Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Is Off to Fight ISIS
The old, dilapidated carrier will only be marginally useful against the Islamic State.
By Kyle Mizokami
The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will sail into the Mediterranean this October and carry out air strikes against the Islamic State until early next year. That's according to an article by Russia's state-run TASS news agency. The carrier, which has been outfitted with new fighter planes, is Moscow's only flat-top.
Built in the late 1980s, Kuznetsov was to be the first of several planned Soviet aircraft carriers. After the USSR fell apart the ship languished in Russian service for decades, changing names four times. Kuznetsov has completed only six overseas patrols since being completed in 1991.
The ship is old and decrepit, and by all rights should no longer be in service. In 2009, off the coast of Turkey, a problem with the electrical system led to a fire that killed one crewman. The ship's propulsion system is unreliable, its steam boilers prone to breaking down so frequently that an oceangoing tugboat always accompanies it on long distance voyages. In February of 2012, Kuznetsov broke down in the Bay of Biscay and had to be towed by the tug Nikolay Chiker.
If the Kuznetsov can safely travel all the way from its home in northern Russia to the eastern Mediterranean, it will bring new airplanes to bear. The carrier is home to 15 fixed-wing fighter and attack aircraft and ten helicopters. These include Su-33 air superiority fighters, Su-25UTG ground attack aircraft (Russia's version of the A-10), and MiG-29KUB two-seater multi-role fighters. The Su-33s and Su-25UTGs have long been a part of the ship's air complement but the MiGs are relatively new, having originally been developed for the Indian Navy.
Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters.
Of the ten helicopters embarked on the ship, the Ka-27 and Ka-31 are anti-submarine warfare and utility helicopters. The Ka-52K, however, is an advanced reconnaissance and attack helicopter. Together, the three will likely be used for pilot search and rescue in case any of the ship's fixed wing planes are shot down by the Islamic State.
In addition to being small, Kuznetsov's air wing is limited in payload and range, the result of relying on a bow-mounted ski ramp to launch airplanes. The TASS report seemingly acknowledges the problem, saying that the carrier will be "close to the Syrian shore" so that the aircraft "have enough fuel to complete the military tasks and turn back."
There is no practical reason why Russia should be sending the Kuznetsov to sea. There are plenty of air bases on the ground in Syria to base 15 planes without risking a disaster at sea. Still, it's the only carrier Moscow has, and Russia's leadership has apparently decided that the show of Russian naval power is worth risking another accident.
Su-33 fighters on Kuznetsov's flight deck.
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