For decades, Russia has sought to restore the blue-water naval capabilities once held by the Soviet Union. Central to that ambition is the development of a new aircraft carrier capable of projecting air power far beyond Russian shores. Over the past decade, several impressive concepts have been unveiled, including Project 23000E Shtorm and the more recent Project 11430E Lamantin, also known as Manatee. However, no new Russian aircraft carrier has entered construction. Economic pressure, shifting military priorities, industrial limits, and the continuing problems surrounding Russia’s only aircraft carrier have all raised serious doubts about the programme’s future. As a result, Russia’s next-generation carrier remains a concept rather than a funded shipbuilding project.
Why Russia Wants a New Carrier
Aircraft carriers allow countries to project military power thousands of kilometres from their own territory. They act as mobile airfields that can support combat aircraft during conflicts, humanitarian operations, maritime patrols, and deterrence missions.
Unlike the United States, whose Navy operates a fleet of nuclear-powered supercarriers, Russia has traditionally focused on submarines, missile-armed surface ships, and coastal defence. Even so, Russian naval planners have long argued that a modern carrier would help protect strategic submarine patrols, support expeditionary operations, and provide air cover for naval task groups operating far from home waters.
The need for a replacement has become increasingly clear as Russia’s only carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has spent years in a troubled modernisation programme marked by accidents, fires, and repeated delays. Recent reports suggest that work on the ship has effectively stopped, leaving Russia without an operational aircraft carrier.
Project 23000E Shtorm
The best-known proposal is the Project 23000E Shtorm, first unveiled by Russia's Krylov State Research Centre in 2015.
Designed as a true supercarrier, Shtorm would displace between 90,000 and 100,000 tonnes, placing it in the same general size category as the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. Early designs included nuclear propulsion, which would give the ship extended range and allow it to remain deployed for long periods without refuelling.
The design featured a modern flight deck with an angled landing area, multiple aircraft elevators, and both ski-jump and catapult launch options. Later renderings suggested the possible use of electromagnetic catapults similar to those on the latest American carriers, although Russia has not yet demonstrated such a system.
Air Wing
If built, Shtorm would carry an air wing of between 70 and 90 aircraft.
Proposed aircraft include:
- MiG-29K carrier-based fighters
- A future carrier version of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter
- Airborne early warning aircraft
- Anti-submarine helicopters
- Search and rescue helicopters.
- Unmanned aerial vehicles.
The inclusion of stealth fighters and drones reflects the changing nature of naval aviation, where networked sensors and long-range precision weapons are becoming increasingly important.
Project 11430E Lamantin
In 2019, the Nevskoye Design Bureau introduced another concept known as Project 11430E Lamantin, or "Manatee."
Although slightly smaller than Shtorm, Lamantin would still be a large aircraft carrier, with a displacement of about 80,000 tonnes. Like Shtorm, it would use a ski-jump launch system alongside catapults, allowing it to operate both conventional carrier aircraft and heavier support aircraft.
Design illustrations showed a flight deck optimised for improved aircraft handling and maintenance, while retaining the island superstructure typical of modern aircraft carriers. The proposed air group would include about sixty aircraft and helicopters, supported by advanced radar and command facilities.
Advanced Combat Systems
Both carrier concepts envision a highly integrated combat system designed to operate within a modern, network-centred battlespace.
Expected capabilities include:
- Long-range air surveillance radar
- Advanced electronic warfare systems
- Integrated communications
- Satellite data links
- Missile defence systems
- Close-in weapon systems
- Anti-submarine sensors
Rather than relying solely on onboard weapons, the carrier would function as the command centre of a carrier strike group composed of destroyers, frigates, submarines, and support ships.
Its main offensive power would come from its aircraft rather than heavy anti-ship missiles. This would mark a shift away from the design philosophy behind Admiral Kuznetsov, which was built as a heavily armed “heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser.”
Industrial Challenges
Despite ambitious designs, construction has never begun.
Building a modern supercarrier is one of the most difficult engineering projects any nation can undertake. It requires enormous dry docks, specialised shipyards, advanced propulsion technology, catapult systems, carrier-capable aircraft, logistics infrastructure, and highly trained personnel.
Russia currently faces several obstacles.
A major challenge is shipbuilding capacity. Many of the Soviet Union’s largest carrier construction facilities were located in what is now Ukraine, leaving Russia without equivalent infrastructure after the Soviet collapse.
Developing nuclear propulsion, electromagnetic launch systems, and new carrier aircraft at the same time would require sustained investment over many years.
Financial Constraints
Cost has proven to be the greatest obstacle.
Industry estimates suggest that building a modern Russian supercarrier would cost hundreds of billions of rubles, even before accounting for escort vessels, aircraft, training infrastructure, and long-term maintenance.
Since 2022, Russia has prioritised spending on land forces, missile production, air defence systems, and submarine construction. These priorities make it less likely that a large carrier programme will receive enough funding in the near future. Analysts therefore view both Shtorm and Lamantin mainly as design studies rather than active procurement programmes.
Lessons from Admiral Kuznetsov
The troubled history of Admiral Kuznetsov has significantly influenced debate about Russia's carrier ambitions.
Commissioned in the early 1990s, the ship has suffered engine failures, mechanical breakdowns, dock accidents, and onboard fires throughout its service life. A major floating dry dock sank during repairs in 2018, damaging the carrier, while subsequent fires further delayed modernisation.
The prolonged refit has exposed the technical and industrial challenges of maintaining even a single aircraft carrier. It has also reinforced concerns about Russia’s ability to build an entirely new class of larger and more sophisticated vessels.
Prospects
Although Russian officials periodically reaffirm the importance of naval aviation, there is currently no confirmed timetable for laying down a new aircraft carrier. Instead, the Russian Navy appears focused on expanding its fleet of nuclear submarines, modern frigates, missile corvettes, and amphibious assault ships, while continuing research into future carrier technologies.
If economic conditions improve and long-term funding becomes available, either the Shtorm or Lamantin concept could form the basis of a future carrier programme. However, Russia would still need to finalise the design, build suitable shipbuilding facilities, develop carrier aviation infrastructure, and train the personnel required to operate such a vessel. Russia’s next-generation aircraft carrier remains one of the most ambitious projects ever proposed for the Russian Navy. Concepts such as Project 23000E Shtorm and Project 11430E Lamantin show an intention to field a modern carrier capable of operating advanced fighters, helicopters, and unmanned systems while projecting power across the world’s oceans.
Yet ambition alone is not enough. Financial constraints, industrial limits, competing defence priorities, and the continuing problems surrounding Admiral Kuznetsov have prevented these concepts from moving beyond the drawing board. For now, Russia’s future aircraft carrier remains a vision of what its navy hopes to achieve rather than a warship under construction. Whether that vision becomes reality will depend on Russia’s economic resources, technological progress, and strategic priorities in the decades ahead.
