Russia’s Krylov State Research Center (KSRC) has devised a new design concept for its future semi-catamaran aircraft carrier. The model of a future multi-role aircraft carrier was presented for the first time at the Army-2018 forum in August this year.
“The semi-catamaran design of the ship’s underwater part is the project’s key distinguishing feature,” KSRC spokesperson was quoted as saying by TASS on Wednesday.
The proposed project has no name yet. Normally catamarans have two parallel hulls and a superstructure platform connecting them. The proposed semi-catamaran hull will resemble a dovetail, bifurcating toward the stern.
The new design pattern’s main advantage was a large flight deck (as wide as that of heavy aircraft carriers) and smaller displacement. The flight deck area is a crucial factor for the number of planes the ship can carry, the spokesperson said.
“An average displacement ship is capable of carrying a full-scale air wing,” he added.
No V-shape hull aircraft carriers have been built so far.
The Krylov Center said the proposed aircraft carrier’s water displacement will be 44,000 tonnes, length – 304 meters, deck width – 78 meters, draught – 8.5 meters, full speed – 28 knots, and cruising range – 8,000 miles. The ship’s air wing will consist of 46 aircraft: 12-14 Sukhoi-33 fighters, 12-14 MiG-29K/KUB fighters, four early warning and command aircraft and 12-14 Ka-27 helicopters.
Russia’s only medium class aircraft carrier The Admiral Kuznetsov having a far greater displacement (59,000 tonnes) carries the same air group – up to 52 planes and helicopters.
U.S. Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier
Carriers of the Gerald R. Ford class will have
- Advanced arresting gear
- Automation, allowing a crew of several hundred fewer than the Nimitz-class carrier.
- The updated RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile.
- An AN/SPY-3 X Band multifunction radar and an AN/SPY-4 S Band volume search radar.
- Designated together as Dual Band Radar (DBR), initially developed for the Zumwalt-class destroyers.
- An Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) in place of traditional steam catapults for launching aircraft.
- A new nuclear reactor design (the A1B reactor) for greater power generation.
- Stealth features to reduce radar cross-section.
- The ability to carry up to 90 aircraft, including the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler, Grumman C-2 Greyhound, Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II, Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, and unmanned combat aerial vehicles such as the Northrop Grumman X-47B.
