Russia has a unique maritime geography, with four fleets operating from four coasts practically incapable of offering mutual support. Indeed, part of the deal would have allowed Russia to construct two Mistrals to French specifications in its own yards, which would have provided a major boon to Russian shipbuilding. Big plans for additional ships died with the Soviet collapse, but Russia inherited one large aircraft carrier at the end of the Cold War—that remains in service today. The biggest foreign is the Russian Admiral Kutzenov at 43,000 tons. This first appeared earlier in 2018. Key point: Moscow does not have the means or the industrial capacity to build them. Russia is in the process of building a new aircraft carrier, according to statements made by Admiral Viktor Chirkov, Russia’s senior-most naval commander to state media. In the 1980s, the Soviet Union laid down its first two true carriers, although only one was completed before the collapse of the country. List of countries that have operated aircraft carriers. Otherwise, Russia needs to start solidifying its construction timelines soon. He serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky. ARA Independencia (V-1): Colossus class light carrier in service from 1959 to 1969; scrapped 1971 2. 0. By Robert Farley for The Diplomat April 17, 2014 Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev stated in 2008 that Russia intended to build nuclear aircraft carriers in the next decade. More aircraft carrier facts: The U.S. had 31 aircraft carriers fight in WWII, 22 of them full-sized fleet carriers. During the Soviet period, carriers supported the fleet of nuclear ballistic missile submarines, offering air and ASW protection for the bastions in which these subs patrolled. After a much publicized journey to the Mediterranean, Kuznetsov conducted combat operations for two months. © Copyright 2020 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. Admiral Kuznetsov has engaged in several prestige cruises, but its most notable service came in 2016 off of Syria. More recently, the Russian navy has used Admiral Kuznetsov primarily as a vehicle for influence and prestige. South Korea is known to own the helicopter carrier. Italy has two carriers, and Brazil, France, China, India, Russia, Thailand, and the UK have one each. Admiral Kuznetsov has engaged in several prestige cruises, but its most notable service came in 2016 off of Syria. [CDATA[// >