Russian Aircraft Carrier “Kuznetsov,” January 1996. WIKIMEDIA/Commons
Dave Majumdar, National Interest: Russia's Next Super Weapons: Big Aircraft Carriers and Nuclear-Powered Destroyers?
Russia is likely to build larger surface combatants in the coming years—with larger corvettes and frigates in the works. However, Moscow is not likely to spend large sums of money to build massive new vessels such as the gargantuan 14,000-ton Leader-class nuclear-powered destroyers or 100,000-ton Storm aircraft carriers. Instead, Russia will likely build scaled up versions of existing warship designs.
“Russia’s corvettes and frigates are set to get bigger in order to accommodate larger magazines and more weapon systems,” Center for Naval Analysis research scientist Michael Kofman wrote in his personal blog.
“The general direction is heavier corvettes and frigates, with modifications in existing designs and some new ‘heavy’ variants afoot.”
Indeed, the Leader-class is unlikely to ever be built. Moscow will more likely build a smaller and more cost effective vessel based on its Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates. The new “Super Gorshkovs” are likely to displace about 8,000-tons, which is about size of a normal destroyer.
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WNU Editor: Dave Mukumdar is correct .... no 14,000-ton Leader-class nuclear-powered destroyers or 100,000-ton Storm aircraft carriers .... but everything else will be built (maybe).
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