Kiev Class Aircraft Carrier Specs

Introduction to Kiev Class Aircraft Carriers

The Kiev class aircraft carriers were a class of heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. These ships were designed to provide air power at sea and were equipped with a range of aircraft, including fixed-wing planes and helicopters. The Kiev class carriers played a significant role in the Soviet Navy during the Cold War era.

Design and Construction

The Kiev class carriers were designed in the 1960s, with the lead ship, Kiev, being laid down in 1970. The ships were constructed at the Chernomorsky Shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The design of the Kiev class was influenced by the Soviet Union’s experience with earlier aircraft carriers, such as the Moskva class and the Lenin. The Kiev class carriers were designed to be multi-role ships, capable of performing a range of tasks, including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious assault.

Specifications

The Kiev class aircraft carriers had the following specifications:

• Length: 273 meters (896 feet)
• Beam: 53 meters (174 feet)
• Draft: 9.3 meters (31 feet)
• Displacement: 43,000-45,000 tons
• Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
• Range: 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
• Crew: 1,600-1,800 personnel

Aircraft Carrying Capability

The Kiev class carriers were designed to carry a range of aircraft, including:

• Yak-38 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fighter jets
• Kamov Ka-25 and Kamov Ka-27 helicopters
• Yak-36 VTOL reconnaissance planes

The ships had a angled flight deck and a ski-jump ramp to assist with takeoff and landing operations.

Armament and Electronics

The Kiev class carriers were equipped with a range of armament and electronics, including:

• SA-N-3 surface-to-air missile systems
• SA-N-4 surface-to-air missile systems
• AK-630 close-in weapon systems
• RPK-1 nuclear-capable anti-submarine missile systems
• MR-600 air search radar systems
• MR-310 air search radar systems

Operational History

The Kiev class carriers played a significant role in the Soviet Navy during the Cold War era. The ships were used for a range of tasks, including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious assault. The Kiev class carriers were also used for showing the flag and deterrence operations.

🚨 Note: The Kiev class carriers were eventually retired from service and replaced by more modern aircraft carriers, such as the Admiral Kuznetsov class.

Comparison with Other Aircraft Carriers

The Kiev class carriers can be compared with other aircraft carriers of the time, such as the US Navy’s Kitty Hawk class and the British Royal Navy’s Invincible class. The Kiev class carriers were unique in their design, with a focus on multi-role capabilities and a range of aircraft carrying options.

Ship	Length (m)	Beam (m)	Draft (m)	Displacement (t)
Kiev	273	53	9.3	43,000-45,000
USS Kitty Hawk	319	76	11	81,000-83,000
HMS Invincible	209	36	7.5	19,000-20,000

In summary, the Kiev class aircraft carriers were a unique and important part of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War era. Their design and capabilities reflected the Soviet Union’s focus on multi-role ships and a range of aircraft carrying options. The Kiev class carriers played a significant role in the Soviet Navy and were eventually retired from service and replaced by more modern aircraft carriers.

The key points of the Kiev class aircraft carriers are their design and construction, specifications, aircraft carrying capability, armament and electronics, and operational history. The ships were designed to be multi-role and played a significant role in the Soviet Navy during the Cold War era.