Does Russia Have an Aircraft Carrier? Admiral Kuznetsov

Russia has one aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, and it has not been to sea since 2017. The ship has spent the years since in a refit at Murmansk marked by a sunken dry dock, a crane collapse and two fires, and in 2025 Russian officials said openly that it may be scrapped.

For practical purposes Russia has no carrier aviation today. This guide explains what the Kuznetsov is, what went wrong, why Russia never built a fleet of carriers and whether it will build another.

Does Russia have an aircraft carrier?

On paper, yes. Admiral Kuznetsov remains formally in commission with the Northern Fleet. In practice the ship has been out of service for nine years, its crew has reportedly been reassigned, and work on it stopped in 2025.

That leaves Russia as the only one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council without a working carrier. The United States has 11, China three, Britain two and France one. How the Russian fleet compares overall is covered in how big Russia’s navy is.

What is the Admiral Kuznetsov?

The ship was built at Mykolaiv in Soviet Ukraine and entered service in 1991. The Soviet Navy classed it as a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser because it carried anti-ship missiles as well as aircraft, a label that also helped it pass through the Turkish Straits under the Montreux Convention.

The ski-jump is the key limitation. Without catapults, aircraft must take off with reduced fuel and weapons, and the ship cannot launch heavy radar planes. The fighters are described in what fighter jets Russia has.

What went wrong with the Admiral Kuznetsov?

The ship’s boilers were unreliable from the start, and it usually sailed with a tug in case of breakdown. Its only combat deployment, off Syria in 2016, cost two aircraft in accidents linked to faulty arresting gear, after which the air wing moved ashore.

Will the Admiral Kuznetsov be scrapped?

Probably. The newspaper Izvestia reported in July 2025 that the refit had been halted and that the navy and the United Shipbuilding Corporation were deciding the ship’s fate. The corporation’s chairman, Andrei Kostin, said the same month that there was no point in repairing a vessel more than 40 years old and that it would most likely be sold or disposed of.

No formal decision has been announced. Some retired officers have argued publicly that large carriers are too vulnerable to modern missiles to justify the cost, while others insist a major navy needs them. As of 2026 the ship remains tied up at Murmansk.

Why does Russia have only one carrier?

The Soviet Union came late to carriers and built them in Ukraine. When it collapsed in 1991, the only shipyard able to construct such ships ended up in another country. A sister ship, Varyag, was left unfinished, sold to China and completed there as Liaoning. A larger nuclear-powered carrier, Ulyanovsk, was broken up on the slipway. An older carrier was rebuilt for India as Vikramaditya.

Geography also argues against them. Russia’s fleets are separated from each other and operate close to home, where land-based aircraft and submarines can do the same job more cheaply. The submarine force is described in how many submarines Russia has.

Will Russia build a new aircraft carrier?

Not soon. Design bureaus have shown models of a 100,000-tonne nuclear carrier known as Project 23000 Shtorm, but no ship has been ordered and no Russian yard has a dock ready to build one. The naval budget is going to submarines and small missile ships.

The nearest thing under construction is a pair of 40,000-tonne amphibious assault ships being built at Kerch in occupied Crimea. They will carry helicopters and drones, not fighters, and are years behind schedule. Global rankings are in our top 10 navies.

Frequently asked questions

How many aircraft carriers does Russia have?

One, Admiral Kuznetsov. It has not sailed since 2017 and is not operational.

Where is the Admiral Kuznetsov now?

At Murmansk in northern Russia, where its refit was suspended in 2025.

What aircraft did the Admiral Kuznetsov carry?

Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters and Ka-27 helicopters. The fighter regiments now operate from land bases.

Did Russia sell an aircraft carrier to China?

Ukraine sold the unfinished sister ship Varyag to a Chinese buyer in 1998. China completed it as the Liaoning.

Is Russia building a new aircraft carrier?

No. Designs exist, but none has been funded. Russia is building two helicopter-carrying amphibious assault ships.