From United24 Media, September 18:
Russia is preparing to retire its only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, effectively shutting down its fixed-wing carrier aviation and raising doubts about whether Moscow can still claim blue-water naval power status.
Admiral Kuznetsov, a 58,000-ton Project 1143.5 aircraft-carrying cruiser launched in the late Soviet era, has been plagued by mishaps throughout its life, defense media outlet Army Recognition reported on September 18.
The ship’s latest refit became a saga of dock accidents, on-board fires, and endless delays. Its aging propulsion system—eight boilers feeding four turbines—has long been maintenance-heavy, and sanctions have further complicated access to spare parts. With resources consumed by the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin appears ready to cut its losses.
Design limitations
Unlike Western carriers, Kuznetsov was built with a heavy weapons load—P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles, Kinzhal SAMs, and Kashtan close-in defenses—while relying on a ski-jump STOBAR deck instead of catapults, Army Recognition wrote.That layout capped the launch weight of its Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters and prevented the operation of heavier aircraft like fixed-wing early warning planes. Instead, Russia depended on Ka-31 helicopters for radar coverage, a solution far inferior to the E-2 Hawkeye or similar platforms used by NATO navies....
....MUCH MORE
In 2019 we posted "Russia May Scrap Its Only Aircraft Carrier and Buy Chinese" which had been preceded by "Russia's only aircraft carrier damaged after crane falls on it—and the drydock sank" which was followed a couple weeks later by "UPDATE: "Why the Russian Navy Could Be in Serious Trouble"".
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:
Some days are worse than others:
Let it go Vlad, let it go.
