Russia Is Jealous: Will Moscow Build Its Own Nuclear Aircraft Carriers?
Russia isn’t likely to acquire a new carrier, conventional or nuclear, any time soon. Carriers simply cost too much, and smaller helicopter carriers are a higher priority.
Here s What You Need to Remember: In the medium term, the Kremlin is focusing on buying two helicopter carriers. Each displacing just 15,000 tons of water, these smaller aviation ships could cost just a few billions dollars apiece and should be much easier to operate than a full-size flattop is.
Russia could build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier finally to replace its solitary, unreliable, and fire-damaged conventional flattop
Despite the numerous delays, the Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that
Admiral Kuznetsov – currently the largest warship and the only aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy – is on schedule for a sea trial in the Barents Sea next year. When in service she can reportedly carry twenty-six aircraft and twenty-four helicopters on the flight deck and in the under-deck hangar.
Russia s sole aircraft carrier,
Admiral Kuznetsov, is still undergoing repairs. However, apparently part of the delay in returning the warship to duty is that the dry dock of the 35th Zvyozdochka Shipyard in Murmansk needs to be overhauled and upgraded first. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has called for the efforts to repair the dry dock to be accelerated and that could involve coming up with a clear schedule.