THE TBILISI-CLASS CARRIER: CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES, AND LIMITATIONS (SW 8

Created: 5/1/1989

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

The Tbilisi-Class Aircraft Carrier: Characteristics, Capabilities, and Limitations

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The Tbilisi-Class Aircraft Carrier: Characteristics, Capabilities, and Limitations

An Intelligence Assessment

This paper was prepared by

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Imagery Analysis;

Thei-Class Aircraftaciemiics Capabilities, and Limitation*

Judgment*

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he Soviets launched the lead shiplass of aircraft carrierthe Tbilisi. There archips of this class fitting out.hird aircraft carrier,ew class of aircraft carrier, is now under construction. These ships are the largest Soviet surface combaiants constructed to date. The Tbilisi-class carriers have anfull load displacement0 metric tonsrobable maximum speed ofonots and combine unique design features, including:

Anr follow-on antiship cruise missile system underneath the flight deck.

Four fixed planar-array radars similar to the US Navy's Aegis system

A ski-jump bow that will allow enhanced vertical/short takeoff and landing (WSTOL) aircraft operations or noncaiapulted conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) operations.

Deck-edge elevators to aid in continuous takeoff and landi ng of aircraft, with an angled Right deck C

The configuration of these shipsission design emphasis on aniuir warfare and on air battle management at sea Theits anticipated formidable command and controlbe capable of managing air operations involving land-based aircraft operating over home waters, as well as providing protection to siirface task forces operating outside Soviet home waters "

The overall configuration of the Mighl deck indicates thai CTOLTOL aircraft can operate from the new earner. Desoilc its size andthe ship is not expected to have the overall aerial combat capabilities of even the oldest aircrafl carriers in service with ihe US Navy, riecause of the carrier's configuration and apparent Soviei developmentariety of carrier-suitable aircraft, (here has been some uncertainty as to which fighter will be deployed on the new carrier

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carrier will be ready for sea trials in (he Black Sea9 and should achieve inidal operational capability (IOC)he second ship of this class will probably require six years io complete and should commence sea

inai'Craf' Ca"ier probably wi"sea trials

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Ship

3 Ibe Soviets launched ihe lead ship of aaircrafl ca/riersDcuEn*lcd ihe

Tbilisi, this shipecond unit arc presently fittinghird aircrafl carrier,ew class of carrier, is now under consiiuaton. These ships are Ihc largest Soviei surface combatants constructed to date. Once operational. Ihese ships can support nearly any naval mission, including antisnrfaccamphibious assault, and power projection Their configuration suggests, however, that they arefor emphasis on anliair warfare and on air baitle management at sen. Although the carrier will most likely also have an aerial antisubmarine warfare capability, it will probably rely on other comhaiants for most of its submarine defent*

Theiu anticipated formidableand controlbe capable of manitging air operations involving land-based aircraft operating over Soviet home waicrs in wartime, ll will also provide "combato surface task forces operating ootstdc So-net borne waters The new Soviet carrier--unlike USuiitially havethe airstrike capability nor lhc flexibility foe moreominal power projection effon.oviei capiia) ship, however, ihe carrier shouldnumerous modifications over ihe course of its life cycle ihai should improve iis offensive and defensive ca pa bib tier,'

This ship has an estimated full load daptaccrncnlmetric tonsrobable maximumonots. Tbc Tbilisi alsodesign feature

Anr follow-on anuship' cruise missile system undereeaih ihe Highi deck.

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A ski jump bow ihat will allow enhanced vertical/ short ukeolT and landingTOL) aircraftor noficaiipulled conventional UkcotTnnd landing (CTOL) aircraft operations.

Four iiacd rylanar-array radars similar to those found on ihe US Navy's Aegis system.

Deck edge elevators to aid in continuous takeoff and landing of aircrafl.

angled flight deck similar to those found on catapult-capable ships "

We believe that ihe aircraft carrier'sequirementigh levelThis aircraftitsnoi have ihe aerialof even lhc oldest aircraft carrierswiih Ihc US Navy

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ll is standard Soviei practice io heavily arm iheir air-capable ships wuh complementary offensive and defensive weapon

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The Sovieu willodem, supersonicfood ituneuwavbiliiy. advanced avionics,capabilily for all-weaihcr operations at dayThe overall configuration of the flightits complex angles, ski jump takcofT andareas,and deck-edge ekva-

torv -indicates to us that both CTOLTOL aircraft can operate from the carrier.esternthe apparent developmentariety of new earner-suitable aircraft, had led to some uncertainty about the ship's eventual airming

Outlook

The first unii or* the new carrier class will be ready for sea trials in tbe Black Seand should achieve IOC. The ship may be required to remain in the Black Sea from two to four years after sea trials to integrate the ship and atrwingnified weapon system and to orchestrate operations aboard the ship j"

Reran Gla*i

Original document.

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