Ulyanovsk-class

Summary

Description

The Carrier Ulyanovsk class refers to a line of aircraft carriers that were built for the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. These carriers were designed to enhance the naval power projection capability of the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. The Ulyanovsk class was intended to be the first nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the Soviet fleet, with the aim of providing extended operational range and endurance.

The Ulyanovsk class carriers were planned to have a displacement of about 80,000 to 85,000 tons, making them the largest carriers in the world at that time. They were expected to be equipped with a catapult-assisted take-off system (CATOBAR) that would enable the launching of heavier aircraft, such as strike fighters and airborne early warning aircraft. This capability would have significantly increased the operational flexibility and combat effectiveness of the carrier group.

Additionally, the Ulyanovsk class carriers were designed to accommodate a significant number of aircraft on board. It was estimated that these carriers would have been able to carry approximately 70 aircraft, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, further augmenting their offensive and defensive capabilities.

However, despite intensive planning and construction work, the Ulyanovsk class carriers never entered service. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, coupled with budget constraints and shifting national priorities, resulted in the cancellation of the project. As a result, the Carrier Ulyanovsk class remains an unrealized naval concept, a testament to the ambitious plans of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War era.

Technical specifications