Summary: Russia's lone aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has been undergoing repairs since 2017 with no clear signs of rejoining the fleet.

-This situation reflects the overall status of Russia's military capabilities.

-The Kuznetsov, an outdated Cold War relic running on the obsolete Mazut fuel, highlights Russia's limited resources and declining naval power.

-Even if the Kuznetsov does return to service, its impact will be minimal due to its outdated technology and capabilities.

The Uncertain Future of Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier

It’s been a while since Russia has offered an update on its lone aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.

The beleaguered vessel has been undergoing repairs for several years and has not sailed since 2017—leading some to wonder whether she will ever sail again.

Given that the Kuznetsov was supposed to rejoin the fleet sometime in 2024, and 2024 is almost half over with no signs of the Kuznetsov, the vessel’s future is looking questionable.

A glimpse into Russia’s capabilities

A nation’s aircraft carrier fleet offers an insight into the overall status of the nation’s military. Most nations don’t have (or need) a single aircraft carrier—and most nations don’t have a well-funded or especially capable fighting force. New Zealand, Mexico, Slovakia, etc.

A few nations—amongst the wealthiest on Earth—have managed to field an aircraft carrier or two, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. Meanwhile, China has a small fleet of three carriers but is working rapidly to increase the fleet in both size and quality.

And then, of course, the United States, the world’s true superpower, has a fleet of eleven aircraft carriers.

Russia’s aircraft carrier situation is especially informative; Russia has one aircraft carrier, a Cold War relic that has been out of date for decades, a vessel that is in chronic disrepair, but which cannot be repaired because of Russia’s lack of resources.

Really, what the Admiral Kuznetsov says about Russia is that the country once had the funds and ability to field an aircraft carrier, but the carrier, like the country, has fallen into disrepair. The Kuznetsov, like Russia, is a paper tiger.

A look at the Admiral Kuznetsov

 The Admiral Kuznetsov is an aircraft carrier, yes, but the ship is nothing like what you likely envision when you envision an aircraft carrier. Most people associate an aircraft carrier with what they see in Top Gun—a 1,000-foot deck catapult launching and cable arresting F-14s and F-18s, with a towering superstructure, nuclear power, and 5,000-man crew.

The Kuznetsov, by comparison, is a beleaguered piece of junk.

Far from being able to run indefinitely like modern nuclear-powered supercarriers, the Kuznetsov still runs on Mazut, a petrochemical that has been out of common use for fifty years.

The use of Mazut speaks to the outdated nature of the Kuznetsov; Mazut was once the default fuel for all seafaring vessels because the high-viscosity, tar-like substance has a high volume-to-energy ratio. But Mazut has a noxious byproduct: a black smoke that sticks to everything on the ship, including the sailor’s skin and clothing.

And unlike nuclear power, which allows a vessel to operate indefinitely for up to twenty-five years, the Mazut-powered Kuznetsov has an endurance rate of just forty-five days.

But since 2017, the Kuznetsov hasn’t even been able to operate at its standard forty-five-day increments. Rather, the Kuznetsov has been entirely out of commission, undergoing an overhaul that never seems to end. The Kuznetsov was supposed to rejoin the fleet in 2021.

But that was three years ago. And now, with Russia fully engulfed in a land-based war of attrition, the Kuznetsov has likely been deprioritized.

The Kuznetsov may never sail again—but even if she does, her impact will be minimal on account of her outdated technology and abilities.

About the author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,300 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.