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Russian Navy Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov Slated for Cruise to Mediterranean Sea

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Naval Forces News - Russia
 
 
 
Russian Navy Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov Slated for Cruise to Mediterranean Sea
 
The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier is scheduled for a cruise to the Mediterranean this summer, a ranking source in the Russian Navy told TASS on Wednesday. "A cruise to the Mediterranean is planned for the Kuznetsov this summer. The carrier will lead the standing naval force in the region," the source said.
     
The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier is scheduled for a cruise to the Mediterranean this summer, a ranking source in the Russian Navy told TASS on Wednesday. "A cruise to the Mediterranean is planned for the Kuznetsov this summer. The carrier will lead the standing naval force in the region," the source said.
Russian Navy's sole aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov (picture: US DoD)
     
At present, ship is at the 35th Shipyard in Murmansk, where she is being maintained prior to the cruise. In particular, her magazines will have been upgraded to accommodate new types of air-launched weapons by early summer.

The officer did not go into detail on the carrier’s mission as the flagship of the Russian Navy’s Mediterranean standing force.

After the carrier has completed its mission in the Mediterranean, she will undergo repairs expected to take 24-36 months. "Kuznetsov will start the repairs designed for 24-36 months late this year," the source said.
According to him, the Kuznetsov’s air wing will be updated too.

Russian Navy Shipbuilding Department Chief Vladimir Tryapichnikov previously said that the Kuznetsov’s upgrade would afford the ship "a new air wing and new capabilities". According to him, the carrier will be able to carry advanced Mikoyan MiG-29K (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum-D) fighters and "other planes".

The Russian Navy began to form a standing naval force in the Mediterranean in 2013. As a rule, over 10 warships are there on the rotational basis.

Previously, the Project 11442 Pyotr Veliky (Kirov-class) nuclear-powered heavy guided missile cruiser and Project 1164 Moskva and Varyag (Slava-class) guided missile cruisers used to be the Russian Navy’s largest ships leading the standing naval force in the Mediterranean. The Varyag, the Pacific Fleet’s flagship, is in the Mediterranean at present.

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