Section E.2: What happened to the former USSRs aircraft carriers?
• Ulyanovsk class nuclear powered aircraft carrier (85,000 tons): construction started 1988, cancelled 1991 (40% complete), scrapped starting 1992. Never launched. A second unit was not started. • Kuznetsov class aircraft carriers (67,000 tons): This class is not nuclear powered. One in nominally in service. • Kuznetsov: (previously named Riga, Leonid Brezhnev and Varyag): Nominally complete 1991, but electronics were not yet operational. Fully operational 1995, deployed to the Mediterranean. Was immobile 1995-1998, now operational. • Varyag (previously Riga): Launched 1988, structurally complete by 1991, but weapons and electronics not installed. Construction stopped late 1991/early 1992, transferred to Ukraine 1992, laid up in unmaintained reserve 1992-1996, to be scrapped. Rumors of sale to India or China are untrue. • Kiev class aviation cruisers (42,000 tons): Entire class now inoperable. • Kiev:: Stricken 1993 due to poor condition. Stripped for parts to keep Gorshkov: operationa
