According to Military Watch Magazine, the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will return to Russian Navy service with enhanced capabilities not only in firepower, but also in airborne surveillance.
The US publication reported that the warship will carry airborne early warning helicopters that will serve as flying radar platforms. Admiral Nakhimov is expected to accommodate three Ka-31 helicopters.
Military Watch Magazine described the Ka-31 as one of the world’s few specialized airborne early warning helicopters designed to provide naval task groups with long-range radar coverage beyond the horizon.
The aircraft is equipped with a folding antenna that deploys beneath the fuselage during flight. The system can reportedly detect fighter aircraft and cruise missiles at a range of about 150 kilometers, while larger targets, including reconnaissance planes, can be tracked from even farther away.
The data collected by the Ka-31 can be transmitted directly to Admiral Nakhimov’s command center or to MiG-31BM fighters. According to the publication, this would expand the combat potential of S-400 surface-to-air missiles and Tsirkon hypersonic missiles by allowing threats to be identified earlier and strike decisions to be made faster.
The stronger radar capability also comes with a trade-off. The Ka-31 helicopters will occupy space that could otherwise be assigned to Ka-27 anti-submarine aircraft. As a result, commanders will have to balance airborne surveillance against protection from submarines.