Ricardo Meier – July 11, 2025
Only Russian Navy carrier has been in dry dock since 2018 and faces mounting technical and financial challenges
The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in dry dock during its lengthy refit (TASS)
The Russian Ministry of Defense is reportedly considering scrapping the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the only vessel of its kind in the Russian Navy, after years of stalled repairs and mounting costs. The information was revealed by the newspaper Izvestia, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The Russian Navy and United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) are debating whether it is still feasible to complete the refurbishment of the aging warship, which has been in dry dock in Murmansk since 2018. Repair and modernization efforts have faced repeated delays, technical setbacks, and even onboard fires.
Former Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Sergei Avakyants told Izvestia that retiring the Admiral Kuznetsov would be the right move, calling aircraft carriers “a relic of the past” vulnerable to modern missile systems.
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Avakyants argues that Russia should instead focus on robotic systems and unmanned aircraft, technologies he believes are more relevant in today’s conflicts.
The possible cancellation marks a sharp contrast with other major military powers like the United States and China, which continue to invest heavily in expanding their carrier fleets.
Chinese Spin-Offs
Commissioned in 1995 after being launched in 1985, the Admiral Kuznetsov — classified by Russia as a “heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser” — features a ski-jump deck used for launching Sukhoi Su-33 and MiG-29K naval fighters. The carrier has a full load displacement of 58,000 tons and is powered by steam turbines, a far cry from the 100,000-ton nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carriers operated by the U.S. Navy.
The Kuznetsov’s operational history has been plagued by mechanical failures, environmental incidents, and limited combat readiness. Despite being Russia’s flagship, it has rarely deployed without problems.
Although Russia’s lone carrier may be facing retirement, the Kuznetsov-class has left its mark in China. The Chinese Navy’s first carrier, Liaoning, was originally the unfinished Soviet carrier Riga, later acquired and completed by China.
The country has since built a second, larger version, the Shandong, which incorporates improvements over the original Soviet design. Both Chinese carriers remain in active service.