Kasatonov: Russia and Ukraine should build aircraft carriers together to keep up with the U.S.

13.11.2010 Russia and Ukraine should build aircraft carriers together, said ADM Igor Kasatonov, adviser to Russia's Chief of General Staff on a Sevastopol's TV channel.

In addition, the naval officer recalled olden times when Soviet Black Sea Fleet pushed US Navy to east Mediterranean, and that his books are "studied in CIA", reports New Sevastopol. However, Kasatonov admitted that "of course, Americans have made great strides – they have state-of-the-art systems".

"I visited American aircraft carriers many times, as well as the British and Italian ones. That is a well-heeled shipbuilding school. This year I've been to New Delhi at the conference of "aircraft-carrying" states. There were 11 countries – Thailand, Brazil, Spain, the U.S. and others. All great and minor sea powers strive for aircraft carriers. And obviously, Russia should not lag in this area. Neither should Ukraine. So we have to get together and build carriers again. That is what I write in my books", Igor Kasatonov said.

We recall that Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov reported of problems appeared in Russian-Ukrainian talks on joint shipbuilding company; the difficulties are related to the company's capability to work at full capacity. According to him, it turned out that Russian shipyards are only one-third workloaded.