian Ministry of Defense did not officially comment on these data. Submarines of both projects can carry the latest Caliber cruise missiles.

Destination

The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" set sail on October 15 from the Severomorsk naval base. A TASS source reported in July 2016 that the ship would join a ship group off the coast of Syria. The press service of the Northern Fleet, which includes the aircraft-carrying cruiser, told the Interfax agency that the ship is heading to the areas of the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. A week later, on October 21, a group of ships entered the English Channel. According to official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense Igor Konashenkov, it was planned that on October 26, several supply ships would enter the Spanish port of Ceuta, located on the African shore of the Strait of Gibraltar. However, Spain refused the Russian side. On Monday, October 31, the cruiser approached the shores of Algeria. At the same time, Interfax reported that in the middle of the week, November 3, the naval group plans to conduct exercises in the Mediterranean Sea near the Italian island of Sardinia. On Tuesday, November 1, test takeoffs of carrier-based aircraft took place on the aircraft-carrying cruiser. The MiG-29 and Su-33 aircraft took off and landed from the deck of the cruiser without a combat load.

At the end of October, Western media published several publications devoted to the movement of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov in the Atlantic. The British publication The Telegraph drew attention to black smoke from the ship's chimneys, which immediately raised questions about its technical serviceability. Foreign military experts and sailors who previously visited the cruiser told The New York Times of non-functional toilets and numerous breakdowns that plagued the cruiser.

The official reaction of Western countries was restrained. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the end of October expressed concern about the possible use of a Russian aircraft carrier group heading to the eastern Mediterranean to attack Syria. In response, Andrei Kelin, director of the pan-European cooperation department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, called NATO's fears ridiculous. “There are no grounds to suspect anything, there are no grounds for Stoltenberg’s statement,” Kelin said. He recalled that the Russian Aerospace Forces do not conduct operations in the Aleppo area: airstrikes will begin on October 18.

Smoke rocker

The passage of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov across the English Channel was accompanied by the appearance in the media of photographs of the smoky trail that the cruiser left behind. According to the former commander of the Northern Fleet (from 1999 to 2001) Vyacheslav Popov, the smoke “cap” above the ship appears due to the fact that Admiral Kuznetsov uses fuel oil as fuel. “This is not due to the poor condition of the ship's power plant or boilers. This is the usual, normal state of the cruiser,” says Popov. According to him, “Admiral Kuznetsov” always smoked during the campaign.

“This ship has undergone all the necessary repairs and is in a state of combat readiness,” sums up the retired admiral.

It is difficult to assess the condition of a ship based on smoke, says Andrei Frolov, editor-in-chief of the Arms Export magazine. However, according to the expert, it is obvious that the cruiser’s turbine unit, running on fuel oil, cannot produce colorless smoke. “Black smoke may mean that the ship is in afterburner and additional fuel is being supplied,” Frolov suggests. The expert does not deny that there may be problems with the ship’s equipment, which is why the fuel does not completely burn out.

"Admiral Kuznetsov" is equipped with four steam turbines with a capacity of 50 thousand hp. each. The turbines accelerate four five-bladed propellers, which allows the cruiser to reach a maximum speed of up to 29 knots (54 km/h). The cruiser's combat speed is lower - 18 knots (33 km/h). The remaining ships of the group develop comparable speeds. The nuclear-powered cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, for example, can travel at a speed of up to 32 knots, and the large anti-submarine ships Severomorsk and Vice Admiral Kulakov move at a speed of 29.5 knots in afterburner.

The Telegraph previously reported that the poor technical condition of the ship was indicated by the presence of the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker in the group. However, according to Popov, the presence of a tugboat in the accompanying group is common practice. “When a detachment of ships goes on a voyage, it is always accompanied by rescue equipment, including a rescue tug,” points out the former commander of the Northern Fleet.

