«США и союзники по НАТО вздохнули с облегчением»: на западе пристально следят за ремонтом авианосца «Адмирал Кузнецов»

The Russian aircraft carrier of Project 1143.5 "Admiral Kuznetsov" carries missile weapons on board that surpass the ship's air wing in terms of power. The undeniable features of the vessel were highlighted in an article by the American publication The National Interest (TNI).

A TNI analyst writes that "Admiral Kuznetsov" was originally designed to house a missile base that surpasses the aircraft launched from its deck in terms of power. The aircraft carrier's armament consisted of 12 launchers for "Granit" anti-ship missiles with a warhead weighing 750 kilograms.

The ship's anti-torpedo defense was provided by the RBU-12000 "Udav" rocket complex, and reliable protection against air targets was provided by AK-630 artillery mounts, the "Kortik" artillery complex, and the "Kinzhal" anti-aircraft missile system.

The TNI journalist emphasizes that the power of the aircraft carrier lies not in how many and what kind of fighters it can accommodate. An aircraft carrier dependent on its own anti-missile defense introduces a "unique approach to naval warfare".

The idea behind the Admiral Kuznetsov's missile complex was that it could challenge an American aircraft carrier battle group while remaining out of range of enemy ships and aircraft, and launch anti-ship missiles from a distance of 350 miles (~ 648 km).

The National Interest

These missiles can overwhelm ship defenses with sheer numbers. TNI notes that "fortunately for the United States and NATO, 'Kuznetsov' was cursed."

Indeed, the only Russian aircraft carrier has recently been plagued by a series of misfortunes. In 2018, an accident occurred in Murmansk during the repair of a floating dock. A twenty-meter crane fell on the deck, killing one worker and injuring four others. The "Kuznetsov" got away with a six-meter hole above the waterline. In 2019, a fire broke out on the ship due to an accident during welding work. The fire was only contained the next day, killing two people and injuring 14. And in late 2022, the ship experienced another fire.

Now that the "Kuznetsov" is in dry dock for an extended period, the Russians have no aircraft carrier, and they cannot use it at sea. This limits the capabilities of the Russian Navy. But in its time, the "Kuznetsov" could have inflicted great damage with its ship-killing missiles. The US Navy and the surface fleets of various NATO allies breathed a sigh of relief knowing that they never had to face an aircraft carrier battle group of the Russian or Soviet Navy in its prime.

The National Interest

Currently, the "Admiral Kuznetsov" is undergoing repair and modernization, after which its service life will be extended by 20 years. It was initially reported that the aircraft carrier would return to the Armed Forces in the first quarter of 2024.