Russia Navy aircraft carrier Kuznetsov will not enter service before end of 2024.

According to information published by Tass on July 4, 2023, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to join Russia's Navy in late 2024 after undergoing repairs at the 35th shipyard for six years.
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Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. (Picture source: Yaplakal)

The latest plan entails conducting factory sea tests in spring, followed by state trials in the fall of 2024. If the vessel passes the tests smoothly, it could be transferred to the Navy by late 2024.

However, any issues during the trials could result in a postponement until 2025. The repair delays have been attributed to postponed deliveries from project-related companies and ongoing modifications to the client's requirements. Once the repairs and upgrades are completed, the aircraft carrier's service life will be extended by 20 years.

About the aircraft carrier

The ship has been undergoing repairs since 2018, facing various obstacles including accidents, fund embezzlement, and setbacks. It was relocated to different drydocks after the sinking of the floating drydock PD-50 in 2018 and a major fire in 2019.

The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, with a displacement ranging from 43,000 to 58,600 tons, features a length of 305 meters overall and a waterline length of 270 meters.

She is powered by steam turbines and eight turbo-pressurized boilers, providing a propulsion system capable of generating 200,000 horsepower (150 MW).

The carrier has a speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) and a range of 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). With a complement of 1,690 individuals and 3,857 rooms, she accommodates the ship's crew, air group personnel, and flag staff.

The carrier is armed with various weapons, including anti-aircraft guns, close-in weapon systems, anti-ship missiles, and surface-to-air missile launch systems.

She also has an air wing capacity for Su-33 and MiG-29K fighter jets, Ka-31 early warning helicopters, and Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopters. The Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier showcases Russia's naval capabilities and capacity for power projection at sea.