Russia’s sole aircraft carrier to be upgraded to carry generation 4++ fighter jets

August 6, 2018

TASS:

MOSCOW, August 6. /TASS/. Russia’s sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will be upgraded to carry deck-based generation 4++ MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB fighter jets, Head of the Nevskoye Design Bureau (the developer of the warship’s modernization project) Sergei Orlov told TASS on Monday.

“MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB, Su-33 planes and some types of helicopters will be based on the warship. Some adjustments will be made precisely to accommodate MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB aircraft. Pilots want something new, something better and more reliable. Actually, the entire aircraft and technical compound of shipborne systems will be modernized,” he said.

The Project 11435 heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov entered service in 1991. It displaces about 59,000 tonnes and has a length of 306 meters. The aircraft carrier develops a speed of up to 30 knots.

Apart from the air task force of 24-26 fighter jets and 12 helicopters, the Admiral Kuznetsov is armed with anti-ship and air defense missile systems, artillery guns and carries anti-submarine warfare weapons. It has a crew of 1,300 while the air group’s personnel numbers 660 men.

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