"The USSR Once Had Big Aircraft Carrier Dreams" Topic

"In the late 1960s, the Soviet shipbuilding industry began to develop its first nuclear-powered aircraft cruiser. Project 1160 Orel ("Eagle") was a nuclear-powered supercarrier with a displacement of around 80,000 tons. Orel would have featured steam catapults, carrying as many as seventy aircraft.

In line with the Soviet concept of a "heavy aviation cruiser," the proposed supercarrier would have differed from its western counterparts with a robust onboard arsenal of sixteen P-700 Granit anti-ship cruise missiles. By the early 1970s, the project was abandoned due to cost concerns and succeeded by the smaller and much less ambitious Kiev class of conventionally powered carriers…"

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And there is a Russian Navy plan to build a 100,000 ton super carrier ….

"Navy Mystery: Why Doesn't Russia Go Aircraft Carrier Crazy?"

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Amicalement
Armand

From The National Interest website

Ulyanovsk class.

They still do, though I can't see how they'll ever be able to afford to build even one.

If there is a political will, it can be built. However i doubt it – there're plans to build helo carriers, with larger displacement than Mistral, and of course it will always be a concept fight between supporters of carriers and nuclear subs. As subs are cheaper to build and maintain, they'll be getting priority financing.
Happened first time in Khrushev's era….

Thanks Barin!.

Amicalement
Armand