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Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier Set for Modernization

© Sputnik / Sergey Eshenko / Go to the mediabankThe Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser in Severomorsk. File photo
The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser in Severomorsk. File photo - Sputnik International
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The air wing of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will be strengthened and will receive new capabilities, according to Alexey Rakhmanov, president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation.

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In an interview with the Rossiya 24 news network, Alexey Rakhmanov, president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), said that the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov's air wing will be expanded and get new capabilities.

The interview came after USC Vice President Igor Ponomarev said that the Admiral Kuznetsov will be upgraded in 2018 after returning from service.

He added that, "the Zvezdochka shipyard will embark on repairs aimed at the modernization of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier."

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the carrier had begun taking part in anti-terrorist operations as part of Russia's naval task force in Syria.

© Sputnik / Andrey Babushkin / Go to the mediabankThe Su-33s are seen aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser. file photo.
The Su-33s are seen aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser. file photo. - Sputnik International
The Su-33s are seen aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser. file photo.

Speaking to Rossiya 24, Alexey Rakhmanov said that preparations to modernize the Admiral Kuznetsov are under way and that "it will bring the vessel to a new level in terms of the control system."

At the same time, Rakhmanov said that the modernization will "unfortunately" not lead to any fundamental or conceptual changes in the vessel.

Touching upon remarks by those who saw the Admiral Kuznetsov belching black smoke on its way to Syria, Rakhmanov explained that the carrier's boilers run on oil which in turn "has a tendency to burn with the emission of a very large amount of soot."

© REUTERS / Norwegian Royal Airforce/NTB ScanpixRussian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in international waters off the coast of Northern Norway on October 17, 2016.
Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in international waters off the coast of Northern Norway on October 17, 2016. - Sputnik International
Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in international waters off the coast of Northern Norway on October 17, 2016.

He stressed that it does not particularly affect the carrier's combat capability and that a possible new generation of aircraft carriers will have a completely new propulsion system.

According to him, the Russian Defense Ministry will issue an open tender for the upgrade to the Admiral Kuznetsov.

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Constructed at the Mykolaiv South Shipyard (present day Ukraine) in the mid-1980s, the Admiral Kuznetsov only became fully operational in 1995, due to severe budget cutbacks to the Russian military following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The ship, designed to engage large surface targets and to protect maritime routes from enemy attacks, is capable of carrying between 41-52 fixed and rotary wing aircraft, including Su-25UTG and Su-33 fighter aircraft, as well as Ka-27 and Ka-29 anti-submarine and assault transport helicopters.

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