Russia plans to construct a new aircraft carrier to supplement its sole carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov, Viktor Bursuk, deputy navy commander in charge of procurement, said Wednesday.
"Various design centers are working to determine the appearance of this ship," Bursuk said at the International Maritime Defense Show (IMDS) held in Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg.
He did not give more details.
Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov carrier with a displacement of about 60,000 tons was launched in 1985. It carried out its first-ever combat mission last year in the Mediterranean fighting Islamic State terrorists in Syria.
The Russian Navy plans to upgrade the Admiral Kuznetsov in 2018, Bursuk said. It will also order two upgraded Lada-class non-nuclear submarines with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system soon, and receive at least two universal assault landing ships by 2025, he added.
The AIP system allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen, which reduces noise and makes the vessel difficult to trace.
Also at the IMDS, the Admiralty Shipyard said it will build six upgraded Kilo-class non-nuclear submarines for Russia's Pacific Fleet.
