Russia's quest to become an aircraft carrier power has been marred by failures, notably with the Su-33 fighter jet. Introduced in 1999, this carrier-based aircraft has struggled with numerous operational mishaps, including failed landings on the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only carrier.
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Beyond the fact that the USS New Jersey and her Iowa-class sister battleships would make gigantic targets, the reality is that smaller ships can do the same job. A bigger issue is that the U.S. Navy – like most of the other branches of the U.S. military – is struggling to meet recruiting goals.
The Russian Navy's Su-33, once a mainstay of its carrier-based fighter force, now faces an uncertain future as discussions around its operational viability and a shift towards the more cost-efficient and versatile MiG-29K continue to unfold. The Su-33 Flanker-D, known for its air superiority capabilities, has been hampered by limitations in its munition carrying capacity…
The Russian Navy's Admiral Kuznetsov, the sole aircraft carrier in its fleet, is mired in a quagmire of operational setbacks, repair delays, and technological hindrances. This troubling trajectory is compounded by the lack of a ready crew and the outdated and environmentally unfriendly fuel it uses – Mazut. Despite its checkered history, Moscow persists with…