The Kuznetsovs were developed as a replacement for the cancelled Orel project. Varyag has a modified
superstructure.
The carriers were designed to carry Yak-141 aircraft, but the cancellation of that project means that
the usual airwing is made up only of Su-27 variants and helicopters.
History & Modifications
Kuznetsov:
Kuznetsov was originally named Riga. On 26th November 1982 she was renamed Leonid Brezhnev, and again
renamed Tblisi on 11th August 1987. She was finally renamed Kuznetsov on 1st January 1991. Her only
deployment so far was in the Mediterranean between December 1995 and March 1996.
Since then, she has been awaiting overhaul, but has occasionally been used for flight testing and may
be deployed late in 2000.
Varyag:
Varyag was originally named Riga and renamed in August 1990. Construction was cancelled in 1992 by
which time the ship was complete, but did not have electrical fittings installed. With the breakup of
the Soviet Union, the ship was transferred to the Ukraine. In 1996, Varyag was sold to an English
company for scrapping, but this was cancelled.
In March 1998, she was reportedly sold to a company in Macao to be converted into an entertainments
complex. It has been suggested that this company is a front for the Cinese navy to purchase the ship.
She remains in Russian waters, and it is very unlikely that she will ever operate as envisaged.
ing, but this was cancelled. In March 1998, she was reportedly sold to a company in Macao to be converted into an entertainments complex. It has been suggested that this company is a front for the Chinese navy to purchase the ship. She remains in Russian waters, and it is very unlikely that she will ever operate as envisaged.