7. Admiral Kuznetsov
Russia's only aircraft carrier offers a special approach to naval aviation by combining conventional carrier capability with significant organic armaments. The 58,500-ton vessel has a unique STOBAR (Short Take-off But Arrested Recovery) system with a ski-jump ramp slanted at 12 degrees that helps Su-33 and MiG-29K jets to operate. Unique among aircraft carriers, the carrier's unparalleled armaments arsenal consists in P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles kept in subterranean silos under the flight deck. Despite dependability issues, the ship's propulsion system—which has four shafts and eight boilers—allows a maximum speed of 29 knots. Among advanced air defence systems include Kortik close-in weapon systems, Kinzhal surface-to---air missiles, and strong electronic warfare capability. Supported by contemporary maintenance facilities and ammunition handling equipment, the air wing normally consists of up to 24 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. Notwithstanding practical difficulties, the design of the Admiral Kuznetsov has shaped later carrier advances, especially with regard to defensive armaments integration and hybrid warfare capacity. Sophisticated sensor fusion technology in the vessel's combat control centre lets surface groups and land-based forces coordinate operations. While keeping the ship's original operational philosophy, recent modernisation efforts have concentrated on enhancing dependability and including new fighting systems.
