Additional information
by Hugh Harkins (Author)
Russian/Soviet Aircraft Carrier & Carrier Aviation Design & Evolution Vol.2 The following is added ahead of volume description in response to the unfortunate situation that the volume has been subjected to a misinformation campaign that is beyond the control of the publisher/author. Volume has been produced using material from a wide-range of sources including, but not restricted to, JPSC Nevskoe Design Bureau; Krylov State Research Centre; United Shipbuilding Corporation; Russian Helicopters; S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia; NPO Almaz; JSC Scientific Production Association Alloy; NPO Mars; NPO Mashinostroyenia; SPU Salut, Strela PA; Concern-Agat; JSC Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET); Rostec Corporation; JSC Klimov; Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation; US DoD; UK MoD, MNIIRE Altair. Sources are listed throughout at appropriate points for respective bureau/services. For example, Krylov Research Centre & JPSC Nevskoe Design Bureau for areas of ship design - the latter cited on 18 pages. Six specification tables for ship designs are cited to the respective bureau. Radar design and performance capabilities are provided clearly through English language translations of appropriately cited Russian Design Bureau documents. Five design bureau characteristic and performance specification tables for weapon complex are provided, all appropriately cited. Eight specification sheets are provided for airborne platforms, appropriately cited to the respective design bureau. This includes English language translations of Russian language infographics furnished by the Russian Defence Ministry. In 2017, there were five Russian/Soviet designed and built aircraft carriers in existence, three of which were in operational service - the Project 1143.5 Aircraft Carrying Heavy Cruiser Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Kuznetsov in Russian Federation naval service, the INS Vikramaditya (formerly the Project 1143.4 Heavy Aircraft Carrying Cruiser Baku/Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Gorshkov) in Indian naval service and the incomplete former Soviet Project 1143.6 Aircraft Carrying Heavy Cruiser Varyag in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy of China as the Liaoning. The other two aircraft carriers, the Project 1143/.2 Kiev and Minsk Heavy Aircraft Carrying Cruisers had been decommissioned and formed museum exhibits in China. This two volume series sets out to detail the stable of Russian/Soviet designed and built significant aircraft carrying vessels and their respective shipborne aviation assets. Volume 1 focused on the design genesis of the major aircraft carrying vessels of the Imperial Russian and Soviet periods, which included Seaplane Carriers, the Project 1123 Moskva Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter Carrying Cruisers and the Project 1143-1143.4 Kiev and Improved Kiev Class Heavy Aircraft Carrying Cruisers, as well as a number of early and mid-20th century aviation carrying projects. This second volume focusses on the stable of conventional take-off and landing aircraft carriers of the late 20th century and early 21st century periods - the Project 1143.5, the Project 1143.6 Varyag, the nuclear powered Project 1143.7 Ul'yanovsk, as well as the unrealised concepts - the Project 1153 and Project 1160 nuclear powered conventional take-off and landing aircraft carriers and the projected 21st century Project 23000E nuclear powered anti-submarine warfare/attack carrier. Separate chapters deal with the various rotary wing and fixed wing aviation assets that would make up the air groups of the Project 1143.5 and the modified Project 1143.4 INS Vikramaditya. All technical information regarding the warships, systems and weapons has been provided by the respective design bureau and services, as has graphic material. The volume is supported by textual and graphic material from governmental intelligence/historical archives of United States and United Kingdom.
