Basic Information

Name

Kuznetsov Class (Project 11435 Class) Russian Aircraft Carrier

Designation

Kuznetsov Class

Alternate Designation

Kuznetsov Class; Admiral Kuznetsov Class; Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov Class

Equipment Type

Aircraft Carrier

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1990

Description

The Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, Soviet designation Project 11435, is a class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers operated by the Russian and Chinese navies. Originally designed for the Soviet Navy, the Kuznetsov-class ships use a ski-jump to launch high-performance conventional aircraft in a STOBAR configuration. The design represented a major advance in Soviet fleet aviation over the Kiev-class carriers, which could only launch VSTOL aircraft. The Soviet Union's classification for the class was as a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, which permits the ships to transit the Turkish Straits without violating the Montreux Convention, however, the Chinese variants are classified as aircraft carriers. Because of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the three Kuznetsov-class ships were built over a protracted construction period of almost four decades. Two ships were originally laid down at the Nikolayev South Shipyard in the Ukrainian SSR, to be followed by the first of the Ulyanovsk-class nuclear-powered supercarriers. Only the lead ship Admiral Kuznetsov had been commissioned when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and the ship now serves in the Russian Navy. The construction of her sister ship Varyag was abandoned until 1998, when an independent Ukraine sold the uncompleted ship to China for use as a floating casino, along with a complete set of blueprints. Varyag was eventually completed and commissioned in 2012 as China's first aircraft carrier, the Type 001 aircraft carrier Liaoning. China subsequently constructed the third ship to a modified Type 002 design, commissioning Shandong in 2019.

Variants

Admiral Kuznetsov Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov was designed by the Neva Design Bureau, St. Petersburg, and built at the Nikolayev South Shipyard (Chernomorskoye Shipyard) in the Ukrainian SSR. She was launched in 1985, commissioned in 1990, and became fully operational in 1995. The vessel was named Riga, Leonid Brezhnev, and Tbilisi, before finally being named after Soviet admiral Nikolay Kuznetsov. During the winter of 1995–1996, Admiral Kuznetsov deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to mark the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. In late 2000, Admiral Kuznetsov went to sea for recovery and salvage operations for the submarine Kursk. In late 2007 and early 2008, Admiral Kuznetsov again deployed to the Mediterranean. Most recently, Admiral Kuznetsov was deployed to the Mediterranean in late 2016 and early 2017 to support Russian operations in Syria. Although technical and financial problems have limited operations, Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to remain in service until approximately 2025.

Liaoning The second hull of the Kuznetsov class took a much more roundabout route to active service. Known first as Riga and then Varyag, she was laid down by the Nikolayev South Shipyard in 1985 and launched in 1988. Varyag had not yet been commissioned when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and the ship was left to deteriorate in the elements. In 1998, the unfinished hull was sold by Ukraine to what was apparently a Chinese travel agency for ostensible use as a floating hotel and casino. After an eventful journey under tow, she arrived in China in February 2002 and was berthed at the Dalian naval shipyard, where she was overhauled and completed as China's first aircraft carrier. In September 2012, the ship was commissioned in the Chinese navy as Liaoning. The ship was named after the province where the shipyard is located, and its Chinese ship class is Type 001. Today, she serves as the first aircraft carrier of the PLAN, and its home port is Qingdao

Shandong The second Chinese aircraft carrier was constructed in China according to a modified design, known as Type 002. The ship was laid down in 2013 at the Dalian naval shipyard and was launched on 26 April 2017. Sea trials began on 13 May 2018, and the ship was commissioned as Shandong on 17 December 2019.

System

Alternative Designation Kuznetsov Class; Admiral Kuznetsov Class; Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov Class

Type Aircraft Carrier

Builder Cheronomorskiy (Nosenko) SY 444, Nikolayev, Ukraine

Ship Crew 1,960 (518 off. + 1,442 enl.)

