Kiev-class Aircraft Carrier

The ''Kiev'' class, Soviet designation Project 1143 ''Krechyet'' (gyrfalcon), was the first class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers (heavy aviation cruiser in Soviet classification) built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. In addition to its aviation capabilities, the ''Kiev''-class incorporated a large armament of anti-ship cruise missiles, surface to air missile systems, and sonar equipment, making it an aircraft cruiser.

The Soviet Union built and commissioned a total of four ''Kiev''-class carriers, which served in the Soviet then Russian navies between 1975 and 1996. and were sold to China as museum ships, while was scrapped. The fourth ship, , was sold to the Indian Navy as ''Admiral Gorshkov'' in 2004, and after years of extensive modifications and refurbishment, is in active service as the .

Development

The ''Kiev''-class carriers were designed as a follow-on to the Moskva class (Project 1123 Kondor) ASW carriers. Initially, 3 carriers had been ordered by the Soviet Navy, (with Kiev being the third), however successful flight demonstrations by the Yak-36 VTOL aircraft created a shift in policy within the navy. A delay between the completion of the Project 1123 carrier , and the planned Project 1123.3 ''Kiev'' led Commander in Chief of the Navy Sergei Gorshkov to suggest a redesign of the ''Kiev''. This new design was designated Project 1143, and was built around a large angled flight deck for the operation of Yak-38 VTOL aircraft. Additional systems were included, such as a heavy anti ship armament, expanded SAM systems, and improved electronics. The final design was designated the Project 1143 ''Krechyet'', with the first ship being the ''Kiev''.

Design

Unlike most NATO aircraft carriers, the ''Kiev'' class was a combination of both a cruiser and an aircraft carrier. The ships were designed with a large island superstructure to starboard, with an angled flight-deck two-thirds of the length of the total deck; the foredeck was taken up with heavy surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile armament. The intended mission of the ''Kiev'' class was support for ballistic missile submarines, other surface ships, and naval aviation; it was capable of engaging in anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and surface warfare. In the Soviet Navy, this class of ships was specifically designated as a "heavy aviation cruiser" (, TAKR) rather than solely as an aircraft carrier. As a result, they were permitted to transit the Turkish Straits; the 1936 Montreux Convention only prohibited aircraft carriers heavier than 15,000 tons from passing through.

Armament

The main antiship armament of the ''Kiev''-class consisted of a large P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 Sandbox) complex mounted on the foredeck. The P-500 was a large supersonic sea skimming cruise missile with the ability to navigate towards a target at high altitudes. The missile’s range of up to gave the Kiev a significant antiship capability, far beyond that of its aircraft complement. This system included 8 launchers mounted on the foredeck, and associated guidance equipment. The Kiev and Minsk had a large storage bunker and crane for carrying 8 additional missiles, although this bunker was omitted on the Novorossiysk. The Baku equipped 12 launchers on the foredeck, and had no reloads.

The ''Kiev''-class had a large air defence system similar to contemporary Soviet cruisers. This consisted of two M-11 Shtorm launchers to the fore and aft of the superstructure, which were used for long-range, high-altitude air defence. Two 4K33 Osa-M launchers intended for short-range, low-level air defence were mounted to the fore of the flight deck, and aft of the tower. The Baku omit both systems in favour of four 3K95 Kinzhal (SA-N-9 Tor) complexes.

Artillery consisted of two AK-726 dual-purpose cannons, mounted on the bow and the aft superstructure. Eight AK-630 rotary cannons were mounted in pairs on corners of the ship, and acted in a CIWS role.

The Kiev was equipped with limited antisubmarine warfare systems. These consisted of an RPK-1 Vikhr nuclear depth charge launcher at the bow of the ship, and two RBU-6000 antisubmarine rocket launchers at the very end of the bow.

Variants and Modifications

The class was divided into several subtypes; ''Kiev'' and ''Minsk'' were both of the Project 1143 type, while the ''Novorossiysk'' included several modifications, and was designated Project 11433. ''Baku'' was subject to extensive design changes, and was designated as Project 11434.

The ''Minsk'' and ''Kiev'' were modified between 1982-1983 with the addition of aerodynamic devices. Wind tunnel tests by TSAGI had determined that the addition of aerodynamic fences and a smooth fairing to the leading edge of the flight deck would improve airflow, allowing for safer STOL takeoff performance by aircraft. These changes were added to the ''Novorossiysk'' shortly after it's commissioning.

Variations to the ''Novorossiysk'' included the removal of Osa-M missile systems, and the removal of the storage bunker for missile reloads. The length of the reload process would likely be extensive enough to be unused in combat, and was difficult to preform while underway, leading to its removal.

The Baku was extensively redesigned, with a shortened island superstructure, expanded flight deck space, and enlarged elevators, in order to better accommodate the Yak-41. The M-11 Shtorm and Osa-M systems were also removed, and replaced with four 3K95 Kinzhal systems. The AK-726 cannons were also removed and replaced with two AK-100 cannons on the bow, allowing for the superstructure to be shortened. The increase in deck space from the removal of the AK-726, M-11 launchers, and RPK-1 launcher allowed for the cruise missile armament to be expanded to 12 missiles.

General characteristics

* Designer: Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau
* Builder: Nikolayev South (formerly Chernomorsky Shipyard 444)
* Power plant: eight turbopressurized boilers, four steam turbines (200,000 shp), four shafts
* Length: overall for ''Baku'' subgroup* Flight deck width:
* Beam:
* Displacement: 43,000–45,500 metric tons full load
* Speed:
* Aircraft: 26–30
** 12–13 Yak-38 VSTOL
** 14–17 Ka-25 or Ka-27/29 helicopters
* Crew: 1,200–1,600 (including air wing)
* Armament:
** ''Kiev'' and ''Minsk'':
*** 4 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSM launchers (8 missiles)
*** 2 × twin M-11 Shtorm SAM launchers (72 missiles)
*** 2 × twin 9K33 Osa launchers (40 missiles)
*** 2 × AK-726 twin 76.2 mm AA guns
*** 8 × AK-630 30 mm close-in weapon system (CIWS)
*** 10 × 21" torpedo tubes
*** 1 × twin SUW-N-1 FRAS Anti-Submarine Rocket launcher
** ''Novorossiysk'':
*** 4 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSM launchers (8 missiles)
*** 2 × twin M-11 Shtorm SAM launchers (72 missiles)
*** 2 × AK-726 twin 76.2 mm AA guns
*** 8 × AK-630 30 mm CIWS
*** 1 × twin SUW-N-1 FRAS antisubmarine rocket launcher
** ''Baku'':
*** 6 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSM launchers (12 missiles)
*** 24 × 8-cell 9K330 Tor vertical SAM launchers (192 missiles)
*** 2 × 100 mm guns
*** 8 × AK-630 30 mm CIWS
*** 10 × 21" torpedo tubes
*** 2 × RBU-6000 antisubmarine rocket launchers
* Date deployed:
** 1975 (''Kiev'')
** 1978 (''Minsk'')
** 1982 (''Novorossiysk'')
** 1987 (''Baku'')

Ships

See also

* Flight deck cruiser
* List of ships of the Soviet Navy
* List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union
* List of ships of Russia by project number

References

External links

Article on the Kiev Class





History of the Kiev


Project 1143 ''Kiev''

{{Aircraft carrier classes in service

Aircraft cruiser classes

Kiev class aircraft carrier
Ship classes of the Russian Navy