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A MiG-29K on the deck of Admiral Kuznetsov in a photograph published by Russian social media site VK.com on 12 October. The carrier's air group is believed to include around a dozen MiG-29K/KUBs. Source: VK.com
Russia's only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov , is nearing the end of a work-up period outside the port of Murmansk before heading for the eastern Mediterranean, reportedly to begin air operations against targets in Syria.
The first combat deployment of Kuznetsov was announced by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu on 21 September, when he said the 55,000-ton carrier would be escorted by six warships and three or four support vessels.
UK naval sources say they expect Kuznetsov's departure to be "imminent".
"We and our NATO allies have been watching her work-up closely and we think they have got her pilots qualified and safe to fly off the ship," a senior naval officer told IHS Jane's on 13 October, adding, "She has been going in and out of port over the past week or so to get everyone spun up. That seems to be done now."
The air group on Kuznetsov is believed to include about a dozen MiG-29K/KUB fixed-wing combat aircraft, as well as a similar number of helicopters. Photographs appeared on the Russian social media site VK.com on 12 October purporting to show a Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopter, painted in the Russian Naval Aviation colour scheme, parked inside the carrier's hangar deck. These appear to be some of the first images to emerge of the Ka-52K on board the carrier, suggesting they are very recent. Other pictures show a Ka-52 flying over a naval anchorage near Murmansk.
Further pictures and video have shown MiG-29K aircraft painted in Russian Naval Aviation markings landing on the carrier, as well as parked on its deck and inside its hangar. A Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter could also be seen in this imagery. The size of the air group has not been announced by the Russian navy, but fully loadedKuznetsov can embark a maximum of 40 aircraft.
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A Ka-52K attack helicopter below deck on Kuznetsov in a photograph published by Russian social media site VK.com on 9 October. The current cruise of Kuznetsov appears to mark the operational debut at sea of the maritime variant of the Ka-52K. (VK.com)
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http://www.janes.com/article/64643/russian-carrier-works-up-for-syria-deployment
