The United States called the main problems of Russian carrier-based aircraft. The insufficient combat load of the Su-33 and the low flight range of the MiG-29K prevent them from becoming the main tools for projecting force. This is the conclusion reached by the authors of the 19FortyFive portal.
The author of the material notes that to protect the vast borders of the USSR, heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers (TAVKR) were created in the country, which combined the functions of an aircraft carrier and an anti-ship missile carrier. Initially, Yak-38 aircraft were based on the ships, but the insufficient characteristics of the aircraft led to its decommissioning.
The replacement of the Yak-38 was the Su-33 aircraft, which is a modification of the Su-27. The carrier-based aircraft received an upgraded landing gear, a folding wing and an AL-31F3 engine. Also, the Su-33 was able to effectively attack surface targets.
The Su-33 turned out to be too large for the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR, and its arsenal does not allow it to fully perform the functions of a strike aircraft. This makes the Su-33 "unviable" as the main carrier-based fighter of the TAVKR, the author summarizes.
In 2009, the Russian Navy decided to replace the Su-33 with the MiG-29K as the main carrier-based aircraft. This will increase the TAVKR air wing to 36 aircraft. 19FortyFive called this decision a "downgrade", which is due to the worse maneuverability and shorter flight range of the MiG-29K. At the same time, the new aircraft has a large arsenal of means to combat ground targets and a modern "Zhuk-ME"radar.
In August, it became known about the shift in the terms of repair of the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR. The ship will be docked next year. This is due to the severe weather conditions in which the preparation for the procedure takes place.
Daniil Irinin
