Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will sail for a training mission in the Barents Sea at the end of September 2010.

The warship, assigned to the Northern Fleet, can carry 26 Su-33 Flanker-D and MiG-29K Fulcrum-D carrier-based fighter jets, as well as 24 anti-submarine helicopters.

The training mission involves a programme of naval pilot training to further enhance the skills of the pilots, according to RIA Novosti.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to dock at Sevmash shipyards in 2012 for a full-scale modernisation, which will continue for five years.

Russia plans to finish drafting plans for its new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier by 2012 and aims to build three ships for its Northern and Pacific fleets.

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