Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!olivea!uunet!lll-winken!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!amdcad!military From: ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Allan Bourdius) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: USSR Carriers Message-ID: <1991Jun12.012803.25757@amd.com> Date: 10 Jun 91 15:00:20 GMT Article-I.D.: amd.1991Jun12.012803.25757 References: <1991Jun10.022944.11392@amd.com> Sender: military@amd.com Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Lines: 25 Approved: military@amd.com From: Allan Bourdius I heard that the Soviets are using a ski jump type takeoff for the time being because they had significant problems adapting the MiG-29 and the Su-27 to shipboard use. Supposedly, the first five catapult trials launched only the first third of the aircraft into the air! Their first attempts at arrested landings produced similar results, although they seem to have figured that one out. Many pilots were killed in these tests. The second unit of the Tibilisi Class will also have the same launch configuration. The CVN class to follow reportedly will use catapults. [From] the composition of the Soviet CV's air wing, it looks like they're planning to mainly use it for fleet air defense and ASW, not as a power projection unit. I think I read that the Soviets were trying to adapt the MiG-27 for a naval strike role but it was having a hard time getting off the deck with ordnance aboard. -- Allan Bourdius [USMC Officer Candidate/Brother, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity] ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu or 1069 Morewood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 The opinions in this post/mail are only those of the author, nobody else.