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov is the only operational aircraft-carrying cruiser in the Russian Navy. It was laid down in September 1982. Eight years later, the ship was assigned to the Russian Northern Fleet. For the first four years, the cruiser actively participated in exercises, testing the ship’s weapons and equipment. The Admiral Kuznetsov first sailed to the Mediterranean in 1995. During the voyage, the power plant was damaged and the ship almost sank in a storm. In 1996, American sailors were forced to help the crew of the Admiral Kuznetsov, who faced a shortage of fresh water due to a breakdown in one of the systems, The New York Times reported.

A new trip to the Mediterranean Sea was planned for 2000, but due to the tragedy of the Kursk submarine cruise, the trip was canceled. Instead of sailing, the Admiral Kuznetsov returned to the repair docks. The ship was undergoing scheduled repairs from 2001 to 2004. After repairs, the cruiser took part in a campaign in the North Atlantic, carried out combat service and went to sea several times a year. In 2007, a second trip to the Mediterranean took place, which lasted two months. In 2008, the ship was awaiting another repair. During the seven-month work, the main power plant was updated, boiler equipment, the air conditioning system and the mechanism for lifting aircraft to the flight deck were repaired.

After repairs, the aircraft-carrying cruiser set off for the first time to the shores of Syria in 2011. "Admiral Kuznetsov" reached the logistics support point of the Russian Navy in January 2012. In 2014, the ship made another long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. After this, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser stood for repairs at the dock of the 82nd ship repair plant in Roslyakovo (Murmansk region). The ship should return to the repair dock in 2017, Deputy Navy Commander-in-Chief for Armaments Viktor Bursuk said in July.

Armament

According to official data from the Ministry of Defense, on board the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, according to the tactical and technical characteristics, there can be up to 12 Su-33 aircraft and up to 24 Ka-27 helicopters. However, the aviation group is mobile; due to the smaller number of helicopters, the ship can carry up to 26 MiG-29K and Su-33 aircraft. In addition to the Ka-27, for example, the Ka-29 and the latest Ka-52K attack helicopters can take off from the deck of the ship. Thanks to the air group, the cruiser's combat radius is up to 1.5 thousand km.

In addition to the Su-33, the current campaign includes MiG-29. The presence of MiG is confirmed video recordings, made by the Zvezda TV channel on board the ship during the exercises on November 1. According to Frolov, there are eight Mig-29 aircraft on the cruiser during the current cruise.

The ship's aviation wing can ensure the security of both the ship group and objects on the ground. In addition, the Su-33 and MiG-29 can be accompanied by aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces group based in Khmeimim. “The ship has radar reconnaissance helicopters; they can transmit data, conduct reconnaissance and identify strike targets,” explains Andrei Frolov. The expert points out that the Su-33 will not be able to operate within the maximum combat radius (up to 1 thousand km) due to the limitations of the aircraft-carrying cruiser’s runway. “The cruiser initially does not have steam catapults; takeoffs are carried out using a springboard, which is why the planes are forced to take off with less fuel and ammunition,” the expert sums up. Therefore, the combat radius of the aircraft used can reach several hundred kilometers. The MiG-29, which is capable of refueling other aircraft in the air, can increase the mobility of the aviation wing, Frolov believes.

The cruiser has its own missile defense system. The most powerful strike weapon of the Admiral Kuznetsov is 12 launchers for heavy Granit missiles. The destruction range of a seven-ton missile is from 500 to 700 km. “These missiles are designed to combat enemy ships, but recent modifications allow Granit to strike coastal structures,” explains retired Admiral Popov. He did not specify whether there are new versions of missiles on board the cruiser.

In addition, on board the cruiser there are eight Kortik anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems, six AK-630 naval artillery systems and four Kinzhal sea-based anti-aircraft missile systems. This allows Admiral Kuznetsov to control the airspace above a group of ships and coastal structures. The cruiser is equipped with 60 rocket depth charges of the Udav-1 complex for protection against torpedoes.

