Summary and Key Points: Retired Russian Vice Admiral Vladimir Pepelyaev has advocated for the Russian Navy to construct a new aircraft carrier with a displacement of 70,000 to 90,000 tons, potentially armed with Su-57 jets.

-The proposed carrier would enhance Russia's power projection capabilities and restore prestige lost due to the current lack of an operational carrier.

-The Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only carrier, is outdated and undergoing prolonged repairs. Despite the strategic and symbolic importance of an aircraft carrier, Russia faces significant resource constraints and operational challenges, making the likelihood of constructing a new supercarrier doubtful.

Can Russia Build a New Aircraft Carrier Amidst Ongoing Challenges?

According to retired Russian Vice Adm. Vladimir Pepelyaev, the Russian Navy should plan to build a new aircraft carrier. 

“Our promising aircraft carrier should have a displacement of 70 to 90 thousand tons,” Pepelyaev said, EurAsian Times reported. “But the most important thing is not the displacement, not air drones, but aircraft. Today, we have Su-33 and MiG-29K/Cube. In the future our aircraft carrier should be armed with Su-57.”

The Significance of an Aircraft Carrier

Russian possible plans to build a new supercarrier would be significant. Russia currently has no operational aircraft carrier. The Russian Navy’s lone carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has been undergoing repairs for several years, and many observers believe she will never sail again. Even if Kuznetsov does one day set back out to sea, she is a terribly outdated vessel, running on a viscous, mid-century petro-fuel called Mazut that produces a black-tar-like emission. 

Russia’s lack of a working aircraft carrier undermines the nation’s claim to superpower status. By comparison, America has 11 aircraft carriers – all nuclear-powered – while China has three and is building more. The aircraft carrier, perhaps more than any other weapons system, indicates a nation’s overall power. The vessel confers a degree of prestige, and in Russia’s case, the lack of an aircraft carrier confers a lack of prestige.

Russia has a purely military incentive for building an aircraft carrier, too. Carriers allow a nation to project air power from well beyond its borders, expanding its scope of influence. And in Russia’s case, a new, power-projecting naval vessel would be well-timed to supplement a navy that has been gutted during the Russo-Ukraine War.

“Vice Admiral Pepelyaev has been vocal about the need for a carrier to combat threats at sea,” EurAsian Times reported. “He earlier asserted the need for Russia to maintain a strong naval presence in key regions to project power globally. He also argued that aircraft carriers were essential for power projection and ensuring national security in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.”  

The Likelihood of a New Aircraft Carrier for Russia 

Russia may benefit from having an aircraft carrier, but that doesn’t mean it can build one. The truth is Russia’s military, including its navy, air force, and army, have struggled against a relatively weak neighbor, Ukraine. The results on the ground have been embarrassing and should suggest more humble aims for the Russian military than building a 90,000-ton vessel capable of projecting airpower in the Indo-Pacific or the Americas. 

Rather, Russia likely needs to focus on being able to project power in its immediate vicinity, i.e., Eastern Ukraine. Russians may want to recalibrate and accept that they are merely a regional power, rather than an international power. Priorities aside, Russia is suffering from resource constraints that may hinder any plans to build a massive, sophisticated vessel. At present, Russia is struggling to keep tanks and soldiers in the field, and struggling to keep Cold War-era fighter jets airborne. Under such circumstances, is Putin really going to build a supercarrier, outfitted with fifth-generation Su-57s? Doubtful.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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