Admiral Kuznetsov Is Russia's Only Operational Carrier

Two Russian aircraft have gone down off the coast of Syria in the past month, and the culprit may be the ship from which they are operating, according to military analysts.

The Washington Post reports that the aging Admiral Kuznetsov is Russia's only aircraft carrier, and it is not designed for the mission for which it is currently deployed ... providing ground support in a lengthy contract, according to Alexander Golts, who writes about military issues for the Moscow-based New Times news journal. "It is a very old ship with very old technologies. It is not prepared for intensive flights," he said.

Recently, a returning Su-33 Flanker aircraft went into the Mediterranean Sea after an arresting cable snapped during the landing, according to Russia's Defense Ministry. The pilot ejected and was recovered uninjured by a search-and-rescue team, according to the statement.

Last month, a MiG-29K fighter went down while attempting an emergency landing on the ship shortly after takeoff.

The Kuznetsov does not have a catapult system for launching aircraft, and jets must launch from a ramp at the bow of the ship. Golts said only a few Russian pilots are qualified to fly from the carrier, and there are likely only a few in the world. The design of the ship also limits the amount of fuel and weapons that the aircraft can carry.

(Image courtesy Russian Ministry of Defense http://mil.ru)

FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_Kuznetsov