Time to Retire: For decades, Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has been a floating testament to the systemic dysfunction of the Russian Navy.
More an albatross than a strategic asset, this aging warship is plagued by chronic technical failures, questionable operational effectiveness, and a modernization process that can only be described as farcical. In an era where power projection at sea remains crucial for global military strategy, the Kuznetsov is an embarrassment to Russia’s pretensions of great power status.
Admiral Kuznetsov: A Carrier in Name Only
Originally commissioned in 1991, the Admiral Kuznetsov was intended to be the centerpiece of Soviet naval aviation. However, unlike U.S. aircraft carriers, which have undergone successful upgrades to remain at the forefront of naval warfare, the Kuznetsov has been more of a liability than an asset.
Its propulsion system—based on unreliable Mazut-fueled boilers—has been notorious for breakdowns, often leaving the vessel stranded and requiring tugboat escorts just to reach port.
Its air wing, consisting of Su-33s and MiG-29Ks, has been hampered by poor maintenance and a lack of sufficient pilots with carrier-operating experience.
The ship’s sole combat deployment to Syria in 2016-2017 resulted in the loss of two aircraft due to problems with its arresting gear, further highlighting its operational shortcomings.
A Laughable Modernization Process
In an attempt to salvage some credibility, Moscow announced a modernization program for the Kuznetsov in 2017. This was supposed to include repairs to its propulsion system, upgrades to electronic warfare capabilities, and a refurbishment of its aircraft launch and recovery systems.
Instead, the ship’s time in dry dock has been marked by disaster. In 2018, the PD-50 floating dry dock—one of the largest in the world—sank while the carrier was undergoing repairs, severely damaging the deck. A year later, a major fire broke out on board, killing workers and causing further delays. Corruption, incompetence, and supply chain failures have compounded these issues, making the prospect of the carrier’s return to service increasingly unlikely.
This pattern of dysfunction is not unique to the Kuznetsov. Russia’s attempts at modernizing its military across different branches have faced similar debacles.
The Su-57, Moscow’s so-called fifth-generation stealth fighter, remains mired in production delays and lacks key technologies that would make it a true peer to the U.S. F-22 and F-35.
Likewise, the T-14 Armata main battle tank, once touted as a revolutionary platform, has yet to enter full-scale production and is conspicuously absent from the Ukrainian battlefield, likely due to cost overruns and technical flaws.
These failures reinforce the broader reality: Russia’s military-industrial complex is incapable of delivering on its grandiose promises.
A Strategic Liability for Russia’s Navy
Even if the Admiral Kuznetsov were to miraculously return to service, it would add little to Russia’s military capabilities. Unlike U.S. or even Chinese carriers, which form the core of blue-water naval power, the Kuznetsov lacks the escort fleet and logistical support necessary to operate effectively beyond Russia’s immediate periphery.
In a modern naval conflict, the carrier would be an easy target for NATO anti-ship missiles and air power. Its outdated defensive systems and limited combat range render it strategically irrelevant in high-intensity warfare scenarios.
Moreover, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has only exacerbated its defense procurement woes. The financial and material strain of prolonged conflict has redirected resources away from naval programs, making the already slow modernization process of the Kuznetsov even more tenuous.
The Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet has suffered repeated humiliations at the hands of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes, demonstrating that even the most basic asymmetric threats can wreak havoc on Russia’s naval ambitions. In this context, the idea that the Kuznetsov could play any meaningful role in power projection is laughable.
The Illusion of Russian Naval Power
Russia often touts its naval capabilities as a core component of its military strength, yet the reality tells a different story. The Russian surface fleet remains a patchwork of aging Soviet-era ships and a handful of newer but limited vessels.
Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The only true strength of the Russian Navy lies in its submarine force, particularly its ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which continue to play a vital role in nuclear deterrence. However, as a conventional naval force capable of competing with NATO, Russia is a second-rate power at best.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is emblematic of this reality. It represents not just a failing ship, but the broader dysfunction of the Russian military-industrial complex. While China is rapidly expanding its fleet with modern aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, Russia remains stuck in the past, clinging to a rusting relic that should have been retired years ago.
Admiral Kuznetsov: Aircraft Carrier Fit for a Museum
It is time for Russia to abandon the charade. The Admiral Kuznetsov should not return to service; instead, it should be sent to a scrapyard or turned into a museum to remind future generations of what happens when military ambition exceeds technological and economic capacity.
Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov
Moscow’s insistence on maintaining this relic is not just an exercise in futility—it is an outright admission that Russia’s naval power is more about optics than actual capability.
The Admiral Kuznetsov was born in an era when the Soviet Union aspired to challenge American naval dominance.
Today, it serves as a floating monument to Russia’s military decline. For all of Moscow’s bluster about reclaiming great power status, its only aircraft carrier tells a different story—one of failure, decay, and strategic irrelevance.
About the Author: Dr. Andrew Latham
Andrew Latham is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a professor of international relations and political theory at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. Andrew is now a Contributing Editor to 19FortyFive. You can follow him on X: @aakatham.
