Shtorm: A look at Russia's new design for a future aircraft carrier

It has been talked about for a while but the first look at a possible future Russian aircraft carrier came last week at the IMDS show in St Petersburg where the ' Shtorm' model was displayed. While there are several riders from the Russian side, including the fact that the design has not been frozen yet, the model and accompanying information gives a rare peek into the mind of Russian shipbuilders on the future of naval aviation.

The Shtorm model says that the ship would have a displacement of over 90,000 tons, taking it to the category of American super carriers like those of the Nimitz class.

The ship is designed with at least four catapult launchers as well as a ski jump – an unusual configuration to say the least as the norm is either a catapult or a ski jump.





Vice Admiral (retd) Vladimir Pepelyaev, who heads the combat shipbuilding section at Krylov's State Center which displayed the model says that the option for a catapult as well as ski jump exist as it would enable a variety of aircraft to take off. He also said at the show that the combination of the two systems would provide for aircraft to take off at maximum combat load.





At a mammoth 330 meters length, the Shtorm is designed to have two nuclear power plants to provide thrust, says Pepelyaev. But again, to make a difference, it is also designed to have a third power plant – a gas turbine that will run on conventional marine diesel.





The displayed model generated much interest, as did the variety of aircraft on display on the ship. These ranged from fighters and choppers to fixed wing reconnaissance and control aircraft – types that the Russian Navy has never operated from aircraft carriers.