The flight deck area of the class is , and aircraft takeoff is assisted by a bow ski jump angled at 12° in lieu of steam catapults. Two starboard lifts carry aircraft from the hangar to the flight deck. The ship was designed with the capacity to support 16 Yakovlev Yak-41M (which was cancelled) and 12 Sukhoi Su-27K fixed-wing aircraft and a range of Kamov Ka-27 helicopters.
The flight deck area of this class is , and aircraft takeoff is aided by a bow ski jump angled at 12° instead of steam catapults. Two lifts on the starboard side transport aircraft from the hangar to the flight deck. The ship was designed to accommodate 16 Yakovlev Yak-41M (which were ultimately cancelled) and 12 Sukhoi Su-27K fixed-wing aircraft, as well as a variety of Kamov Ka-27 helicopters.