Konstantin Sivkov: The Navy Needs Aircraft Carriers — It's Too Early to Sentence the "Admiral Kuznetsov" to Death

Discussions about the fate of Russia's only aircraft carrier have once again intensified.

Picture: The "Admiral Kuznetsov" aircraft carrier. A reference photo.

If Russia can save its only aircraft carrier, the "Admiral Kuznetsov," it will gain significant economic benefits. Currently, the Russian Navy's General Staff has decided to put this heavy aircraft carrier into storage, and then either dismantle it or sell it.

Once stored, all usable mechanical devices on the ship will be removed and used as spare parts for other ships.

Evidently, if the ship is repaired and equipped with updated aircraft, it would mean a broad prospect for the Russian defense industry. The existence of an aircraft carrier would allow Russia to conduct large-scale joint military exercises with relevant countries, such as India, and expand military technology exports to these countries and others.

The Russian defense industry has already accumulated profitable experience in similar projects. Selling the "Vikramaditya" aircraft carrier to India brought Russia $2.3 billion, and India's purchase of MiG-29K carrier-based fighter jets added over $2 billion to Russia's revenue.

Other cooperation agreements were also reached, such as India ordering 14 Ka-31 long-range radar early warning helicopters. The channels through which India obtained Russian technology made Moscow a highly valuable partner in New Delhi's eyes. Interestingly, South Korean media also reported these cooperation details.

It should be noted that the modernization of the "Admiral Gorshkov" heavy aircraft carrier was carried out by the Northern Machine Building Plant in Severodvinsk. In 2013, after deep modernization, the ship was handed over to the Indian Navy.

Military expert, political scientist, naval captain, and military doctor Konstantin Sivkov pointed out that there are two aspects to consider regarding this issue: economic and military.

"The problem is not that the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' is useless for us. The military clearly knows that this ship is essential. The problem is, to put it politely, the 10 billion rubles allocated at the time may not have been used for their intended purpose.

Now, when they need to deliver a fully functional aircraft carrier, they cannot fulfill their promise. This is the core of the problem."

"Pravda of the Youth" (SP): Now there are views suggesting that drone technology has developed to the point where it can sink any aircraft carrier. Is this nonsense or is there some basis for it?

"This is a ridiculous statement misleading the public. There are now modern missiles far more powerful than drones, but aircraft carriers can completely intercept anti-ship missiles with their carrier air wings.

Carrier fighters can destroy aerial targets before enemy missiles enter the range of the ship's own surface-to-air missiles.

In addition, the aircraft carrier's airborne early warning aircraft or early warning helicopters can detect enemy missiles well before they enter the attack range, thus preparing for the interception of attacks. Ordinary ships (non-carriers) often cannot withstand air attacks."

"Pravda of the Youth": But there are currently underwater unmanned submersibles and radio-controlled "suicide" speedboats (suicide speedboats) as weapons.

"Underwater unmanned submersibles are slow and pose no threat to the ship formations, especially aircraft carriers.

The real threat is submarines with high speed that can reach the attack position.

However, an aircraft carrier like the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' can detect enemy submarines up to 150 kilometers away from the carrier using its anti-submarine aircraft or anti-submarine helicopters before the enemy submarine prepares to launch a torpedo attack.

Ordinary ships cannot do this. Additionally, helicopters are not threatened by submarines, while surface ships may be attacked by submarines and sunk.

Another most obvious example: Although missile weapons are powerful, when support for the land forces' coastal flank is needed, the difference between the two becomes apparent. For example, in Syria in 2016, apart from the 'Admiral Kuznetsov,' the entire Russian navy fired about 100 missiles at enemy positions, in other words, 100 tons of explosives, and each missile was very expensive.

Meanwhile, the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' completed 470 sorties of carrier-based aircraft within a month, inflicting far greater damage on the enemy than all other naval ships. Each sortie could drop 4 tons of explosives, totaling 1,600 tons — 14 times the destructive power of other ships.

If the target is a point-like important objective such as a command center or air defense system, it is indeed appropriate to use missiles, and such targets are worth using missiles for.

But if the target is dispersed ground forces across a wide area, using expensive missiles would be too costly. However, an aircraft carrier can easily complete such strike missions by dropping bombs via its carrier-based aircraft. Therefore, aircraft carriers are crucial for us...

Another important point: When it comes to intercepting strategic air strikes launched against our country, aircraft carriers can serve as mobile airports, deployed up to 400-500 kilometers away from the coast in the direction of threats, taking off carrier-based aircraft and engaging in combat further away than land-based aviation.

Its ability to intercept strategic air raids is far superior to that of land-based aviation. Therefore, experts believe that Russia needs at least four aircraft carriers, not just one...

That is why, in the state armaments plan for 2024-2033, it is planned to build three more aircraft carriers. Unfortunately, after nearly eight years of repairs, the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' has still not reached a combat-ready state."

Currently, there are reports that the ship may be officially removed from the navy's inventory, and its modernization work is said to have stopped.

Some crew members seem to have been transferred to the marines, which may be due to the increased automation of the ship, reducing the number of required crew members, or because there is no plan to return the ship to active service.

It is reported that two aircraft carrier design plans are likely to be implemented, while the third is still under study and not prioritized. Implementing any of these plans would require a lot of work to build the corresponding infrastructure. The final choice depends not only on the performance parameters of the future aircraft carrier but also on whether sufficient production capacity can be built.

Whether the Russian shipbuilding industry can complete the modernization of the "Admiral Kuznetsov" is still in doubt. After all, other countries are currently operating two aircraft carriers of the same class.

If the ship is dismantled without a replacement, it will inevitably cause domestic doubts, and the critics will not be limited to the military. Developing the capability to operate aircraft carriers has taken decades and involved huge resources.

Additionally, the strategic document "Basic Principles of National Maritime Activities until 2030" clearly states that both the Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet should be equipped with one aircraft carrier each.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7549140955799110186/

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