The Russian Navy has announced ambitious plans to turn its navy once again into a force to be reckoned with. Key to Russia’s naval ambitions is the construction of 6 aircraft carrier battle groups, and major upgrades to its fleet of nuclear submarines.

Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky outlined the scale of the ambitious plan, telling reporters assembled in Moscow that:

“Everything should be included in the system, including aircraft carriers.”

According to the Moscow Times, he told reporters that the planned systems would be split between the Russian Navy’s Northern and Pacific Fleets (presumably 3 carrier groups per fleet), and would “operate in close interaction” with Russia’s military-satellite system as well as Air Force and air-defense assets.

Construction of the new Russian aircraft carriers is to begin in 2012, which would see the first carriers coming into operation somewhere around 2020.

If they can actually bring this project to fruition (which, admittedly, is probably a very big if - just four years ago, Russia was planning to move to a smaller, defensively-oriented navy), this would give Russia a navy which would be able to project power on a global scale and, while it would not give it enough firepower to match US fleets, it would probably ensure that Russia keeps slightly ahead of rising naval powers like China and India.

Russia currently only has one aircraft carrier - the Nikolai Kuznetsov. Although, actually, to call it an aircraft carrier is probably somewhat charitable. In reality, it is classified as an “air capable cruiser” and, being diesel powered, is easily outmatched by its nuclear powered rivals.

Rather embarrasingly for the Russian Navy, the Kuznetsov’s seaworthyness is also rather suspect. While on an exercise earlier this year, the Kuznetsov was permanently accompanied by two tugboats, in case it broke down.