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With the return of the Yak-141, the escort aircraft carrier becomes relevant for the Russian Navy

With the return of the Yak-141, the escort aircraft carrier becomes relevant for the Russian Navy

The MAKS-2021 air show will begin in a few days, around which intrigue has already been created. Rostec showed a teaser of a fundamentally new aircraft, which should interest foreign buyers and compete, obviously, USA. But what is this plane?, and where can it be used?

On the website of the state corporation in this regard, it says the following::Russia is one of the few countries in the world, possessing full-cycle technologies for the production of advanced aviation systems, as well as a recognized trendsetter in the creation of combat aircraft. We are convinced, what a new product, developed by UAC specialists, will cause genuine interest not only in our country, but also in other regions of the world, including our competitors abroad.
Now everyone is wondering, what kind of fundamentally new winged car is this. Some put on a light single-engine version of the fifth generation fighter Su-57, others - to the promising supersonic interceptor MiG-41. The third one speculates, that the criteria for fundamental novelty would still be more consistent with a vertical takeoff and landing fighter (SVVP). A few years ago, the revival of this program on the basis of the Soviet Yak-141 was announced by the relevant Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov. Like it or not, we'll find out in just a few days, but, if this is true, new interesting opportunities are opening up for our country.At first, this is a new market, Where, except American F-35B, virtually no competition. Yes, the market is relatively narrow, but now many countries are acquiring their own universal landing ships and want to have at least light aircraft carriers. Russian-made VTOL aircraft for them could be purchased by China, India, Egypt and even Turkey, which was left without American fighters due to sanctions.Secondly, which is more important to us, revived "verticals" could be based on two UDC projects currently under construction in Kerch 23900. Ships are designed not only to transport amphibious assault with equipment, but also for placement on them 17 helicopters and several UAVs. The design of the UDC will also allow you to effectively place on it from 8 to 12 fighters, and 3-4 helicopter. The appearance of VTOL aircraft on universal ships of large displacement, along with helicopters, will dramatically enhance the capabilities of the Russian Navy, since our fleet will de facto then acquire two light aircraft carriers, around which so many copies are broken. If the Yak-141 is really revived, this would be more proof, that Russian aircraft carriers are still needed, it’s just that we can’t afford them yet because of poverty, and therefore we put on a good face with a bad game. But is there a way to get carriers for VTOL aircraft in the shortest possible time?? Of course, there is, everything has long been invented before us, it is enough to turn to the rich experience of the "lords of the seas" of the Anglo-Saxons. The Second World War forced the Allies to urgently look for opportunities to increase the number of aircraft carriers to fight the German submarine fleet and the Luftwaffe.. It turned out to be possible to quickly do this only by re-equipping peaceful civilian courts., which were equipped with a flight deck and a superstructure-island. The first samples were called "merchant aircraft carriers" (merchant aircraft carrier), and they could carry only a few aircraft of obsolete designs. Japan followed the same path., which turned its tankers into aircraft carriers. Such improvised aircraft carriers looked very specific, if not ugly, however, they could still solve certain combat missions. A further stage in the development of this idea was the so-called "escort aircraft carriers". Based on cargo and passenger ships, as well as tankers, a single-tier hangar for aircraft and a flight deck were mounted. In the Royal Navy, the first ship of this type is HMS Audacity., converted from the German bulk carrier MV Hannover, where could accommodate 6 to 8 aircraft. In the US Navy, the USS Bogue is considered the lead ship of the "escort aircraft carrier" series.. It was based on a group of just 24 Aircraft. Despite the dubious origin, improvised American aircraft carrier for the entire time of hostilities in the Atlantic was able to sink 13 German submarines, alone or in cooperation with other ships. USS Bogue gave rise to a whole series of "escort aircraft carriers", and the history of ships of this class, providing anti-submarine and anti-aircraft cover for ocean convoys, makes them respectful. of course, a hastily converted civilian ship is very far from a real military, but they solved the combat missions assigned to them, helping to send "wolf packs" to the bottom. In general, experience was so successful, that the idea was further developed in the form of universal landing ships, which are essentially a floating dock with a straight flight deck. UDC can be effectively used both during landing operations, and in the protection of sea convoys by helicopters and carrier-based fighters. Another promising direction for the US Navy was the concept of using light aircraft carriers. (Sea Control Ship), equipped with VTOL. The Pentagon rejected it, having staked on dominance in the oceans with the help of huge Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carriers, however, some time ago, the US military again returned to the discussion of the old idea as more in line with modern realities. There is something to think about. But the most interesting for us may be a program called ARAPAHO, which Washington and London jointly developed in the 70s of the last century as a generalization of their experience of the Second World War. According to her, The US and British navies have prepared a project to re-equip civilian bulk carriers into "escort aircraft carriers" and have produced a sufficient number of special modules in advance, allowing you to quickly turn a peaceful ship into an aircraft carrier, capable of receiving VTOL British Aerospace Sea Harrier. And it came in handy! AT 1982 year, Britain decided to shake the old days and started a war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. To conduct hostilities in such a remote theater, London had to use not only the military, but also the civil fleet. To achieve air supremacy, the British needed to drive to the coast of South America not only their two full-fledged aircraft carriers, but also three container ships, turned into "escort aircraft carriers". "Atlantic Conveyor", "Atlantic Causeway", as well as the "Contender Besant" received a reinforced flight deck for aircraft on the bow, at the stern - a platform for helicopters, and hangars were created from container modules for storing equipment, fuel tanks, cubes for the team. note, that the terms of re-equipment were phenomenally short - from 7 to 9 days. 7-9 days to receive an aircraft carrier, Charles! It's very impressive. Yes, a converted civilian ship is much inferior to a real military ship in all respects, Besides, except that, cost and terms of their receipt. It is worth recalling, that the USSR Navy also seriously considered the project of an anti-submarine helicopter carrier code 10200 "Khalzan" on the basis of a high-speed large-tonnage vessel with horizontal cargo handling (the roller) project 1609 type "Captain Smirnov". And he might well even succeed, but the customer tried to cram too much functionality into a civilian ship, which led to a radical complication of the design, rise in price and increase in size. In the end it turned, that such a project will not give special savings and benefits, and its construction will have to take a slipway, needed for full-fledged aircraft-carrying cruisers. As a result, the project of a budget Soviet helicopter carrier based on a ro-ro did not take place..

With the return of the Yak-141, the escort aircraft carrier becomes relevant for the Russian Navy

However, this does not mean, that direction in itself is unpromising. Having a defense program like ARAPAHO, you can get an auxiliary aircraft carrier with VTOL aircraft and helicopters on board in just a week and a half, capable of performing certain combat missions in anti-submarine defense and air defense as part of a formation, as well as support amphibious assault operations on the coast. Or not alone, and several such ships at once. Besides, escort aircraft carrier can serve as a platform for basing unmanned aircraft. No, we do not call on the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation right now to rush and turn dry cargo ships and tankers into aircraft carriers and helicopter carriers. But, perhaps, it makes sense for the military department, together with the USC, to work out in detail the very possibility of quickly transforming a civilian ship into a warship? For the future, shrouded in mist?

Sergey Marzhetsky

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