Russia's carrier choices after Admiral Kuznetsov

What would retiring Admiral Kuznetsov mean for Russian naval aviation?

Two possibilities are considered: abandoning fixed-wing carrier aviation or building smaller replacements, with industrial constraints and flagship prestige pulling the decision in different directions.

At the time of this exchange, Admiral Kuznetsov's reported retirement had not been officially announced. One possible outcome would be abandoning fixed-wing carrier aviation in favor of helicopters and drones aboard the new amphibious ships under construction in Crimea. Another would be using experience from those ships and possible Indian assistance to build carriers of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 tons. Russia's available yards and construction experience constrain that proposal. A competing concern is the demand for a national flagship and the prestige attached to retaining a carrier. Northern shipyards are considered as an alternative construction location, while the unfinished amphibious ships have no reliable completion date in these forecasts. The outcome remains speculative.