Ussr admiral kuznetsov aircraft carrier the kuznetsov class heavy aircraft carrying cruiser , also known as project 1143 . 5 or orel class , was constructed at nikolayev south shipyard on the black sea in the ukraine . the kuznetsov aircraft carriers displaced roughly 65 , 000 tons and for the first time carried conventional take - off and landing aircraft 1983年2月22日，前苏联在尼古拉耶夫船厂开工建造第一艘大型航空母舰，该舰又被称为1143 . 5级， 1985年12月5日下水， 1991年1月21日正式服役。
