Russia offers India a new nuclear aircraft carrier design

Russia has offered its nuclear aircraft carrier, dubbed “Storm,” to India for purchase, a senior Indian Navy official said. The offer comes as India and the US discuss the transfer of technology for India’s future nuclear aircraft carrier, the INS Vishal. Krylov State Research Center (KSRC), a Russian shipbuilding research and development institute, is designing the carrier, also known as Shtorm or Project 23000E.

The India’s first domestically built carrier, the 40,000-ton INS Vikrant, is also delayed in part due to problems with Russian components.

The follow-up to Vikrant – the 65,000-ton indigenous aircraft carrier-II (IAC-II) Vishal program — is still in the early planning phases. Last year, India issued letters of request to U.K. firm BAE Systems, DCNS in France, Lockheed Martin and Russia’s Rosoboronexport

“According to the LoR, the IAC-2 is envisaged as a 300 m-long flattop vessel with a catapult- assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) capability that can embark around 35 fighters and 20 helicopters,” read the Jane’s report.

It’s unclear how the 90,000 to 100,000-ton Shtorm – or Storm – would fit into India’s carrier plans.

Project 23000E Shtorm carrier. Krylovsky State Research Center (KRSC) Photo

SOURCE- Defense News, USNI