Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Will Not See Better Days

Reuters

Zachary Keck, National Interest: Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Is Doomed

Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the aging Admiral Kuznetsov, is in big trouble.

This week, a Russian-language report in Interfax disclosed that Russia has cut in half funding for repairing and modernization its aircraft carrier. “Instead of [the] previously planned approximately 50 billion rubles [$867 million] for the work, it is planned to allocate about half of the previously announced amount,” Interfax reported, citing a source “familiar” with the situation.

The same source said that the budgetary problems has forced Russia to abandon plans to modernize the carrier, and instead Moscow will only proceed with the previously planned repairs. These will primarily focus on fixing the vessel's propulsion system, the report added. This is the absolute minimum Russia can do to avoid completely scrapping the ship: the propulsion system has been so unreliable that the carrier must be accompanied at all times by a large, ocean-going tug ship in case it breaks down (again).

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Update #1: Russia's Dilapidated Aircraft Carrier To Get a Downer of an Upgrade (Popular Mechanics)
Update #2: Russia Cuts Funds for Aircraft Carrier Modernization (The Diplomat)

WNU Editor: It appears that Moscow has budgetary problems.