Additional information
by Hugh Harkins (Author)
Russian/Soviet Aircraft Carrier & Carrier Aviation Design & Evolution Volume 1 The following is added ahead of the description as the volume has been subjected to a misinformation campaign beyond the control of the publisher or author. Volume 1 has utilised material from a wide-range of sources, including, but not restricted to, JPSC Nevskoe Design Bureau; Krylov State Research Centre; United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC); Admiralty Shipyards; Russian Helicopters; S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia; NPO Almaz; JSC Scientific Production Association Alloy; NPO Mashinostroyenia; Strela PA; Concern-Agat; JSC Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET); Rostec Corporation; JSC Klimov; Yakovlev OKB; NPO Saturn; Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (MODRF); USN; US DoD; UK MoD; Naval History & Heritage Centre; US National Archives as detailed on page iii. Sources listed throughout at appropriate points for respective bureau/services. For example, Nevskoe Design Bureau for areas of ship design is cited on 16 pages. Five ship characteristic sheets, detailing differences between the relative Projects 1143-1143.4, ten tables and infographics detailing armament and airborne platform characteristics and performance are appropriately cited to respective bureau. Details are provided for why these vessels were acquired, commencing at the close of chapter 1 and the operational doctrine for their use is detailed in chapter 2 and 3 - anti-submarine warfare defence for the protection of the soviet ballistic missile submarines. In 2016, there were five Russian/Soviet designed and built aircraft carriers in existence, three of which were in operational service; the Project 1143.5 Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Kuznetsov in Russian Federation naval service, the INS Vikramaditya (formerly the Project 1143.4) in Indian naval service and the incomplete former Soviet Project 1143.6 in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy of China as the Liaoning. The other two carriers, the Project 1143 Kiev and Minsk had been decommissioned and formed museum exhibits. This two volume series sets out to detail the stable of Russian/Soviet designed and built significant aircraft carrying vessels and their integral shipborne aviation assets. Volume 2 will focus on the stable of conventional take-off carriers in service and projected future vessels. Volume 1 focusses predominantly on the operational design genesis of the major aircraft carrying vessels of the Soviet era, the Project 1123 Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopter carrying Cruisers and the Project 1143-1143.4 Heavy Aircraft Carrying Cruisers. Early aviation carrying projects, commencing with the Seaplane Carriers of World War 1 extending to the aircraft carrier concepts of the 1930's and 1940's and the German Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier that fell into Soviet hands at the end of World War II in Europe, are briefly detailed. An overview of other helicopter carrying vessels of the Soviet and Russian Federation eras is provided, including the Project 1174 amphibious assault ships and the unbuilt Project 11780 helicopter carrying design of the early 1980's. The development of the Project 1123 and 1143-1143.4 was intrinsically linked with the development of ballistic and cruise missile submarines. These ships were, in effect, the first and second generation of Soviet aircraft varying vessels. The introduction of the Project 1143.4 extended to the third generation. All technical information regarding the warships, systems and weapons has been provided by the respective design bureau and services, as has much of the graphic material used throughout the volume, which is also supported by graphic material from other sources such as the Defence and intelligence service Departments and archives of various NATO nations.
