Technical design of future Russian aircraft carrier to be completed in 2010

05.08.2010 Technical design of future Russian aircraft carrier will be completed by the end of 2010, reports RIA Novosti citing Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief.

"The issue of future carrier for Russian Navy has not been put away; the order given by the country leaders is still in effect. Technical design of a ship will be ready by the end of the current year", said Vysotsky. He added that the project was being developed by several agencies, including Northern Design Bureau and Nevskoye Design Bureau.

According to the commander, it is too soon to talk about appearance of the carrier. "And about displacement, too. Designers should fulfill a number of requirements. If they place everything in a matchbox, no problem. If they make an American-like giant [over 100,000 tons – editors], they will have to justify that", said Vysotsky.

Among requirements to the future carrier, the Navy Commander named reliable air defense (with kill probability at least 80%) of combined task forces within one operational area out of coastal AD assets; keeping standby mode in peacetime; and gaining air dominance in wartime within assigned region.

Vysotsky is sure that Russian Navy does need aircraft carriers. "For instance, if we have no carriers in the north, combat stability of Northern Fleet SSBNs would be nullified no later than in the second day of operations, since aircraft is the principal opponent for submarines", said Vysotsky.

The admiral pointed up once more that a special purpose-oriented governmental program should be developed. "It is my invincible belief that construction of the aircraft carrier should be carried out beyond defense order. A special program should be developed, but we don't have it so far. All we have are only approaches", the commander said.

Previously, numerous experts said to RIA Novosti that in any case it would be nuclear-powered carrier with displacement of 50-60 th. tons.