RUSSIA IS DEPLOYING the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the Adriatic Sea in late December, equipped with up to 16 Sukhoi Su-27K naval fighters, eight Su-25UTG trainer/attack aircraft and ten Kamov Ka-27/29 anti-submarine helicopters.
The deployment will mark the first time that the Russians have sent significant naval hardware to the area to back up the growing number of ground troops due to arrive in the former Yugoslavia to police the peace plan brokered by the USA.
The Kuznetsov will patrol the area for about 100 days, supported by escort and supply ships of the Northern and Black Sea fleets. The warship will join UK, French and US carriers already in the area.
In preparation for the carrier's first operational mission, the crew was put through intensive combat training during September and October. The exercises included flight operations, practice launches of SS-N-19 Shipwreck anti-ship cruise missiles, and firings of surface-to-air missiles and artillery systems. The Kuznetsov is equipped with 12 launch silos of Shipwreck missiles, which have a range of 550km (300nm).
It is understood that about 12 pilots have so far qualified for Su-27K carrier-borne operations, with mission training focused on air-to-air combat techniques.
Source: Flight International
