List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union
Encyclopedia
The list of aircraft carriers of the Soviet Union
and Russia
includes all aircraft carriers built by, proposed for, or in service with the naval forces of the Soviet Union
or Russia
. Though listed as aircraft carriers, none of these ships (with the possible exception of the Ulyanovsk) were or are true aircraft carriers. They are ASW helicopter equipped ships or aircraft-carrying cruisers.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
includes all aircraft carriers built by, proposed for, or in service with the naval forces of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Though listed as aircraft carriers, none of these ships (with the possible exception of the Ulyanovsk) were or are true aircraft carriers. They are ASW helicopter equipped ships or aircraft-carrying cruisers.
By name
Listed alphabetically by commissioned name.- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union GorshkovSoviet aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovAdmiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. Sometimes Gorshkov is considered a separate class due to its improvements including a phased array radar, extensive electronic warfare installations, and an enlarged command and control suite...
(1982–1996) - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov (1991–present)
- KievSoviet aircraft carrier KievKiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
(1972–1993) - Leningrad (1968–1991)
- MinskSoviet aircraft carrier MinskMinsk is an aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1978 to 1994. She was the second Kiev-class vessel to be built.- History :...
(1975–1993) - Moskva (1964–1991)
- NovorossiyskSoviet aircraft carrier NovorossiyskNovorossiysk was a conventionally powered heavy aircraft carrying cruiser or aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1982 to 1993. She was the third Kiev class vessel to be built...
(1978–1993) - UlyanovskSoviet aircraft carrier UlyanovskUlyanovsk was the first of a class of Soviet nuclear-powered supercarriers which for the first time would have offered true blue water aviation capability for the Soviet Navy...
(Not completed, scrapped shortly after keel laying) - ex-VaryagSoviet aircraft carrier VaryagVaryag was to be an Admiral Kuznetsov class multirole aircraft carrier of the Soviet Union. She was known as Riga when her keel was laid down at Shipyard 444 in Nikolayev December 6, 1985. Design of the carrier was undertaken by the Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau...
(Not completed for Russia, sold as a hulk to China)
By class
- Moskva class
- Moskva (1964–1991)
- Leningrad (1968–1991)
- Kiev classKiev class aircraft carrierThe Kiev class carriers were the first class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers built in the Soviet Union....
- KievSoviet aircraft carrier KievKiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
(1972–1993) - MinskSoviet aircraft carrier MinskMinsk is an aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1978 to 1994. She was the second Kiev-class vessel to be built.- History :...
(1975–1993) - NovorossiyskSoviet aircraft carrier NovorossiyskNovorossiysk was a conventionally powered heavy aircraft carrying cruiser or aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1982 to 1993. She was the third Kiev class vessel to be built...
(1978–1993) - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union GorshkovSoviet aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovAdmiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. Sometimes Gorshkov is considered a separate class due to its improvements including a phased array radar, extensive electronic warfare installations, and an enlarged command and control suite...
(1982–1995)
- Kiev
- Admiral Kuznetsov class
- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov (1991–present)
- VaryagSoviet aircraft carrier VaryagVaryag was to be an Admiral Kuznetsov class multirole aircraft carrier of the Soviet Union. She was known as Riga when her keel was laid down at Shipyard 444 in Nikolayev December 6, 1985. Design of the carrier was undertaken by the Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau...
(Not commissioned for Russia, sold as an incomplete hulk to China)
- Ulyanovsk class
- UlyanovskSoviet aircraft carrier UlyanovskUlyanovsk was the first of a class of Soviet nuclear-powered supercarriers which for the first time would have offered true blue water aviation capability for the Soviet Navy...
(Not commissioned, scrapped on the building ways shortly after lay down)
- Ulyanovsk
By commissioning date
- 1964: Moskva
- 1968: Leningrad
- 1972: KievSoviet aircraft carrier KievKiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
- 1975: MinskSoviet aircraft carrier MinskMinsk is an aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1978 to 1994. She was the second Kiev-class vessel to be built.- History :...
- 1978: NovorossiyskSoviet aircraft carrier NovorossiyskNovorossiysk was a conventionally powered heavy aircraft carrying cruiser or aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1982 to 1993. She was the third Kiev class vessel to be built...
- 1982: Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union GorshkovSoviet aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovAdmiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. Sometimes Gorshkov is considered a separate class due to its improvements including a phased array radar, extensive electronic warfare installations, and an enlarged command and control suite...
- 1991: Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov
By decommissioning date
- 1991: Moskva
- 1991: Leningrad
- 1993: KievSoviet aircraft carrier KievKiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
- 1993: MinskSoviet aircraft carrier MinskMinsk is an aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1978 to 1994. She was the second Kiev-class vessel to be built.- History :...
- 1993: NovorossiyskSoviet aircraft carrier NovorossiyskNovorossiysk was a conventionally powered heavy aircraft carrying cruiser or aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1982 to 1993. She was the third Kiev class vessel to be built...
- 1995: Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union GorshkovSoviet aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovAdmiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. Sometimes Gorshkov is considered a separate class due to its improvements including a phased array radar, extensive electronic warfare installations, and an enlarged command and control suite...
- In service: Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov
See also
- List of aircraft carriers
- List of aircraft carriers by country
- Project 1153 ORELProject 1153 ORELProject 1153 OREL was a 1970s-era Soviet program to give the Soviet Navy a true blue water aviation capability. The ship would have been about 75-80,000 tons displacement, with a nuclear power plant and carried about 70 aircraft launched via steam catapults...