The country’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has been in dock for repairs since 2017, and many doubt it will ever sail again. If this extended maintenance is any indication of the many mechanical and operational problems with the vessel, then it is somewhat indicative of what is going on with Russia’s naval potential in the greater scheme.
Admiral Kuznetsov runs on Mazut fuel, a Cold War-era petrochemical that has long since been deemed obsolete. That and the extremely poor design of the bow ramp for launching aircraft show major lapses in military technology for Russia. Its continued problems, including boiler failures, poor piping, and structural damage have brought into question the future of Russia’s naval power.
It was only supposed to return to fleet service in 2021, but the continued setbacks have repeatedly pushed that date. It’s now forecasted that the sea trials of the Kuznetsov will be done this spring of 2024 at the factory. If there are more problems with these tests, return may happen as late as 2025, or even later.
The Ukraine conflict has further strained Russia’s resources. It is unlikely that investments in a new aircraft carrier will be made anytime soon. The troubled history and anemic capabilities suggest that even if Kuznetsov does return to service, it is likely to have an extremely low impact. The capability of the carrier is further handicapped by the use of Mazut fuel, which results in thick hazardous exhaust fumes, and its outdated bow ramp for launching aircraft.
Its mechanical issues and other infrastructure problems have haunted the Kuznetsov’s design since it was built during the Cold War. Designed to serve and escort submarines with missiles and other aircraft, the carrier has not had an easy time performing such tasks because of the many mechanical issues it has developed. Poorly designed piping and boiler systems further exacerbate the situation, which already suffers from a very limited capability.
The carrier has had only one combat deployment mission to Syria in 2016-2017-and it even lost two aircraft because of faulty arresting wires. Combined with numerous fires, a falling crane, and embezzlement at the shipyard where it underwent repairs, that has furthered Kuznetsov’s troubled record.
With the continuing invasion of Ukraine and scant resources devoted to the repair of the carrier, it is anybody’s guess whether the Kuznetsov will ever return to service. Scrapping the vessel altogether could be a better course of action for Moscow, according to some experts.
The future of Admiral Kuznetsov may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: Russia’s only aircraft carrier stands for wider military challenges experienced by the nation.