Key Points and Summary – At the Cold War’s end, the Soviet Union laid down Ulyanovsk (Project 1143.7), its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier aimed at rivaling U.S. Nimitz-class ships.
-Designed with four KN-3 reactors, steam catapults plus a ski-jump, and a 44-aircraft air wing (Su-33/MiG-29K fighters, Yak-44 AEW, Ka-27 helos), the 75,000-ton flat-top promised global reach and heavier, faster sortie generation than Kuznetsov.
(June 18, 2021) As seen from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the Strait of Malacca with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). The ships are part of Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5, conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)
-Economic turmoil and the USSR’s collapse halted construction in 1991–92, ending hopes for a two-carrier blue-water force.
Had it sailed, Ulyanovsk might have boosted Soviet deterrence, early warning, and power projection—but it arrived too late for a state that no longer existed.
What If the Soviet Union Could Have Built a Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier?
It’s fair to think the Russians are terrible at building, operating, and maintaining aircraft carriers. After a miserable career, the failed Admiral Kuznetsov will never sail again, leaving Russia with no carrier to call its own.
Admiral Kuznetsov Russian Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Twitter/Screenshot.
But the Soviet Union once had grand designs for its own supercarrier – one to rival the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class vessels toward the end of the Cold War.
An Answer to Reagan’s Naval Strategy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, during America’s naval build-up, did not foresee the Soviets wanting to answer with more capital ships of their own.
But the Kremlin wanted a blue water navy that could do more than just protect the homeland. Only a nuclear-powered carrier could meet this objective.
What would have been the first nuclear-propelled carrier the Soviet Union ever built was ultimately never fated to sail the oceans. But let’s take a closer look to see why the planned ship was at one time so compelling.
The Timing Wasn’t Good
The proposed carrier was called the Ulyanovsk, or Project 1143.7. It was meant to carry the Soviet flag while it circumnavigated the globe, projected power, and deterred American warships. The Ulyanovsk was laid down in 1988.
The Soviet Union was hurting under the tenuous and topsy-turvy leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev. The period of glasnost and perestroika had Soviet people wondering about the nation’s difficult history and remembering the terrible reign of Joseph Stalin.
Citizens were learning that the Soviet Union’s economy was nothing like the United States. Goods, especially food, were limited, and the Russian people stood in long lines for the simplest of products. A new aircraft carrier was the furthest thing from their minds.
Keeping the Pace with America
So this was probably not the best time to invest in the navy. The Cold War would end soon and the Soviet military would fall to the ash heap of history. But an aircraft carrier that had global reach was within the realm of possibility, and it would have given the Soviets hope that they could keep up with the U.S. Navy in strength and capability.
(September 24, 2021). The navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the South China Sea. Reagan is attached to Commander, Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5 conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)
New Aircraft Carrier: Big Plans for a Big Ship
The Ulyanovsk had modern innovations. A pair of new steam catapults called the Mayak would have enabled quick launching of aircraft. The design of the carrier was going to be a flat-top/ski jump combo that would allow greater operational tempo than the ski jump–only deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov. That meant the new nuclear-powered carrier could launch heavier aircraft, loaded to the gills with missiles and bombs.
For unlimited propulsion and range, the Ulyanovsk had four KN-3 nuclear reactors with four steam turbines and four shafts. The top speed was 30 knots. This propulsion system was advanced for the era and would give the carrier global reach.
Diverse Force of Aircraft
The aviation wing was impressive – the carrier would have the ability to carry 44 aircraft, complete with Sukhoi Su-33s, Su-27Ks, and Mikoyan MiG-29Ks. There were to be six Yakovlev Yak-44 RLD airborne early warning aircraft, 16 Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and two Ka-27PS rescue helicopters.
This would have been a strong seagoing contingent. The early warning aircraft and anti-submarine planes would be especially useful, and there would be many fighter aircraft on board. This was a fearsome force, and the Soviets got to work in the late 1980s to make this proposed ship a reality.
The Ulyanovsk would have been the biggest ship in the Soviet Navy. As designed, it would have displaced 75,000 tons with a full load. It would be more than 1,000 feet long, with a beam of 275 feet. This would make it larger than the U.S. Navy’s Forrestal-class carriers, but not as big as the Nimitz-class. Still, this was an impressive Soviet carrier design.
The Ulyanovsk aircraft carrier would be protected with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. For improved survivability, it would lead a carrier strike group that could counteract U.S. Navy submarines, plus defend against American frigates and destroyers with anti-ship missiles.
Oliver Hazard Perry-Class Frigates. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Soviets also wanted to build a second carrier based on the design of the Ulyanovsk. This would have allowed them to patrol the Atlantic while also covering the waters near China. With these carriers, the Soviets would have a true blue water navy to project power around the world. If one carrier needed maintenance, the other could continue patrolling. The idea had the Soviet navy excited about the possibility of rivaling American naval power in the Soviet near-abroad.
But it wasn’t meant to be. The Ulyanovsk ran out of time as the Soviet Union crumbled. Russian leadership was not concerned as much with a military build-up, knowing the country was headed for a major fall. The ordinary Russian citizen had no awareness that the new carrier was even being built, since there were so many domestic problems.
By the time the Soviet Union disintegrated, there were no funds to keep the program running. Building was stopped, and the Ulyanovsk faded away. This was not good news for the struggling Russian Navy. The dream of a blue water navy was spoiled, and the Russians still cannot project naval power far from their shores. The Ulyanovsk would have helped Russian readiness and naval deterrence immensely – well into the Vladimir Putin era.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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