Russian Navy


Part VII. Renewed Navy headed by a carrier

30.08.10
Text: RusNavy.com, D. Yerofeev
It is worth saying that today Russian defense shipbuilding is in tragic and, simultaneously, favorable situation. By a twist of fate, Russian Navy will be left without ships in a few years. But ironically, this may give it a chance to become the most advanced, powerful, and balanced navy in the world in a couple of decades. There's no need to scratch heads dejectedly looking at heaps of obsolete junk, trying to make up a tactical philosophy how to use it against our "sworn friends" and seeking for money to repair and complete similar old "buckets". Quite the reverse, we should turn over a new leaf and enter upon creation of new and advanced navy meeting to the utmost Russia's military, political, and economic requirements and the reality of 21st century.

Such global program needs integrated approach, taking into account all tendencies of national science, engineering, and industry. Only while concerned attitude of the state, industry, and capital, an aircraft carrier will become a basis of the Navy's modernization and one of the "pillars" of Russian defense industry's revival.


Admiral Kuznetsov on station. snariad.ru

Perhaps, creation of carrier forces in present-day Russia can be compared to Soviet space program of 50's-60's as of its scope, immensity, and consequences. Design and building of aircraft carriers and other ships shaping a harmonic carrier group will need involvement of the whole national industry and science. Indeed, it will require new energetics, up-to-date air-technical system, new deck-based aircraft. This will inevitably cause upgrade and construction of shipyards (including those at the Far East which is taking enormous geopolitical significance), shaping of supplying, maintenance, and basing infrastructure. With this in mind, it is worth reminding that current homeport of heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov is pier of 53rd Ship Repair Plant; the rest aircraft-carrying cruisers were simply based off harbors depleting service lives and wasting fuel.

In addition, only professionals can serve on such warships; therefore, a new approach to training of ship personnel and aircrews will be vitally needed. Consequently, it will be necessary to establish new training centers for pilots and mariners. New ships will also need advanced radio electronics, new self-defense systems, and many other things. It will definitely imply new investments to Russian science and high technologies. And finally that will reinforce Russia's positions as progressive, highly developed, and powerful state capable to meet any challenges of 21st century.

Table of contents

Part I. The story of Soviet carriers
Part II. Ideological bomb
Part III. And so the need was swelling…
Part IV. What kind of carriers and fighters do we need?
Part V. Catapult or ski-ramp?
Part VI. Choosing designer and shipyard
Part VII. Renewed Navy headed by a carrier

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