Last week in Sevastopol at the exhibition prospective weapons Russian President Vladimir Putin showed the layout of the new Russian aircraft carrier project "Manatee", developed in the Nevsky Design and Development of St. Petersburg Office.
caps unsheathed
In the new century aircraft carrier projects have appeared in the public space of Russian punctually. design offices (mainly - Krylov Research Center) We represent them in the form of light, medium and heavy aircraft carriers, in the atomic and atomic embodiments. (Many prepayments, eg, of the "Storm".) Composition wing ranged from nearly three dozen to hundreds of aircraft.
Each new project is an initiative audience enthusiastically took. Armed with confidence for caps, She announced the next product design idea "has no analogues in the world". Then arose a stir gently subsided.
It soon transpired, The project was born as a result of the initiative of the designers. State they had not ordered anything, and military officials were interested in new development and nodding, as well as the public in areas adjacent to the Ministry of Defense Internet networks.
Another project aroused two, intersecting debate: Do we need aircraft carriers in principle - where to build their. Most participants agreed in opinion, that Russia's interests end up somewhere on the beam or Yamal Kamchatka, and in the far sea zone, by definition, it has nothing to do. Finally finishing off the topic of the thesis is the weakness of the Russian economy.
Against the background of these debates, conversations shipbuilders slowly made submarines, We experimented with small rocket ships and modifications corvettes, Composite water put on trawlers and even after long delays passed fleet pair of surface ships first rank.
There is a reason for optimism
Disputes on aircraft carriers perked up after not very successful campaign of the aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" to the shores of Syria, and then after a fire on the ship. However, note in the new disputes were heard others. First of all, many have understood, that world power can not limit yourself to only the coastal fleet. Because its interests extend to distant overseas countries.
Last summer at the International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg, the country saw a draft of a new nuclear aircraft carrier 11430E "Manatee". Layout is very much like the heavy nuclear aircraft carrier project 1143.7 "Ulyanovsk", that the Soviet Union was not able to finish on the Nikolaev shipyard Ukraine.
Embarrassed shaped as letters "E", appeared in literatsii "Manatee". Designers politely hinted authorities, that the new project can be released for export. The same in India, eg. Meanwhile,, presentation of "Manatee" in St. Petersburg, in contrast to the previous layout gave some grounds for optimism. At first, It had a feeling, that after the events in Venezuela authorities felt the need for such a powerful lever of influence on the international situation, as a flag showing the carrier-band.
Secondly, the Far East is growing shipyard, which is quite tough for a couple of years to master the construction of such a serious. Competence and cadres in the country for the implementation of the project has. Finally, In recent years, Russia's budget surplus will be typeset with enviable. Formed a decent backup Potbelly, where can I find 200-300 billion. rubles, who ask the developers for the project.
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The second year phenomenon layout "Manatee" public shows, that power ripe for the scope of the project. they are impressive. The aircraft carrier is seen designers from the nuclear power plant, displacement in 80-90 thousand tons. Length to the housing 350 m, maximum speed - 30 knots, autonomy - 120 day.
The crew will make 2800 human. 800 - provide work aviagroup. On board will place the order 60 aircrafts (AWACS planes, heavy and light fighters, helicopters and drones, including, Shock - type "Hunter"). Ammunition wing drags on 1600-2000 tonnes.
Rumor, The new carrier will form at the turn of 2023-2024 years and at the end of the decade will put into operation. Let's hope, that's how it happens in spite of the current practice of delayed implementation of public procurement (last December, eg, disrupted the commissioning of a half-dozen ships - from the frigate "Admiral Kasatonov" to scuba strategist "Prince Vladimir"). Russia hopes the project returns.
The interest of the Supreme Commander for the new aircraft carrier says that, The project "Manatee" is quite viable. Do not make a mistake if in this assessment ...
Gennady Granovsky
