The aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov” will stand for a long repair
The only modernization of the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral Kuznetsov” will begin in late may in one of the maintenance plants in the Murmansk region, it will take almost two years, told RNS the sources in the shipbuilding industry and the Navy.
“Presumably at the end of may,” — said the interlocutor of the Agency, answering the question about the date of the repair and modernization of aircraft carrier. He noted that, according to the plans, restoration repair with a deep modernization will last about two years.
A large order can get the 35 or the 82nd ship-repair factories (both from Murmansk).
In turn, naval sources told the RNS that during the two-year modernization is expected to overhaul propulsion of the ship, and update carrier aviation.
“The basis of the air group will be naval MiG-29K and the naval version of the attack helicopter Ka-52K “Katran”, — said the Agency interlocutor.
He recalled that the prototypes of this technique have been tested during the recent cruise ship to the shores of Syria.
For a complete replacement wing aircraft “Kuznetsov” will require installation of additional equipment and systems supporting flights of “MiG” and kamovsky helicopters.
In addition, the carrier can obtain a new system of air and missile defense, including carrier-based version of anti-aircraft missile and gun complex “Pantsir-s”.
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral Kuznetsov” was launched over 30 years ago — December 4, 1985.
He remains the only active aircraft carrier of the seven similar ships built in the USSR in the 70-80-ies of the last century at the black sea shipbuilding plant in Nikolaev (now Ukraine).
Today the wing “Admiral Kuznetsov” consists of the su-33 and MiG-29K and helicopters Ka-52, Ka-29 and Ka-27. Russian aircraft carrier performed the task in the framework of the operation in Syria since 8 November 2016 and January 2017. For two months the pilots of naval aviation performed 420 sorties, of which 117 and 750 sorties for tasks of search and rescue and aviation transport security.
In the course of performing tasks off the coast of Syria the Russian force lost two fighter — su-33 and MiG-29K.
In both cases, the pilots ejected and survived.
Earlier, the head of the Department of shipbuilding of the Ministry of defense of the Russian Federation Vladimir rag-pickers reported that the Russian Navy can get an aircraft carrier with a nuclear power plant by the end of 2030. A source in the Russian shipbuilding industry told RNS that the laying of the new Russian aircraft carrier of new generation will not take place before 2022, the total cost, together with the air group could exceed 300 billion rubles. “Full funding for the new aircraft carrier will begin no earlier than 2022. To this end we have to choose the most relevant project and prepare the production for one of the shipyards”, — said the Agency interlocutor.
It is planned that the ship will be able to carry a few dozen carrier-based MiG-29K, as well as adapted to aircraft carrier aircraft of the 5th generation T-50. In addition, it will house the ship’s helicopters and drones. The total number of aircraft up to 100 units. The ship can carry ammunition cruise missiles and aerial bombs in quantities up to 5000 pieces.