D
Naval ForcesRussia

Kuznetsov Class (Project 11435 Class)

Aircraft carrierFielded 1990Pending verification

Also known as: Admiral Kuznetsov Class

Naval ForcesRUS
Length 304.5 m
Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeAircraft carrier
Alternative designationsAdmiral Kuznetsov Class
Date of introduction1990
ProliferationAt least 2 countries
Hulls delivered3Hulls listed in the source cardMed[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length304.5 m999 ftMed[1]
Draft10.5 mMed[1]
Displacement (standard)46,640 tonsMed[1]
Displacement (full load)59,440 tMed[1]
Propulsion and performance
Propulsion4 x TV12-4Med[1]
Engine power200,000 total shp; 4 shaftsMed[1]
Speed30 kt56 km/hMed[1]
Range7,130 km4,430 mi · 3,850 nmi3,850 nm at 29 knots; 8,500 nm at 18 knots;12,000 nm at 10 knotsMed[1]
Endurance45 daysMed[1]
Protection
NBC Water Washdown SystemYesMed[1]
Rocket Decoy2 x twin PK-2 decoy rocket launchers and 2 x 10-round fixed PK-10 decoy rocket launchersMed[1]
Armament
Aircraft Facilities: aircraft12 x Su-33 Flanker-D fighters; or 4 x MiG-29KUB 2-seat; and 20 x MiG-29K single-seat fightersMed[1]
Aircraft Facilities: helicopters14 x Ka-27PL Helix-A ASW helicopters; 3 x Ka-29RLD Helix AEW helicopters; 2 x Ka-27PS Helix-C SAR helicoptersMed[1]
Aircraft Facilities: take-off of fixed wing aircraftFor take-off of fixed wing aircraft, Admiral Kuznetsov uses a ski-jump at the end of her bow. On take-off aircraft accelerate toward and up the ski-jump using their afterburners.Med[1]
Aircraft Facilities: ski-jump take-offThe ski-jump take-off is less demanding on the pilot, since the acceleration is lower, but results in a clearance speed of only 120–140 km/h (75–87 mph) requiring an aircraft design which will not stall at those speeds.Med[1]
Aircraft FacilitiesThe KUZNETSOV can carry a maximum of 50 aircraft divided between 26 fix-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters.teh number of aircraft or helicopters can be increased by decreasing the number of the other embarked platforms.Med[1]
ArmamentAK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS); Kashtan Close-In Weapon System (CIWS); SA-N-11 Grison (9M-311); SS-N-19 Shipwreck (P-500 Granit); SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal)Med[1]
Fire control
SA-N-9 Missiles FSC4 x MR-360 Podkat (Cross Sword) fire control for SA-N-9 missilesMed[1]
Hot Flash FSC8 x 3P-87 (Hot Flash) fire control (on Kortik mounts)Med[1]
Laser Optronic1 x Bob Tail telescoping optronic director and 3 x Tin Man TV/IR/laser optronicMed[1]
Laser Warning System4 x Spektr-F (Half Cup) laser warningMed[1]
3D Air Search Radar1 x MR-710 Fregat-MA (Top Plate-B) 3D air search radarMed[1]
Air Search Radars2 x MR-320M Topaz (Strut Pair) air search radarsMed[1]
Navigation Radars3 x MR-212/201 Vaygach-U (Palm Frond) navigation radarsMed[1]
Carrier Approach Radars2 x Fly Trap carrier approach radars (for aircraft landing)Med[1]
Hull Mounted Sonar1 x MG-365 Zvezda M-1 hull-mounted low-frequencyMed[1]
Variants
Admiral KuznetsovAdmiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov was designed by the Neva Design Bureau, St. Petersburg, and built at the Nikolayev South Shipyard (Chernomorskoye Shipyard) in the Ukrainian SSR.[1]
LiaoningThe second hull of the Kuznetsov class took a much more roundabout route to active service. Known first as Riga and then Varyag, she was laid down by the Nikolayev South Shipyard in 1985 and launched in 1988.[1]
ShandongThe second Chinese aircraft carrier was constructed in China according to a modified design, known as Type 002. The ship was laid down in 2013 at the Dalian naval shipyard and was launched on 26 April 2017.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 5Confidence · Source
AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Med[1]
Range
5 km3 mi · 3 nmi
Quantity
6 x AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Type
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Caliber
30 mm
Rate of fire
4,000–5,000 rounds/min
Kashtan Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Med[1]
Quantity
8 x Kashtan Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Type
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Caliber
30 mm
SA-N-11 Grison (9M-311)Surface-to-Air Missile
Med[1]
Range
8 km5 mi · 4 nmi
Type
Surface-to-Air Missile
Guidance
Radio Command guidance
Warhead
Continuous-rod and steel cubes
Warhead weight
9 kg
Speed
900 m/s
Length
2,560 mm
SS-N-19 Shipwreck (P-500 Granit)Anti-Ship Missile
Med[1]
Range
630 km391 mi · 340 nmi
Quantity
24 x SS-N-19 Shipwreck Anti-Ship Missiles
Type
Anti-Ship Missile
Guidance
inertial w/command update, active radar/IR inertial w/anti-radar homing
Warhead
750 kg conventional high-explosive; or 500 kiloton nuclear
Speed
Mach 1+
Launcher
12 x SS-N-19 Shipwreck (P-500 Granit) SSM launchers
Length
10 m
SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal)Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
Med[1]
Range
12 km7 mi · 6 nmi
Quantity
192 x SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
Type
Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
Warhead
conventional high-explosive
Warhead weight
15 kg
Launcher
24 x SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal) 8-cell vertical SAM launchers
Summary

The Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, Soviet designation Project 11435, is a class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers operated by the Russian and Chinese navies. Originally designed for the Soviet Navy, the Kuznetsov-class ships use a ski-jump to launch high-performance conventional aircraft in a STOBAR configuration.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
CompareShow on range mapJSON
Operators
ChinaRussia
Sources
  1. Kuznetsov Class (Project 11435 Class) Russian Aircraft Carrier, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import