Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier, set to be scrapped after years of setbacks

Economic Times

13-07-2025

Getty Images Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier
Russia appears on the brink of officially retiring and scrapping its only aircraft carrier, the troubled Admiral Kuznetsov, marking a historic turning point for the Russian Navy. After years of costly, accident-ridden refits and modernization efforts, Russian officials are now openly discussing abandoning the decades-old warship, which has been plagued by mechanical failures, fires, and missed deadlines.
The Admiral Kuznetsov , launched in 1990 and commissioned in 1995, has served as the flagship of the Russian Navy for nearly three decades. However, its operational history has been marred by chronic breakdowns and high-profile accidents. The carrier's inefficient Mazut-fueled engines produced thick black smoke, making it easily visible at sea and requiring frequent maintenance. Its endurance was limited to just 45 days, and it often needed tugboat escorts during deployments due to the risk of mechanical failure.
Since July 2018, the Kuznetsov has been confined to dry dock for an ambitious overhaul that has been anything but smooth. The ship suffered a deadly fire in 2019, a crane collapse on its flight deck, and persistent delays due to technical problems and alleged embezzlement of funds.The original plan was to return the carrier to service by 2022, but the timeline slipped repeatedly, with the latest projections suggesting a possible return in 2025—a goal that now looks increasingly unlikely.
According to Russian state media and sources cited by Izvestia (national newspaper of Russia), work on the Admiral Kuznetsov has been suspended, and high-level discussions are underway between the Russian Navy's High Command and the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) about whether to officially retire and scrap the vessel. The ship has not seen active service since 2017, and even if repairs were completed, many experts believe it would be hopelessly outdated compared to modern naval threats.
Admiral Sergei Avakyants, former commander of the Pacific Fleet, publicly stated that retiring the Kuznetsov is 'absolutely the right move,' calling it 'a very expensive and ineffective naval weapon.' He argued that the future of naval warfare lies with robotic systems and unmanned aircraft, not traditional aircraft carriers. The scrapping of the Admiral Kuznetsov would leave Russia without an operational aircraft carrier for the first time since the Soviet era, effectively making it a 'no-carrier' navy. While some Russian analysts and officials argue for building a new, modern carrier—potentially equipped for drone operations—there is skepticism about whether Russia can afford such a project, especially given the ongoing war in Ukraine and competing military prioritie