The forward guns and missiles preserved the Soviet heavy-cruiser role while a large helicopter group supplied useful anti-submarine capability. That visible combination of weapons and aircraft gave the class a startling battle-carrier image in contemporary media. Yak-38 Forgers could challenge scouting aircraft and perform reconnaissance. Their limited fighter performance made a successful dogfight with an F-14 Tomcat implausible, and even combat with a Sea Harrier was an unpromising proposition. The aircraft met a narrowly defined need and provided experience for later Soviet carrier aviation.
Notable Point · 21:49-25:20
A missile-heavy battle carrier with a limited Yak-38
Kiev's imposing missile battery, helicopter group, and aircraft created a battle-carrier image, but the Yak-38 was intended mainly for interception and reconnaissance rather than combat with Western fleet fighters.