Russian design bureau displays future nuclear-powered aircraft carrier project.

The Nevskoye Design Bureau (part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation) displayed scale models of Project 11430E ‘Lamantin’ nuclear-powered aircraft carrier during a meeting of Russian military officials and navy commanders in Sevastopol in early January.

Project 11430E ‘Lamantin’ nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (Picture source: TASS)

The ‘Lamantin’ aircraft carrier is designated to provide for the deployment and the combat use of an air task force that comprises various types of shipborne aircraft capable of employing weapons and armament against air, sea (submarine and surface) forces, and also land troops and ground installations of an enemy in the oceanic, maritime and coastal waters, and also to ensure naval groups’ combat sustainability and provide cover for amphibious assault troops and their landing force against strikes and attacks by enemy air-launched weapons," the project’s description says.

According to the materials presented on the Nevskoye Design Bureau’s display stand, the aircraft carrier that will get a nuclear-powered propulsion unit will displace 80,000-90,000 tonnes, feature a maximum length of 350 meters, have sea endurance of about 120 days and will be capable of developing a speed of about 30 knots. The aircraft carrier will have a crew of 2,800 and its air task force will comprise 800 personnel. The carrier will have a service life of over 50 years.

Among the items on display was a scale model of a Kalibr-armed version of the Project 20386 medium-sized multi-capability surface combatant. The modified platform features a reinforced armament suite. Two eight-cell 3S-14 vertical launch systems (VLSs) for Kalibr, Tsirkon (Zircon) and Oniks missiles are mounted between the superstructure and the forward-mounted A-190-01 100 mm naval gun in a low-radar signature turret, while two eight-cell 3S.97 VLSs for Redut surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) are located in front of the gun. In addition, two new 57 mm guns capable of striking both aerial and small surface targets have replaced two aft-mounted AK-630 30 mm close-in weapon systems.