Editing Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier (section)

===Armament===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Kuznetsov Deck Missiles.jpg|thumb|The 12 launch bays of the P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles open aboard the Kuznetsov.]] -->
The ''Kuznetsov''-class ships were originally designed as [[aircraft cruiser]]s. ''Kuznetsov'' carried twelve launchers for [[P-700 Granit]] (SS-N-19 ''Shipwreck'') anti-ship surface-to-surface missiles, which also form the main armament of the {{sclass|Kirov|battlecruiser}}s. The Granits were stored in 12 vertical launchers located beneath the ship's front deck, just before the inclined ski-jump. The top deck hatches of these launchers open to fire the missiles; however, when open they prevent the simultaneous launch of aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/5700/russias-carrier-was-designed-to-be-heavily-armed-even-without-its-air-wing |title=Russia's Carrier Was Designed To Be Heavily Armed Even Without Its Air Wing |date=25 October 2016 |last=Rogoway |first=Tyler |website=The Drive |access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> ''Kuznetsov's'' heavy surface armament differs from that of other countries' aircraft carriers, which carry only defensive armament and rely on their aircraft for strike power.

For long-range air defense, ''Kuznetsov'' carries 24 vertical [[Tor missile system]] (SA-N-9 ''Gauntlet'') [[surface-to-air missiles|surface-to-air missile]] launchers, with 192 missiles. For close-range air defense, the ship carries eight [[Kashtan CIWS|Kashtan]] [[close-in weapon system]] (CIWS) mounts. Each mount has two launchers for [[9M311 Tunguska|9M311]] SAMs, twin [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30|GSh-30]] 30&nbsp;mm rotary cannons, and a radar/optronic director. The ship also carries six [[AK-630]] 30&nbsp;mm rotary cannons in single mounts. For defense against underwater attack, the ship carries the [[Udav-1 anti-submarine system|UDAV-1]] ASW rocket launcher.

The Russian Navy reportedly removed the Granit missile tubes in the late 2000s to make room for a larger hangar bay, but it was never clear that the tubes were ever actually removed. During a major overhaul set to begin in September 2017, the P-700 tubes were to be replaced with new vertical launch tubes capable of housing newer [[3M-54 Klub|Kalibr]] and [[P-800 Oniks]] cruise missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/articles/russias-putin-drafts-new-rearmament-program |title=Russia's Putin drafts new rearmament program |first=Matthew |last=Bodner |website=[[Defense News]] |date=26 May 2017}} |quote=Originally designed by the Soviets as a heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser, the Russian Navy reportedly removed the old Granit anti-ship missile tubes in the late 2000s to make room for a larger hangar bay. In this role, the service tried to reinvent Kuznetsov as something of a strike carrier. It was never clear that the tubes were really removed.</ref> Air defense upgrades would include replacement of the Kashtan CIWS with the [[Pantsir-M]] and the 3K95 Kinzhal/Tor system with the [[S-350E Vityaz 50R6|Poliment-Redut]] system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/may-2018-navy-naval-defense-news/6222-russian-aircraft-carrier-to-be-armed-with-poliment-redut-sam.html |title=Russian aircraft carrier to be armed with Poliment-Redut SAM |date=15 May 2018 |website=Defense News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082234/https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/may-2018-navy-naval-defense-news/6222-russian-aircraft-carrier-to-be-armed-with-poliment-redut-sam.html |archive-date=17 May 2018}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=March 2022}}