Russian USC says aircraft carrier overhaul could be delayed.

The overhauled Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier of Project 11435 is to be handed over to the Navy in 2021, but a three-four month delay is possible, United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) CEO Alexey Rakhmanov said.

The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier (Picture source : Lev Fedoseev/TASS)

"A delay of three-four months is possible, but the warship will be handed to the Navy in 2021 as scheduled," he said. The aircraft carrier will dock at the 35th shipyard in Murmansk where dry docks will be upgraded.

The USC will also upgrade landing ships of Project 11711 according to Navy remarks. "We shall take into account all drawbacks exposed by the Navy in the construction of the next pair of landing ships," Rakhmanov said. They will have improved maneuverability, ergonomics and living conditions.

The corporation has not yet begun to build the first pair of frigates of Project 11356 ordered by India. "We have to begin the construction of the first pair of warships and prepare to do the same work in India," he said. Russia and India signed contracts for the supply of four frigates in November 2018. Two warships have to be built by Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea and another two by Goa Shipyard Limited in India.

Rakhmanov also said the USC had not yet decided what to do with the third frigate hull built by Yantar for the Russian Navy. "I cannot exactly say what will happen to it. We shall be pragmatic," he said. Either will the hull be completed, or a new one will be built from scratch. In the former case the hull will have to be transported to India for completion.

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