Terrible "Manatee". Why does Russia need two supercarriers?
What have we been shown?
On July 10 of this year, TASS reported that the Neva Design Bureau, which is part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), showed the model of the promising aircraft carrier of the 11430E project "Lamantin". The presentation took place within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Navy Salon.
Known alleged characteristics. According to the stand of the Nevsky Bureau itself, the displacement of the aircraft carrier will be 80-90 thousand tons, and the maximum length will be equal to 350 meters. Autonomy will be approximately 120 days, the full speed is about 30 nodes. The crew of the aircraft carrier - 2800 people, the 800 people will be part of the air group. The life of the ship will be over 50 years.
The aircraft carrier will receive a springboard, two electromagnetic catapults and four aerofinisher. The total number of aircraft that will be based on its board will exceed fifty: now they are talking about 60 aircraft and helicopters, but this figure may change. However, as many other expected characteristics may change as the ship develops. It is important to note that as part of the ship’s air group they plan to place aviation radio detection and guidance complexes. A significant plus to combat capabilities, especially against the background of "Admiral Kuznetsov."
Concept issues
Despite possible changes, the overall concept is generally understandable. The ship will be less than the newest American aircraft carrier of the Gerald R. Ford type, whose displacement, we recall, is approximately 100 thousand tons. However, much more heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and the only French aircraft carrier currently in operation - Charles de Gaulle. Its displacement amounts to “modest” 42 000 tons, and the aviation group includes in total up to 40 airplanes and helicopters. Approximately the same amount is borne by the newest British aircraft carrier "of the type" Queen Elizabeth ", however one should not forget that, unlike Kuznetsov and Charles de Gaulle, the newest low-profile fighter of the fifth generation F-35B is based on it. Despite the very limited combat radius, this is a strong argument in any naval "dispute".
The official description of "Lamantina" is very restrained and could approach the description of any aircraft carrier in general. The aircraft carrier "Lamantin" is designed to provide for the deployment and combat use of an air group including shipborne aircraft of various types capable of using weapon and armament against air, sea (submarine and surface) forces, as well as ground and enemy ground targets in the ocean, sea and coastal zones, as well as to ensure the military stability of naval naval groups and to cover the amphibious assault forces and their landing forces from strikes and attacks of enemy air attacks, ”the presentation says.
So what exactly can be a new ship? To this question, oddly enough, you can give one specific clear answer - a direct analogue of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Ulyanovsk, which was dismantled on the stocks in 1992 year. And that was supposed to be the first "real" Soviet aircraft carrier. Recall that the new ship of the 1143.7 project was supposed to get what the previous Soviet aircraft carrier lacked: the launching catapult. They wanted to equip it with two "Mayak" steam catapults, which would allow, for example, to raise DRLOI aircraft. And the total number of Su-33 fighters on the Ulyanovsk should have been 60 units. Approximately as much as carried the American "Nimitz": in his case, however, it was more multifunctional F-14 and F-18.
Of course, “Lamantin” and “Ulyanovsk” are still not exactly the same thing. Technology over the past years did not stand still: this applies primarily to electronics. But the relationship between the ships can be seen with the naked eye.
Battle of Russian aircraft carriers
It is worth recalling that as early as July 2013 of the year, a large-scale model of a Russian aircraft carrier was demonstrated for the first time to specialists in closed mode as part of the naval salon in St. Petersburg "Storm", work on which began in the Krylov State Research Center. The length of the ship should be 330 meters, width - 40 m, and the displacement - up to 100 thousand tons. An important difference between the Storm and the “Manatee” is a scheme with two deck superstructures according to what we see on new British aircraft carriers. This solution is not entirely clear, as it complicates the operation of aircraft and, in general, makes the project more complex and expensive.
The Storm Air Group looks more impressive than the Lamantin: up to 90 aircraft against 60. In general, the situation with her is very strange and mysterious. For the older project, they did not regret making the fifth-generation model of the Su-57 fighter: it was assumed that a deck version of the Russian "five" might once appear. But in the case of the 11430 project, “Manatee” was limited to models of Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters. This is despite the fact that the Su-33 is no longer produced, and the machines that are in use survive their life. In a word, the Soviet legacy has manifested itself here, which further strengthened the link with Ulyanovsk.
However, simple lovers of marine technology can be grateful that at least they showed it. According to the “glorious” tradition of the post-Soviet military-industrial complex, everything could be limited to a couple of meager statements by officials and reports from leading media about “unparalleled in the world.”
On the whole, “La Mantin” can be viewed as the answer of the DIC to new realities. When a country has to count money with a tripled force, one should not wait for the implementation of new military "super-projects". That is, the aircraft carrier of the project 11430E became a kind of trimmed "Storm": in fact, a return to the Soviet traditions of shipbuilding. In this sense, perhaps, he has more chances for at least some implementation than the earlier projects. Speaking even simpler, in the future, the fleet may receive a sort of “2.0 Kuznetsov”. Not the most powerful aircraft carrier, but it is also not strange that it is not clear, but a quite combat-ready ship that can be confidently assigned to a certain class.
The very need for an aircraft carrier for a major power that has access to the sea is completely obvious. As in the current realities without air cover any, even the most powerful combat ship, is simply a big and convenient target. Including for carrier-based aircraft of the probable enemy.
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