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Russia Pulls Jets From Its Only Aircraft Carrier for Arctic Defense After Years of Failures
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has reassigned fighter jets from its only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, to form a new land-based aviation corps in the Arctic.
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According to Defense Express on April 2, the formation of the mixed aviation corps within Russia’s Northern Fleet became publicly known in December 2023 through Russian sources.
The unit is built around carrier-based aircraft previously assigned to the Admiral Kuznetsov, marking a shift from naval to land-based operations.
The development comes amid reports circulating on social media about the possible death of Lieutenant General Alexander Otroshchenko, who was said to command the corps, in a recent An-26 aircraft crash in temporary occupied Crimea. There has been no official confirmation from Ukrainian authorities regarding these claims.
According to Defense Express, the core of the new formation consists of the 100th and 279th shipborne fighter aviation regiments, equipped with approximately 22 MiG-29K and 17 Su-33 aircraft. Both platforms were originally designed for carrier operations but are now operating from land-based airfields.
In addition to fighter aviation, the corps reportedly includes a mixed aviation regiment operating Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and transport planes such as the An-12 and An-26. A helicopter regiment equipped with Ka-27 and Ka-29 naval helicopters is also part of the structure, according to Defense Express.
According to Defense Express, the primary mission of the new unit is to provide air cover for Russia’s Northern Sea Route, with operations conducted from Arctic airbases rather than from a carrier platform.
The restructuring follows broader military reforms in 2023. According to Defense Express, Russia reorganized its Western Military District into the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, while the Northern Fleet lost its status as a separate military district. As part of these changes, the 45th Air Force and Air Defense Army was reassigned to the Leningrad Military District.
According to Defense Express, the removal of the 45th Army left the Northern Fleet without dedicated air cover, prompting the creation of the new aviation corps using available naval aviation assets.
Another key factor is the uncertain future of the Admiral Kuznetsov. The aircraft carrier has effectively been sidelined, leading Russia to relocate and repurpose its carrier-based aircraft for land-based roles.
This shift reflects broader structural and technical challenges surrounding Russia’s only aircraft carrier. Years of delays, onboard incidents, and maintenance issues have limited its operational availability, while its ski-jump design restricts aircraft performance compared to catapult-equipped Western carriers. As a result, even its carrier-based fighters are increasingly detached from their original role.
Without a functioning carrier, these aircraft are now being integrated into land-based units, reducing Russia’s ability to sustain fixed-wing aviation at sea. Instead, the focus is shifting toward Arctic airfields and coastal defense missions, including coverage of the Northern Sea Route.
There is currently no open-source evidence confirming the direct involvement of this aviation corps in combat operations against Ukraine.
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