Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru
Michael Peck, National Interest: Is Russia Giving Up on Aircraft Carriers?
Russia created a splash two years ago when it announced plans for a hundred-thousand-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that would rival America’s giant new Ford-class carriers.
Western and Russian defense experts quickly pooh-poohed the idea as unrealistic, an expensive $17 billion fantasy for a navy that has trouble enough operating Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.
The experts appear to be right. Russia’s five-year defense plan for 2020–25 calls for completely upgrading the nuclear forces, developing new fighters and bombers, and procuring new warships.
But these won’t be big warships like carriers. “The 2025 program will again prioritize the construction of new nuclear submarines and small (no larger than frigate-type) surface combatants,” according to Defense News.
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WNU Editor: If the Russian ministry's budget requests mean anything .... the answer is yes .... Russia is not going to be building a new aircraft carrier in the foreseeable future. This is in sharp contrast to U.S. plans .... US may build one aircraft carrier every three years and no new Russian carriers (Next Big Future)
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