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St. Petersburg factory to repair aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov’s powerplant by 2020

The Kirov Factory did not specify the current stage of the repair works

ST.PETERSBURG, November 6. /TASS/. The St. Petersburg-based Kirov-Energomash (part of the Kirov Factory) will complete works to restore the equipment of the main powerplant of the Russian Navy’s sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in 2020, Kirov Factory CEO Georgy Semenenko told TASS on Tuesday.

"The terms of the contract are being fulfilled strictly in accordance with the schedule agreed with the customer and all the works are due to be completed in 2020," the chief executive said.

The Kirov Factory did not specify, however, the stage of the repair works at present.

Kirov-Energomash specializing in the manufacture and modernization of powerplant started the repairs of the aircraft carrier’s main propulsion unit in August 2018 under a contract signed on July 13 with the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation). The factory’s specialists participated in the disassembly and will be involved in the subsequent assembly of the equipment and start-up works.

After the repairs are over, Russia’s sole aircraft carrier will get new air defense systems, in particular, the Pantsyr-M complex, and new flight control systems.

Repairs on the Admiral Kuznetsov

The Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center signed a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry in April on the aircraft carrier’s repairs. The works started in May and are scheduled to be completed in 2021.

The dock repairs of the Admiral Kuznetsov were carried out at the 82nd Ship Repair Factory in the Murmansk Region in northwest Russia. However, the factory’s PD-50 floating dock sank overnight to October 30 in Murmansk during the planned exit of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov from it. According to preliminary information, the warship itself had its take-off deck damaged by the fallen crane and is now at the 35th Ship Repair Plant.

The spokesman for the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center said that the repairs were proceeding according to schedule.

As a source in the ship-building industry told TASS, the Admiral Kuznetsov does not need repeat repairs in docks after the incident.

The Admiral Kuznetsov

The Project 11435 heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov is designed to gain superiority at sea and in the air in the areas of the fleet’s operation to ensure the fleet’s combat sustainability, deliver air strikes against enemy objectives and support troops’ landing operations.

The warship entered service in 1990. It displaces 58,000 tonnes and has a length of 304.5 meters. The aircraft carrier has a full speed capacity of 200,000 horsepower and develops a speed of up to 30 knots. Apart from the air task force of 24-26 fighter jets and 12 helicopters, the Admiral Kuznetsov is armed with anti-ship and air defense missile systems.

The warship is equipped with a ski-jump and two aircraft elevators. It has a crew of 1,300 while the air group’s personnel numbers 660 men.

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