Air Group Crew 626 ea

Flagstaff Officers 40 ea

Dimensions

Length, Overall 304.5 m

Length, Waterline 280.0 m

Beam, Overall 70.0 m

Beam, Flight Deck 68.5 m

Beam, Waterline 37.0 m

Draft 10.5 m

Hanger, Length 153.0 m

Hanger, Width 26.0 m

Hanger, Height 7.2 m

Displacement, Light 43,000 tons

Displacement, Standard 46,640 tons

Displacement, Full Load 59,440 tons

Propulsion System

Engine Name 4 x TV12-4

Engine Type Geared steam turbines

Engine Power 200,000 total shp; 4 shafts

Boilers 8 x KVG-4 turbo-pressure 64 kg/cm sq

Fuel Type Unlike most western naval ships that use gas turbines or nuclear power, the Admiral Kuznetsov is a conventionally powered ship that uses mazut as a fuel, often leading to a visible trail of heavy black smoke that can be seen at a great distance. Russian naval officials have said that the failure to properly preheat the heavy mazut fuel prior to entering the combustion chamber may contribute to the heavy smoke trail associated with the ship.

Diesel Generators 6 x 1,500 kW each

Maximum Speed 30 knots

Range 3,850 nm at 29 knots; 8,500 nm at 18 knots;12,000 nm at 10 knots

Endurance 45 days

Gun Weapon Systems

Gun Weapon System #1

Name AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Type Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Caliber 30 mm

Quantity 6 x AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Main Armament 1 or 2 x AO-18 autocannons

Secondary Armament 4 x 9A4172 missiles

Crew 1

Barrel Length 1,629 mm

Width 1,240 mm

Height 1,070 mm

Weight, Gun Mount 1,000 kg

Barrels 6 ea

Action Gas-operated rotary cannon

Elevation +88° ... -12° (50°/sec)

Traverse ±180° (70°/sec

Rate of Fire 4,000–5,000 rounds/min

Muzzle Velocity 880–900 m/s

Maximum Firing Range the projectiles self-destruct past 5,000 m

Effective Firing Range 4,000 m (13,000 ft) (aerial) 5,000 m (16,000 ft) (maritime)

Feed System 2,000 rounds

Sights Radar / TV-optical

Gun Weapon Systems #1 Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 30 mm

Shell HEI-Frag, Frag-T

Shell Weight 0.39 kg

Basic Load INA

Gun Weapon System #2

Name Kashtan Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Type Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Caliber 30 mm

Quantity 8 x Kashtan Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Main Armament 8 x SA-N-11 Grison (9M-311) Missiles

Secondary Armament 2 × AO-18K autocannon

Length INA

Height 2,250 mm

Weight 15,500 kg

Barrels 2 × 6 (guns); 2 × 4 launch tubes

Action Gas-operated rotary cannon

Rate of Fire, Guns 9,000 rounds/min (guns)

Rate of Fire, Missles 1–2 (salvo) missiles per 3–4 sec

Muzzle Velocity 860 m/s

Maximum Effective Firing Range, Guns 500–4,000 m

Maximum Effective Firing Range, Missile 1,500–8,000 m

Gun Weapon Systems #2 Missiles

Name SA-N-11 Grison (9M-311)

Type Surface-to-Air Missile

Length 2,560 mm

Warhead Weight 9 kg

Weight 57 kg

Warhead Continuous-rod and steel cubes

Detonation Mechanism Laser fuze (Radio fuze for 9M311-M1)

Propellant Solid-fuel rocket

Operational Range 8 km

Flight Ceiling 3,500 m

Boost Time 2 stages: boost to 900 m/s, then sustained 600 m/s stage to range

Maximum Speed 900 m/s

Guidance System Radio Command guidance

Steering System rocket motor with four steerable control surfaces

Accuracy 5 m

Gun Weapon Systems #2 Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30×165mm

Basic Load INA

Missile Weapon System

Missile #1

Name SS-N-19 Shipwreck (P-500 Granit)

