Russia's standing amongst global rivalries after its last aircraft carrier discontinues
Admiral Kuznetsov
, making it the only permanent member of the United Nations Security Council without an operational aircraft carrier. This decision marks a significant decline in Russia's naval aviation capabilities and reshapes the global balance of maritime power.
Western adversaries: Commanding the seas
The United States continues to dominate naval aviation with an impressive fleet of 11 nuclear-powered supercarriers, including the technologically advanced Ford-class equipped with
electromagnetic catapults
(EMALS), cutting-edge radar, and integrated drone operations. Complemented by nine amphibious assault ships capable of deploying stealth F-35B fighters, the U.S. Navy maintains unparalleled global reach and strike capability.
NATO
allies further strengthen this dominance. The
United Kingdom
fields two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers operating F-35B stealth jets, while France operates the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle with Rafale M fighters and catapult launch systems. Italy and Spain also contribute with smaller carriers integrating advanced aircraft like the F-35B and Harrier jets. Collectively, NATO navies operate over 16 aircraft carriers, maintaining high interoperability and readiness through frequent joint exercises.
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Ammunition production: Russia surges ahead
In 2024 and 2025, Russia's defense industry has shifted to a full "war economy," allowing it to produce about 3 million artillery shells per year, nearly three times the combined output of the United States and Europe. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. General Christopher Cavoli have both confirmed that Russia now manufactures in just three months what all NATO countries produce in a year. Russia's monthly output of artillery shells stands at around 250,000, while the U.S. currently produces about 40,000 shells per month and aims to reach 90,000 monthly by 2026. The European Union, meanwhile, is racing to catch up, with plans to reach 2.5 million shells annually by 2025.
This explosive growth is backed by major investments in new facilities, such as a massive explosives plant in Siberia, which is expected to produce enough RDX to fill over a million 152 mm shells annually. Russia's production costs are also drastically lower, about 10 times less per shell than NATO equivalents, thanks to state subsidies and a managed economy.
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Defence budgets: Russia vs NATO
This naval gap is mirrored in defense spending. NATO's combined military expenditure reached a staggering $1.5 trillion in 2024, with the United States alone accounting for nearly $997 billion, more than six times Russia's entire military budget. By comparison, Russia's military spending was estimated at $149 billion in 2024, even after a dramatic 38% increase over the previous year. NATO's new target of 5% of GDP for defense could push these numbers even higher by 2035, further widening the gap. In sheer numbers, NATO also outpaces Russia in active personnel, aircraft, and naval vessels by wide margins.
While new aircraft carriers are not on the immediate agenda due to financial and industrial constraints, Russia is building large amphibious assault ships (
Project 23900 Ivan Rogov-class
). These vessels can carry helicopters, landing craft, armored vehicles, and troops, providing flexibility for littoral operations, disaster relief, and potentially even supporting short takeoff and landing aircraft in the future.
Limited carrier presence among other partners
Other Russian partners, including Iran and North Korea, lack aircraft carriers, relying instead on submarines and missile craft. Countries like Brazil, Egypt, and Thailand maintain single, older carriers primarily for regional defense and helicopter operations.
The scrapping of the Admiral Kuznetsov highlights a growing technological and strategic divide. Western carriers boast stealth aircraft, EMALS, and integrated drone fleets, while China and India continue to develop but remain behind. Russia's exit from carrier aviation signals a shift in focus toward submarines, hypersonic missiles, and unmanned naval platforms, reducing its ability to project air power at sea.
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