MOSCOW. Aug 30 (Interfax-AVN) - No specific decisions regarding the possible visit of the Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the port of Tartus, Syria have been made yet, the Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
"The cruiser is currently undergoing maintenance and will be ready for its sea voyage in early 2014. The decision regarding its possible visit to Tartus will be made closer to this date depending on the situation in Syria," the source said, commenting on the media reports stating that the Admiral Kuznetsov will leave for Tartus in late 2013.
The Defense Ministry official said "a visit to a logistics center is routine practice for naval ships on a long-range voyage.
On June 1, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov told Interfax-AVN the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will be ready to join the permanent operating group of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean in late 2013.
"The routine maintenance of the cruiser will be completed at the end of this year. It is expected to fulfill a number of tasks in the long-range operations as part of the group. The Northern Fleet's naval pilots will fulfill a number of tasks aboard this cruiser during that long-range voyage," he said.
Speaking about the Admiral Kuznetsov joining the permanent operative junction of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean, which is now being created, Chirkov said the carrier can join the junction on a rotation basis. "This junction will be comprised of ships of the Northern, Black Sea, and Baltic Fleets. Why not?" he said.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is the only aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy. Besides the multipurpose sea-based destroyers Su-33, the cruiser carries the helicopters Ka-27, 28, 29, 32, and their modifications.
The cruiser has a displacement of 55,000 tonnes, can travel up to 8,000 miles, has a crew of 1,500 people (including 650 naval pilots). Its maximum speed is 29 knots. The cruiser is equipped with anti-vessel systems Granit, air defense systems Kortik, Klinok, and the Udav system.