Type Anti-Ship Missile

Manufacturer Chelomey design bureau, Moscow, Russia

Launcher 12 x SS-N-19 Shipwreck (P-500 Granit) SSM launchers

Length 10 m

Diameter 0.85 m

Engine 1 x turbojet sustainer and 2 x solid-fuel boosters

Guidance System inertial w/command update, active radar/IR inertial w/anti-radar homing

Warhead 750 kg conventional high-explosive; or 500 kiloton nuclear

Maximum Speed Mach 1+

Range 340 nm (390 mi, 630 km)

Basic Load 24 x SS-N-19 Shipwreck Anti-Ship Missiles

Missile #2

Name SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal)

Type Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)

Manufacturer MPO Fakel (formerly Grushin OKB) design bureau, Khimky, Russia

Launcher 24 x SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal) 8-cell vertical SAM launchers

Length INA

Diameter INA

Warhead conventional high-explosive

Missile Weight 165 kg

Warhead Weight 15 kg

Engine 1 x solid-fuel rocket

Radar Cross Swords fire-control

Maximum Range 12.0 km

Minimum Range 1.5 km

Altitude 12,190-18,290 m

Basic Load 192 x SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)

Aircraft Facilities

Aircraft 12 x Su-33 Flanker-D fighters; or 4 x MiG-29KUB 2-seat; and 20 x MiG-29K single-seat fighters

Helicopters 14 x Ka-27PL Helix-A ASW helicopters; 3 x Ka-29RLD Helix AEW helicopters; 2 x Ka-27PS Helix-C SAR helicopters

Take-Off of Fixed Wing Aircraft For take-off of fixed wing aircraft, Admiral Kuznetsov uses a ski-jump at the end of her bow. On take-off aircraft accelerate toward and up the ski-jump using their afterburners. This results in the aircraft leaving the deck at a higher angle and elevation than on an aircraft carrier with a flat deck and catapults

Ski-Jump Take-Off The ski-jump take-off is less demanding on the pilot, since the acceleration is lower, but results in a clearance speed of only 120–140 km/h (75–87 mph) requiring an aircraft design which will not stall at those speeds.

Note The KUZNETSOV can carry a maximum of 50 aircraft divided between 26 fix-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters.teh number of aircraft or helicopters can be increased by decreasing the number of the other embarked platforms.

Fire Control Systems

SA-N-9 Missiles FSC 4 x MR-360 Podkat (Cross Sword) fire control for SA-N-9 missiles

Hot Flash FSC 8 x 3P-87 (Hot Flash) fire control (on Kortik mounts)

Laser Optronic 1 x Bob Tail telescoping optronic director and 3 x Tin Man TV/IR/laser optronic

Laser Warning System 4 x Spektr-F (Half Cup) laser warning

Radar Systems

3D Air Search Radar 1 x MR-710 Fregat-MA (Top Plate-B) 3D air search radar

Air Search Radars 2 x MR-320M Topaz (Strut Pair) air search radars

Navigation Radars 3 x MR-212/201 Vaygach-U (Palm Frond) navigation radars

Carrier Approach Radars 2 x Fly Trap carrier approach radars (for aircraft landing)

Sonar Systems

Hull Mounted Sonar 1 x MG-365 Zvezda M-1 hull-mounted low-frequency

Protection

Wine Glass Intercept / Jammer 8 ea

Flat Track Intercept / Jammer 4 ea

Bell Push Intercept / Jammer 8 ea

Bell Nip Intercept / Jammer 4 ea

Direction Finder /ESM Systems 3 x Cross Loop, direction finder/ESM systems

NBC Water Washdown System Yes

Rocket Decoy 2 x twin PK-2 decoy rocket launchers and 2 x 10-round fixed PK-10 decoy rocket launchers

Image Sources

Notes https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-says-navy-drives-off-dangerously-close-nato-submarein-eastern-mediterranean/28107356.html; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MOD_UK_45153831.jpg; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_Kuznetsov; https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier;