PLAN could refit two Soviet era Kiev-class aircraft carriers

Minsk a Kiev class aviation cruiser

13 February 2015 by Pacific Sentinel

China's ability to modify its two decommissioned Soviet era Kiev-class aircraft carriers which now serve as hotel-theme parks in Tianjian and Shenzhen has been discussed in a recent article on Beijing-based website Sina Military Network on Feb. 10.

The Kiev and the Minsk were the first two vessels of four Kiev-class aircraft carriers built for the Soviet navy back in the 1970s. Also known as aviation cruisers, the 45,000-ton vessels can be equipped with 80 to 200 surface-to-air missiles, two dual-purpose guns, eight close-in weapons systems and 10 torpedo tubes. The ships have a speed of 32 knots and are capable of carrying between 12 and 13 Yak-38 fighters with vertical take-off and landing capability. The ships can also carry 14 to 17 Ka-25 or Ka-27/29 helicopters.

Read the full story at Want China Times