Tasks

The tasks of the naval group and the aircraft-carrying cruiser were not officially commented on. According to the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, all data about the campaign “is stored somewhere in closed envelopes with the inscription “top secret.”

In addition to combat missions, the Admiral Kuznetsov’s voyage will allow it to practice interaction with other ships of the group in combat conditions, says military expert Viktor Litovkin. “It's definitely an experience. And for carrier-based aviation pilots too,” the expert believes. The expert emphasizes that the ship primarily faces combat missions. “The ship is going to the Mediterranean Sea to support the air group at the airfield in Khmeimim, to strengthen the naval base, which will be located at the site of the support point in Tartus,” says the expert.

Despite the wide range of tasks, “Admiral Kuznetsov” will not become a turning point in the Syrian campaign or the siege of Aleppo, says Andrei Sushentsov, program director of the Valdai Club and head of the Foreign Policy agency. “This is a test for the ship and its capabilities in combat conditions. The situation is the same as with the Caliber missiles,” explains Sushentsov. In his opinion, the cruiser’s voyage is aimed at demonstrating to the United States the political independence of the Russian government. “This show of force achieved its goals much better than all the oral messages of recent years,” the expert sums up.

With the participation of Alexander Ratnikov

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov began loading at the berth of the 35th ship repair plant in Murmansk. The ship, just out of repair, is preparing for a voyage to the Mediterranean Sea, after which it must again go for repairs. Lenta.ru is trying to understand the plans of the fleet and the possible fate of the ship.

Ship of eternal repair

"Admiral Kuznetsov", which officially raised the Soviet naval flag on January 20, 1991, entered the fleet at not the best time - the subsequent collapse of the Navy and its basing and maintenance system led to the fact that the ship never received all the planned equipment, including, first of all, the air group, as well as the relying coastal infrastructure. Over the next three years, the fleet lost all of its predecessors - the first three Soviet aircraft-carrying cruisers - "Kyiv", "Minsk" and "Novorossiysk" were withdrawn from the Navy, and the fourth - "Baku", renamed "Admiral Gorshkov" after the fire ended up in renovation, from which it emerged almost twenty years later under the Indian flag, in a new look and with the name “Vikramaditya”.

The only remaining "Kuznetsov", however, soon acquired the status of perhaps the most problematic ship in the fleet - the ship's power plant, in conditions of not the best service, quickly ceased to meet the requirements, and the large crew of the ship, which very rarely goes to sea, became the source of many real and not so real stories about disciplinary offenses of various kinds.

The ship's problems were demonstrated during its first combat service in the winter of 1995 - spring of 1996. Due to the unsatisfactory condition of the main power plant, the aircraft carrier lost speed several times and could not reach full speed. Numerous repairs - in 1994-1995, 1996-1998, 2001-2004, 2008 - could not correct the situation mainly due to insufficient funding, which was not enough to carry out all the necessary work. Since 2010, the military has seriously started talking about the need to modernize the Kuznetsov, which would include a medium overhaul of the ship with the replacement of a number of systems. Initially, such repairs were planned to begin in 2012 and be completed in 2017, but this was prevented from being completed on time both by a shortage of capacity and, at the same time, by the sharply increased need of the fleet for a “living” aircraft carrier, which they did not want to lose for five years. Now there was not enough time for repairs, and in addition, the collapse of Soviet industrial cooperation began to affect it.

The main problem of the Kuznetsov remains its power plant, which is mainly maintained in working order due to “cannibalization” - the necessary components were removed from Project 956 destroyers using similar boilers and turbo-gear units, which became one of the significant reasons for the rapid reduction in the number of ships of this type in the composition Navy. It is impossible to underestimate the problem - aircraft carriers are very demanding on the capabilities of their propulsion systems and their speed, which should facilitate the lifting of aircraft with full take-off weight, providing an additional 50-60 kilometers per hour to the aircraft’s own take-off speed. The inability of an aircraft carrier to operate at full speed means that aircraft have severe take-off weight limitations, preventing them from carrying a full fuel load and/or combat load.

