Repaired Russian Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov’s Sea Trials Planned for end-2022

Russia's only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, which is under repair since 2017 will be ready for sea trails in end-2022.

Manufacturer Zvyozdochka Shipyard posted a $3.4 million (250 million rubles) contract to complete painting of the heavy aircraft carrier before September 1, 2022. It will receive applications until May 20.

Sea trials of a vessel will generally commence once it has been painted.

Upgrade and Modernization:

The Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, was commissioned in 1990 and has not undergone any major overhauls following a two-year refit between 1996 and 1998. It can carry fighters: Su-33, MiG-29K, and helicopters: Ka-31, Ka-27.

Carrier-based aircraft conducted 420 sorties, destroying 1,252 terrorist targets in Syria, during the vessel's three-month deployment from November 2016-January 2017.

Later that year, a project to repair and modernize the vessel was announced. The ship will get $715 million worth latest electronic warfare, communication and aviation network systems. It will also receive new air defense systems (including Pantsir-M), energy equipment, new boilers, pumps and new flight systems- landing, observation and control systems.