Aviation authors Bill Gunston and Yefim Gordon characterised the rejection of the MiG-29K for the Su-33 as "astonishing", noting that the Su-33 was more expensive and incapable of launching missiles against surface targets.
Flyeksperterne Bill Gunston and Yefim Gordon beskrev valget af Su-33 fremfor MiG-29K som "forbløffende" og bemærkede at Su-33 var dyrere og ude af stand til at affyre missiler med overfladeskibe.