The Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov (originally named Tbilisi) is an aircraft carrier (heavy aircraft carrying cruiser (TAVKR) in Russian classification) serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy. She was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy, and was intended to be the lead ship of the Kuznetsov class (also known as Project 1143.5, the Riga class, or the Brezhnev class) but the only other ship of her class, Varyag, has never been commissioned and was sold to the People's Republic of China by Ukraine under the condition she would never be refitted for combat. Kuznetsov was named after the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov.

Armament

Unlike more conventional aircraft carriers, which carry little organic armament, Kuznetsov has a P-700 Granit/SS-N-19 'Shipwreck' anti-ship missile system equipped with twelve surface-to-surface missile launchers. The Klinok air defense missile system, with 24 vertical launchers and 192 missiles, defends the ship and her task force against anti-ship missiles, aircraft, and surface ships. This heavy surface- to-surface armament is necessitated by the ship's lack of catapults, which makes launching fully loaded strike craft difficult.

The Kashtan Air Defence Gun and Missile System, supplied by the Instrument Design Bureau and Tulamashzavod JSC in Tula, provides defense against precision weapons including anti-ship and anti-radar missiles, aircraft, and small sea targets. Eight systems are fitted, combining a missile launcher, 30 mm twin guns, and radar/optronic director. The range of the laser beam-riding missiles is from 1.5 to 8 km. The guns can fire up to 10,000 rounds per minute at a range of 0.5 to 1.5 km. Six AK630 30 mm air defence guns are also fitted.

The ship is also equipped with an Udav-1 anti-submarine system with 60 anti-submarine rockets. Udav-1, supplied by the Splav Research and Production Association in Moscow, protects surface ships by diverting and destroying incoming torpedoes. The system also provides defense against submarines and saboteur systems such as underwater vehicles. The system has ten barrels and is capable of firing 111SG depth charge projectiles, 111SZ mine laying projectiles, and 111SO diverting projectiles. The range of the system is 3000 m and the submarine engagement depth is to 600 m.

Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov, which was constructed at Nikolayev South Shipyard in Nikolayev, was launched in 1985, and she became fully operational in 1995. An official ceremony of construction starting was on September 1, 1982, in fact she was laid down in 1983. The vessel was first named Riga, but in November 1982 the name was changed to Leonid Brezhnev, in August 1987 to Tbilisi, and finally on October 4, 1990 to Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov, in short referred to as Admiral Kuznetsov. In summer of 1989 the ship was completed in 71%. In November 1989 she undertook first trials of aircraft operations. In December 1991 she sailed from the Black Sea to her destiny Northern Fleet. Only from 1993 she started to be equipped with planes. Kuznetsov made a brief Mediterranean training cruise early in 1996. At the end of 1997 she remained immobilized in a Northern Fleet shipyard, awaiting funding for major repairs that were halted when only 20% complete. The overhaul was finally completed in July 1998, and the ship was formally returned to active service in the Northern fleet on November 3, 1998. Apparently, the ship remained in port for about two years. In the autumn of 2000, the Kuznetsov went to sea for operations related to the rescue and salvage operations of the submarine Kursk. Plans for further operations were postponed or cancelled. In late 2003 and early 2004, the Kuznetsov went to sea for inspection and trials. In late October 2004, she participated in a fleet exercise of the Russian navy in the Atlantic Ocean. The Kuznetsov later participated again in September 2005. During the 2005 exercise one of its Su-33 'Flanker' aircraft had an accident, and fell from the carrier into the Atlantic Ocean.

Although money shortages and technical problems have resulted in limited operations, it is expected that Admiral Kuznetsov will remain in active duty until at least 2025.

[Source: Wikipedia]

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