This problem predetermined the main requirement for the modernization of the ship, during which it is planned to replace the main units with new, more reliable ones, and, in addition, to debug the system of their maintenance and repair, which should preserve the performance of the aircraft carrier for its entire service life.

Su-33 Photo: Mikhail Fomichev / RIA Novosti

After numerous shifts to the right and a difficult search for a contractor, the time frame was finally determined: Kuznetsov will begin modernization in 2017, after returning from another combat service in the Mediterranean. In addition to repairing the power plant, the aircraft carrier must receive new weapons, primarily air defense, as well as equipment that allows the full use of promising carrier-based aircraft equipped with high-precision weapons and modern on-board electronics.

Before going to Syria, the ship, however, underwent another “cosmetic” repair, which also concerned primarily the power plant, but it did not solve all the accumulated problems.

Between opportunities and needs

For a long time, Kuznetsov’s campaigns played more of a training and demonstration role. They made it possible to preserve and accumulate experience in using an aircraft-carrying ship, interacting with it and countering it - which is especially important, given the importance of carrier-based aircraft in the combat potential of the naval forces of a potential enemy. During this period, the words “probable enemy” were used with the mark “outdated,” but everything changed after the outbreak of the armed conflict in Syria, and then the Ukrainian crisis. The renewed presence of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea became one of the main factors in preventing American intervention in Syria, and in February-March 2014, the presence in the Mediterranean Sea of both the Admiral Kuznetsov and Peter the Great became a definite “fleet in being” factor in case of a possible intervention of the US Navy in the Crimean crisis - despite all the problems, Kuznetsov and his group could carry out air defense tasks, albeit to a limited extent, seriously complementing the already high combat capabilities of Peter the Great.

Subsequent events did not at all reduce the need of the Russian Navy for an efficient aircraft carrier - if the Kuznetsov were in a fully combat-ready state with its assigned air group of more than fifty aircraft, including 36-40 multi-role fighters, the need for basing Russian aviation on Syrian territory would have been much less, and if Russia had the opportunity to ensure the constant presence of a combat-ready aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, it would be reduced to the minimum required for reconnaissance, combat helicopter operations of army aviation and search and rescue operations, but the absence of such capabilities does not negate the need to maintain it in working order , which already exists.

Ka-52K Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin

The upcoming trip to the Syrian shores, judging by the statements of the Russian military leadership, has a very significant test value - new carrier-based MiG-29K fighters and Ka-52K combat helicopters will go to the Mediterranean Sea in the Kuznetsov hangar, and the latter ended up on the aircraft carrier almost by accident - having turned out to be the escheated inheritance of the French-built universal landing ships Vladivostok and Sevastopol, which were never received by the Russian Navy. In addition, the Su-33 fighters working with Kuznetsov throughout his entire service have been updated; according to some information, they have received an aiming and navigation system that ensures the use of air-to-surface ammunition, as well as anti-submarine and search and rescue deck helicopters Ka-27. From this point of view, the campaign should provide the necessary data for correcting combat training programs for carrier-based aircraft, which in the next few years will have to take place at coastal training grounds in the Crimea and Kuban, as well as to clarify plans for modernizing the on-board equipment of the ship itself. The actual combat use of carrier-based aircraft, given the presence of a full-fledged deployed air group in Syria, fades into the background, becoming part of the test program.

