In a dramatic shift that underscores Russia’s dwindling ability to project naval airpower globally, Moscow is reportedly preparing to scrap its sole aircraft carrier, the ageing Admiral Kuznetsov, and replace it with a new generation of smaller, more agile flattops that may even host Chinese-built J-35A stealth fighters.
The final decision to decommission the Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been plagued by repeated breakdowns, fires, and botched upgrades for nearly a decade, signals a stark admission that the Kremlin’s once-formidable maritime ambitions have been sharply eroded.
Reports carried by the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia reveal that the Russian Navy and United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) are now close to abandoning the long-delayed overhaul of the Kuznetsov and will instead invest in compact aircraft carrier concepts designed to survive in an era of hypersonic weapons and precision-guided munitions.
Analysts say the move would leave Russia’s naval aviation capability dangerously diminished, particularly at a time when its maritime forces are overstretched in the Black Sea, the Arctic, and Pacific theatres.
While the United States Navy maintains an unrivalled fleet of 11 operational aircraft carriers capable of dominating any ocean on Earth, the loss of the Kuznetsov would mean the Kremlin must rebuild its sea-based airpower essentially from scratch.
Ilya Kramnik, a defence analyst at the Centre for the Study of Strategic Planning, told Izvestia that Moscow is studying two plausible fighter candidates for any future light carriers — the domestically designed Sukhoi Su-75 “Checkmate” and the Chinese Shenyang J-35A.
“If smaller aircraft carriers are constructed, the likely prospects for carrier-based fighters would be the Su-75, if a naval variant is developed, or the J-35A, since both are more compact than the Su-33 currently in use,” Kramnik noted.
His remarks highlight how Russia’s sea-based aviation doctrine could pivot from traditional heavy carrier battle groups to lighter platforms operating stealth-capable jets optimised for high-threat environments.
Russian naval thinkers are increasingly convinced that massive carriers have become vulnerable “floating targets” as modern warfare evolves around hypersonic glide vehicles, swarm drones, and long-range anti-ship missiles.
Admiral Sergei Avakyants, the former commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, bluntly told Izvestia that the Russian Navy “does not need classic aircraft carriers for the long term.”
Avakyants stressed that the days of traditional flattops may be numbered because they “can be destroyed within minutes by modern weapons,” exposing the limits of “floating airbases” in an era dominated by next-generation kill chains and stand-off precision strikes.
This rethinking comes as China continues to push ahead with its own stealth carrier-based fighter, the J-35A, which has emerged as a key asset in Beijing’s drive to field a world-class blue-water navy by the mid-2030s.
Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation under China’s state aviation giant AVIC, the J-35A is designed to penetrate dense enemy air defences, execute long-range precision strikes, and maintain a low radar cross-section to outfox Western early warning systems.
According to leaked technical documents, the J-35A is expected to be powered by the new-generation WS-19 engines with 12-tonne-class thrust, allowing it to supercruise at subsonic and transonic speeds without afterburners — a critical advantage for stealth operations requiring low infrared signatures.
Its maximum take-off weight (MTOW) has reportedly grown to 28,000 kilograms, up from the 25,000 kilograms of the earlier FC-31 prototype, enabling larger internal fuel reserves and heavier weapon payloads for extended maritime strike missions.
Key to its stealth profile are two main internal bays that can carry up to four medium-range missiles, supplemented by smaller side bays for short-range infrared-guided missiles — a configuration that mirrors design philosophies seen on the US Navy’s F-35C and F-22 Raptor.
For strike missions that prioritise firepower over stealth, the J-35A also features six external hardpoints capable of mounting guided bombs, anti-ship cruise missiles, or stand-off precision munitions — enhancing its flexibility in diverse combat scenarios from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait.
In an exclusive interview with China’s Global Times, Wang Yongqing, the J-35’s chief designer, stressed that the stealth jet was engineered for mass production, dovetailing with Beijing’s ambition to deploy large-scale carrier-based stealth squadrons that can execute both combat and command missions simultaneously.
“The ‘dual air-sea configuration’ and ‘one aircraft, multiple variants’ for the J-35 series is a development path we have consistently pursued in line with national requirements,” Wang said.
Wang described the J-35A as an ‘airborne commander’ that can coordinate a network of unmanned drones, AEW&C aircraft, surface vessels and missile batteries, ensuring synergy across China’s expanding kill chain architecture.
He compared its role to a “point guard in basketball,” explaining: “The J-35A not only has impressive ‘scoring’ capability but can also effectively coordinate other battlefield assets in joint operations.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Su-75 “Checkmate” project remains Moscow’s prime domestic stealth fighter candidate for any next-gen light carrier fleet.
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has confirmed the Su-75 is progressing well, with Sergei Korotkov, its chief designer and UAC Deputy CEO, telling Russia’s state news agency TASS that development has entered its final phase.
Initially unveiled at the MAKS-2021 Air Show, the Su-75 was pitched as an affordable, fifth-generation single-engine stealth fighter with multi-role capabilities to compete with the US F-35 Lightning II and China’s J-35 series.
Available specs indicate the Checkmate can reach speeds of Mach 1.8, has a combat range of 1,864 miles, and can operate up to 54,100 feet, carrying up to 7.4 tonnes of weapons in internal bays to maintain its stealth profile.
Its modular avionics, AI-assisted pilot aids, and network-centric mission systems are meant to keep the fighter competitive in complex future battlespaces.
Significantly, the Su-75’s projected unit cost — estimated at between USD 30 million to USD 35 million (roughly RM141 million to RM164 million) — makes it far more attractive to export customers than Western stealth jets, with the F-35 priced at roughly USD 82.5 million to USD 102.1 million (RM388 million to RM480 million).
Russia’s Rosoboronexport recently announced that it has secured its first foreign buyer for the Su-57 stealth fighter, widely believed to be Algeria — a deal that will likely bolster confidence in Moscow’s stealth fighter portfolio at a time when Western sanctions have battered its defence industry.
Experts say the Kremlin’s bet on smaller carriers, combined with more affordable fifth-generation stealth jets like the Su-75 and potential foreign collaboration on platforms like the J-35A, reflects Moscow’s attempt to stay relevant in a battlespace rapidly shaped by China’s rise and Washington’s enduring maritime supremacy.
As Russia struggles to maintain its maritime footprint in the Black Sea, Arctic, and Far East, the fate of its future carriers and stealth aviation strategy will have lasting implications for the global balance of naval power.