Well, operating all-Su-24 airwing would be like operating F-14/F-111 airwing: less of bigger planes, or more of smaller planes. If sovier carriers wouldn't been as big as US supercarriers, but more in size of british, and french ships, smaller planes would be more suitable. I really like idea of CTOL Yak-38, serving in role of Jaguar and A-7. An also, how Su-25 could operate in style of A-6? Strike, jamming, airborne tanker.
And last thing: how good would be Kuznietsov, but bulid like classic carrier, without "jum ramp", and ASM, but with catapults, and bigger hangars.
The ships in my story were big (80,000t) and the aircraft weren't all Su-24s (though they were the dominant bird):
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23K Tactical Fighter –a navalised version of the MiG-23ML, this served in the tactical fighter role in support of the Su-24s, though before long was phased out in favour of a larger Su-24 compliment;
• Korchagin Kor-1 Typhoon multirole carrier-based aircraft. Although part of a proposed family of aircraft, (including ground attack aircraft, air-to-air refuelers, AEW&C and Light transports) the Kor-1 was initially only selected to operate in the dedicated antisubmarine role.
• Antonov An-71 – a variant of the Antonov An-72 transport aircraft, this fulfilled the role of organic AEW&C on the ships with up to four being carried. Its sister, the An-72K served in the COD role, though these were rarely based on ship.
• Kamov Ka-27 – developed for ferrying, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare, multiple variants of this design were carried. Intended to replace the decade-old Ka-25, it adopted a similar configuration to its predecessor due to the requirements of fitting in the same hangar space. Like other Kamov military helicopters it has a co-axial rotor, removing the need for a tail rotor.
Re the Su-25K, I think it would be closer to the A-7 in role.
Regards,
Greg