Throw away unnecessary things

The most interesting thing for Kuznetsov and the naval aviation of the Russian Navy will begin later. The content of the work within the framework of the upcoming repair and modernization of the only Russian aircraft carrier has not been officially disclosed, but its main directions can be assumed. First of all, this is the already mentioned replacement of the main units of the ship’s power plant. It is unlikely that one should expect radical solutions such as converting an aircraft carrier to nuclear or gas turbine power, but a modern Russian-made boiler-turbine installation with proper maintenance demonstrates the required level of reliability, which is proven by the existing experience in operating Project 956 destroyers as part of the PLA Navy, and the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning ( the former Varyag, built for the USSR Navy according to a project similar to the Kuznetsov) and the already mentioned Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya. A necessary requirement in this case is to ensure full speed of the ship (29 knots according to the project), and not only at a measured mile, but also in conditions of everyday operation with regular sharp changes in the operating modes of the ship's power.

Secondly, as already mentioned, Kuznetsov must receive new equipment that ensures the full operation of modern aircraft, with the exchange of information and the issuance of target designation in real time, including when interacting with A-50 early warning aircraft and Tu-214R reconnaissance aircraft , modernized IL-38, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites. Replacing electronics also includes updating the ship's radar systems, including those responsible for the use of its weapons.

Finally, thirdly, the ship must receive weapons that meet modern requirements for an aircraft carrier. According to experts in the field of combat use of carrier-based aircraft, this involves abandoning the Granit missile system originally installed on the Kuznetsov - the use of cruise missiles seriously complicates the use of aircraft, which are the main weapon of the ship, and makes it unsafe - given that heavy missiles at the start, the deck is heavily clogged, and this debris, sucked through the air intakes, can easily end up in the turbines of fighter aircraft operating in takeoff mode.

At the same time, the aircraft carrier must receive modern air defense systems, which, judging by today’s range of naval anti-aircraft systems, involves the installation of Pantsir-M missile and artillery systems, as well as either modernization of the Kinzhal air defense system using the latest 9M338 missiles with reduced weight and dimensions with increased characteristics, or the installation of the promising Redut air defense system instead of the Kinzhal.

Russia already has experience of such large-scale work on large ships - in particular, the Sevmash plant not so long ago delivered the Vikramaditya to India, and is now engaged in the repair and modernization of the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov for the Russian Navy, as a result of which the ship will be very seriously different from the original project.

Deck perspective

Despite all the misadventures of carrier-based aviation in Russia, whose fleet in the 20th century failed to acquire a full-fledged aircraft carrier component, today its necessity for naval aviation and the Navy as a whole is not questioned - at least by the fleet itself. From this point of view, given the existing problems with the construction of a new aircraft carrier - the shrinking budget does not give much hope for the implementation of these plans in the coming years - the repair and modernization of the Kuznetsov remains the only chance for carrier-based aviation to survive difficult times. The near future of carrier-based aviation is in one way or another connected with improving the performance of existing Su-33 fighters during their repair, as well as the development of the latest MiG-29K - unlike the Soviet prototype with the same index, which are full-fledged multi-purpose vehicles capable of using high-precision weapons. The fate of the Ka-52K is somewhat clearer, given that plans to build Russian universal landing ships in the coming years instead of the Mistrals that were not received from France are more realistic than hopes for a new aircraft carrier.

MiG-29K Photo: Eduard Chalenko

Finally, the repair of the Kuznetsov is the only chance to continue the project of the PAK-KA carrier-based fighter (advanced aviation complex for naval aviation), which, according to available information, is being created on the basis of the fifth generation fighter T-50 of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. This, ultimately, is a question of Russia’s competitiveness in the arms market - if India chose the MiG-29K for the first two aircraft carriers of the new generation - Vikramaditya and Vikranta, then this aircraft is unlikely to suit Indian admirals when choosing a group for a promising third ship , which is due to be built in the next decade. To hand over to a “probable partner” the carrier-based aviation market, in which Russia so far competes very successfully with the United States, would be at least a shame.

Ship of eternal repair

Before going to Syria, the ship, however, underwent another “cosmetic” repair, which also concerned primarily the power plant, but it did not solve all the accumulated problems.

Between opportunities and needs

Throw away unnecessary things