The MiG-41 interceptor fighters currently being developed could be based on such aircraft carrier platforms, said one of their creators, Valentin Belanenko
ST. PETERSBURG, June 27. /TASS/. The technical problem of creating offshore platforms for deck aviation of the Russian Navy can be solved with the help of "floating berths" - non-nuclear aircraft carriers with a flight deck of about 500 meters. This opinion was expressed in an interview with TASS by one of the developers of aircraft carriers, Valentin Belanenko, who previously headed the planning department for promising surface ship projects of the Krylov State Scientific Center (KGNC).
"For our defense industry, it is technically feasible to build 2-3 "floating berths" in a relatively short time, which would be inexpensive and simple offshore platforms with a flight deck length of 500 meters and a displacement of about 60 thousand tons. Such light aircraft carriers would have a two-shaft gas turbine installation, like a destroyer, a speed of 28 knots and 50 aircraft on board, " he said on the sidelines of the International Naval Salon MVMS-2021.
According to the expert, MiG-41 interceptor fighters, currently being developed under the PAK DP program (a promising long-range interception aviation complex), could be based on such aircraft carrier platforms. "While our only aircraft carrier is under repair, the flight crew of carrier-based aviation inevitably stands idle and loses their qualifications, the infrastructure of training centers for training pilots remains unloaded. Therefore, it is time to start building light aircraft carriers, while developing promising marine aircraft carrier systems, " Belanenko said.
In his opinion, the Russian navy currently does not need nuclear aircraft carriers, whose power plants occupy several times more volume on board than gas turbine ones, which significantly limits the combat capabilities of ships. There is also no need to overarm and overload aircraft carriers in terms of functionality, as was the case with aircraft-carrying cruisers of Soviet projects.
Currently, the Russian Navy has a heavy aircraft carrier of the project 11435 "Admiral Kuznetsov". In April 2018, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation signed a contract with the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) to carry out medium repairs and limited modernization of the ship until 2022. Vice-president for military shipbuilding of USC Vladimir Korolev told TASS on the sidelines of the MVMS-2021 that the repair of the cruiser will be completed in 2023.