"Admiral Kuznetsov": the smoke cleared. Damage assessment and reflections on the future of the aircraft carrier

The smoke from the fire on the only Russian aircraft carrier dissipated, and what is happening now with the "Kuznetsov" and what awaits him in the future?

First of all, it should be noted that coming after the last emergency panic assumptions about it, that is now "old man sure will be shredded", not confirmed. As far as we know, the ship is still located at pier 35-th ship repair plant near Murmansk in anticipation of the resumption of full-scale renovations. Also not justified and the allegations that the fire estimated costs have soared whether to 90, or up to 95 billion rubles. As said on this occasion the President of JSC "United shipbuilding company" Alexei Rakhmanov, on such figures, even speech can not be.

The Damage is great by far – its size shipbuilders preliminary estimate of 300 million rubles. Many experts look at these estimates with skepticism, considering that the numbers are too low.
However, final conclusions will be made only after the announcement of the report of the special Commission engaged in the investigation of the causes of an accident and assessment of the extent of its impact. Previously it was expected that it will finish its work in January, however no official statements its members made was not, therefore, a line under the proceedings are still likely not connected. Or announced, but the announcement of the outcome of the assessment is not yet decided.

Anyway, but in the beginning of this year the same Mr. Rakhmanov confidently talked about the fact that the December fire not too much will affect the timing of the repair on the "Admiral Kuznetsov" and their estimated cost. Anyway, if last year the leader of the USC promised that the carrier will be commissioned in 2021 with a delayed spelled out in the contract terms to a maximum of four months, but now, according to him, the sea trials the ship will be able to go out later in 2022. However, it's not just fire, but also of the need to undertake a number of additional actions found in the process started work.

According to reports, after the incident that became the subject of excited in his criminal case, in the Murmansk branch of the "Stars", which is now the "Kuznetsov" significantly increased security measures, especially during welding and similar work, discipline and observance of necessary rules and regulations there is now the following, that is, in all eyes.
Anyway, but alternatives to the return to operation of heavy aircraft, which some have hastened to write off, the Navy simply did not exist. Farewell to the "Admiral Kuznetsov" will mean a fat cross on the domestic carrier-based military aviation, to revive that subsequently have zero. The submarine or "steam frigates", a cost which some experts compare the cost of repair of the aircraft carrier for our Navy, of course, necessary. However going under the knife for the sake of momentary interests one of a kind not currently available analogues warship will not be none. Reasonable to call such a decision clearly would have been difficult.