Now, five months later we are seeing conflicting reports on what happens next.
On March 19 Russia's United Shipbuilding Corp. said repairs and upgrades will be completed by 2021.
However, in a series of articles America's The National Interest says not only is the Admiral Kuznetsov headed for the scrap heap but that a Russian Chinese joint venture might be coming.
First though, the backstory from NewsRep:
Russia may scrap its only aircraft carrier to avoid the embarrassment of towing it around the globe
Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the long-troubled Admiral Kuznetsov, has long been seen as a bit of an embarrassment for the Kremlin, which fancies itself the world’s alternative to America’s brand of Western geopolitical leadership. Now, however, the Russian government is faced with a far more embarrassing possibility than a simple breakdown: having to tow the damaged carrier halfway around the world in order to reach a dry dock that can make it operational again.And The National Interest series:
Last October, the dry dock holding the Admiral Kuznetsov caught fire, eventually sinking into the sea and leaving the immobile carrier stranded where it was floating. A large crane that had been attached to the dry dock collapsed onto the carrier’s flight deck during the fire, tearing a large hole and adding to the extensive list of updates and repairs that had already seen repeated delays, thanks to Russia’s struggling economy and recent emphasis on the development of new missile technologies.
The only other dry dock Russia has access to that could support the effort to bring the Admiral back to life is the PD-41 dry dock, located in far eastern Russia. In order to reach that dry dock from where the carrier currently sits, it would need to sail out of the Kola Bay and through the Norwegian Sea, the North and South Atlantic, around the southern tip of Africa, across the Indian Ocean and then through both the North and South Pacific. Only then could the massive ship be hoisted back up out of the water where repairs could once again commence. There’s just one problem: the carrier’s propellers were removed before the last dry dock sank, meaning the ship cannot travel anywhere under its own power.
As a result, Russia may choose to use ocean-going tug boats to slowly drag the damaged vessel the thousands of miles it would take to reach the other dry dock, a spectacle that would be sure to catch the world’s attention as the Admiral Kuznetsov is already a frequent butt of foreign military jokes. Or, Russia can opt to simply do away with the carrier altogether, scrapping it for steel that could be used in other defensive enterprises....MORE
March 19
Aircraft Carrier Alliance: Would China Build These Deadly Warships for Russia?
March 24
Why Russia's Aircraft Carrier Dreams Won't Die
March 29
Naval Power: China's Navy Could Have 4 Aircraft Carriers (And Soon
April 9
Why Russia Has So Many Problems with Its Aircraft Carrier
April 10
Floating Ship Wrecks: These Aircraft Carriers Might Be the Worst Ever Built
April 10
Navy Riddle: Why Does Russia's Aircraft Carrier Pump Out So Much Black Smoke?
April 11
Imagine This: China Building New Aircraft Carriers for Russia
When the Admiral Kuznetsov transited the English Channel on its way to Syria in 2016 people on shore could see ship and were making fun of it. Calling it Old Smoky, dramatically plugging their noses etc:
We have a half dozen posts on the Chinese carriers, here are three:
China Is Building a Cruise Ship To Add to The Homebuilt Aircraft Carrier and Icebreaker
"China to Use First Atomic Icebreaker as Test for Future Nuclear Aircraft Carriers"
Things You Don't See Every Day: 15 Chinese PLA Navy Destroyers In One Picture
