Ships / Aircraft carriers / Project 1143.5 Orel (Kuznetsov) class
Project 1143.5 Orel (Kuznetsov) class
General Facts
- TYPE
Aircraft carrier - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
Project 1143.5 Orel - DESIGNED
Late 1970's - DESIGNER
? - PRODUCTION
1982 - 1990 - PRODUCERS
USSR - Shipyard No. 444 in Mykolaiv - QUANTITY
1, second 75% complete but never finished - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Powerful anti-ship armament
Good speed
Good self-defense systems
Mobility issues
Expensive
Introduction
The Kuznetsov class is an aircraft carrier of Soviet origin. It was developed in the late 1970's to replace or complement the older Kiev class. In Russia it is also known as the Project 1143.5 Orel class. Although externally similar to Western aircraft carriers the Kuznetsov actually is an aircraft carrying cruiser. The significant amount of weapon systems on the Kuznetsov is an unique feature.
Layout
The Kuznetsov has the same general layout as US aircraft carriers as it has the superstructure on the far right, hangars below the deck, launch deck at the front and an offset landing deck across the ship. However the hull design was derived from the older Kiev class and compared to US designs the Kuznetsov class has a much smaller displacement. The aircraft are launched at the front of the landing deck, which is angled as a sort of ski jump. The aircraft land using arrestor hooks to catch wires on the landing deck at the rear.
Firepower
The main armament of the Kuznetsov consists of 12 huge SS-N-19 long range supersonic anti-ship missiles. Air defense consists of four banks of six launchers for the short range SA-N-9 surface to air missile. The Kuznetsov also has an enormous self defense capability as it is fitted with 8 CADS-N-1 and 6 AK-630 CIWS systems. Additionally the aircraft carried on the Kutznetsov posess serious firepower. The Kuznetsov air wing consists of Su-33 air superiority fighters, Su-25UTG training aircraft and Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters. The fighter aircraft are used to engage air targets and the helicopters serve in the anti-submarine role.
Electronics
The Kuznetsov is fitted with a wide variety of sensors that include air search, suface search and fire control radars and sonar systems. The Kuznetsov also serves as an air traffic control center and is equipped with a TACAN system. Countermeasures consist of various chaff launchers and ESM and ECM systems.
Mobility
Unlike most navy ships with such a high displacement the Kuznetsov has no nuclear propulsion. A total of 8 boilers and 4 turbines are fitted that deliver 200.000 hp to 4 shafts. The maximum speed is 30 knots and the range is 8.500 nm at 18 knots.
Users
The user of the single operetional Kuznetsov was the Soviet navy. Since the breakup of the USSR it has been in service with the Russian navy. The second ship of the Kuznetsov class that was completed about 70 to 80 percent was sold to China in 2002.
Kuznetsov class
The Kuznetsov is an aircraft carrying cruiser. It is the most modern and only aircraft carrier in Russian service. Originally the air wing was to consist of 16 Yak-141 ground attack fighters, 12 Su-33 air superiority fighters, 18 Ka-27 ASW helicopters and 2 Ka-31 AEW helicopters. Due to the cancellation of the Yak-141 this changed to 18 Su-33, 5 Su-25UTG, 15 Ka-27 and 2 Ka-31.
- Specifications:
- Kuznetsov
Type | Aircraft carrier |
---|---|
Crew | 1.960 incl 200 officers, plus 626 aircrew and 40 flag staff |
Displacement | 45.900 t standard, 58.500 t full load |
Length | 304.5 m overall, 280 m waterline |
Width | 70 m overall, 37 m waterline |
Draught | 10.5 m |
Height | ? |
Machinery | 8x boiler, 4x turbine, 200.000 hp |
Propulsion | 4 shafts |
Speed | 30 kt |
---|---|
Range | 3.850 nm at 29 kt, 8.500 nm 18 kt |
Sensors | Air search: Sky Watch Air/surface search: Top Plate B Surface search: 2x Strut Pair Navigation: 3x Palm Frond Sonar: Bull Horn, Horse Jaw |
Systems | Fire control: 4x Cross Sword for SA-N-9, Fire Control: 8x Hot Flash Data: Aircraft control: 2x Fly Trap B Tacan: Cake Stand |
Countermeasures | 10x PK-10 chaff, 2x PK-2 |
Aircraft | 18x Su-33, 5x Su-25UTG, 15x Ka-27, 2x Ka-31 |
Cargo | - |
Remarks | - |
Weapons | SSM: 12x SS-N-19 SAM: 24x8 SA-N-11 CIWS: 8x CADS-N-1 CIWS: 6x AK-630 ASW: 2x RBU-12000 |
Weapon1 | SS-N-19 Shipwreck anti-ship missile 12 round launcher in launch deck 12 missiles, all ready to fire |
---|---|
Weapon2 | SA-N-11 Gauntlet SAM system 24 eight round launchers at front and read 192 missiles, all ready to fire |
Weapon3 | CADS-N-1 CIWS with SA-N-11 missiles Eight mounts at front and back |
Weapon4 | CADS-N-1 CIWS with SA-N-11 missiles Eight mounts at front and back |
Weapon5 | RBU-12000 ASW mortars, Two launchers at rear of ship |
Weapon6 | - |
Weapon7 | - |
Weapon8 | - |