Russian Aircraft Carrier Destroys Target in Barents Sea

Russia's aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov successfully destroyed a target using a Kinzhal missile system.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, fired surface-to-air missiles as part of exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry’s Northern Fleet spokesman said Monday.

"The heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has completed a combat exercise destroying a sea target with a Kinzhal missile system [NATO reporting name: SA-N-9 Gauntlet]. The firing by the cruiser took place in the waters of the Barents Sea. The naval target was successfully hit," Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga stated.

The Admiral Kuznetsov was constructed at the Mykolaiv South Shipyard, the sole manufacturer of Soviet aircraft carriers, and launched in 1985.

It became fully operational in 1995.