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MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator...
and 53,000 ton unloaded, standard and laden tonnage, respectively, and a 273-meter long flight deck. The vessel will carry 16 to 20 MiG-29 fighters and six to eight Kamov Ka-28/Ka-31 helicopters. If sold to India, the ship will also be able to carry HAL Tejas trainer aircraft and Dhruv light helicopters. Besides aviation, the warship will be fitted with Kinzhal air defense missiles and Kashtan air defense gun/missile systems.The updated ship will be closest in performance to the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, which has a slightly lower laden tonnage of 43,000 tons and a higher endurance thanks to its power plant. The more rational design of the latter also provides more room on the hangar deck, 4,600 sq m compared to 2,900 on the Admiral Gorshkov, enough to contain up to 40 aircraft.
The Russian ship, however, will be faster and, according to some experts, will have higher sea worthiness, ensuring aircraft operation in adverse weather.