Critics argue the Kirov class is a relic. Still, its upgrades—particularly the S-400 enhancements—suggest otherwise, blending Soviet scale with 21st century technology.
The Admiral Nakhimov, a formidable Kirov-class battlecruiser in the Russian Navy, is a Soviet-era naval engineering platform that has been reborn due to copious modern upgrades Moscow has ordered for the boat. As one of the largest surface combatants ever built, this nuclear-powered vessel has undergone extensive modernization, transforming it into a floating fortress equipped with advanced weaponry.
Central to its defensive prowess are three full battalions’ worth of S-400 air defense systems, giving it the ability to dominate the skies around it.
About Russia’s Kirov-Class Battlecruisers
Russia’s Kirov-class battlecruisers, known in Russia as Project 1144 Orlan, emerged during the Cold War as the Soviet Union’s response to US aircraft carrier dominance. Launched in 1986 and formally commissioned in 1988 as the Kalinin—and subsequently renamed Admiral Nakhimov in 1992, after the USSR’s collapse—this battlecruiser was designed for multi-role operations, including anti-ship strikes, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and fleet air defense.
Originally, the Admiral Nakhimov served with the Northern Fleet, participating in exercises and patrols until the post-Soviet economic downturn sidelined it. By 1997, it had made its last independent voyage and was placed in reserve in 1999 for repairs at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. For nearly three decades, the ship languished in port, symbolizing Russia’s naval woes amid budget constraints and shifting priorities.
Russia’s decision to modernize the Admiral Nakhimov, starting in earnest in 2014, reflects a broader effort to revitalize its blue-water navy. The overhaul, delayed multiple times due to technical issues and the Ukraine conflict, aimed to integrate cutting-edge systems while preserving the ship’s nuclear propulsion. By December 2024, factory sea trials began, with the vessel sailing for the first time since 1997 in August 2025. The upgrades include new electronics, radar systems like the Poliment phased-array system, and a complete armament overhaul.
The Admiral Nakhimov’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1988
- Number Built: 1 (4 in Kirov class; 2 later decommissioned)
- Length: 251.1 m (823 ft 10 in)
- Beam (Width): 28.5 m (93 ft 6 in)
- Displacement: 24,000 tonnes empty; 28,000 tonnes standard loadout
- Engines: 2-shaft CONAS, two KN-3 nuclear reactors, two GT3A-688 steam turbines
- Top Speed: 32 knots (37 mph, 59 kph)
- Range: Unlimited
- Armaments: 60+ anti-ship missile launchers; 96 S-400 SAM launchers; two 4K33 Osa-M SAM launchers; six Kortik CIWS; one 130mm dual-purpose gun; 10 533mm torpedo tubes; three anti-submarine rocket launchers (one RBU-6000, two RBU-1000); three helicopters
- Crew: 710
The Admiral Nakhimov Is a Mighty Warship
During its overhaul, the ship’s original 20 P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles were replaced with 80 universal vertical launch system (VLS) cells capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles. Oniks supersonic anti-ship missiles, and hypersonic 3M22 Zircon missiles—up to 60 of the latter. Anti-submarine capabilities featured Paket-NK torpedoes and Otvet missiles, while the main gun shifted from the AK-130 to the modern AK-192M. Close-in defenses include six Pantsir-M systems and AK-630 rotary cannons. In total, the Admiral Nakhimov boasts 174 VLS cells, surpassing contemporaries like China’s Type 055 destroyer (112 cells) or the US Arleigh Burke-class (96 cells).
Sitting at the head of Admiral Nakhimov’s modernization is its air defense suite, anchored by a navalized variant of the powerful S-400 Triumf system. This replaces the outdated S-300F Fort missiles, allocating 96 VLS cells specifically for surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). Reports indicate the ship carries the equivalent of three full S-400 battalions, a configuration unmatched on any other warship. In land-based terms, an S-400 battalion typically comprises 8-12 launchers with 32-48 missiles, providing layered defense against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats.
Integrating missiles like the 40N6, the 48N6, and shorter-range 9M96 variants, enabling engagements anywhere from one to 250 miles, the naval S-400 is a serious upgrade. With three battalions’ worth of S-400s onboard, the ship packs a massive missile loadout, exceeding the air defense capacity of entire ground-based regiments. Paired with the Fort-M (enhanced S-300) and Pantsir-M for point defense, the Admiral Nakhimov can create a multi-layered bubble, capable of tracking 80 targets and engaging 40 simultaneously. Experts note its radar horizon extends defenses far beyond typical naval SAMs, positioning it as a “carrier-killer” escort or standalone command ship.
With the Admiral Nakhimov poised to become the Russian Navy’s flagship—replacing its sister ship Pyotr Velikiy, the only other Kirov-class battlecruiser still in service—its three S-400 battalions underscore Moscow’s focus on area denial and power projection. In contested regions like the Arctic or Black Sea, this battlecruiser could shield carrier groups or amphibious forces, deterring NATO incursions. Challenges remain, however, high maintenance costs, vulnerability to submarines, and questions about the S-400s integration amid ongoing sea trials.
Is the Admiral Nakhimov the Future of Sea Warfare? Not Exactly…
Critics argue the Kirov class is a relic. Still, its upgrades—particularly the S-400 enhancements—suggest otherwise, blending Soviet scale with 21st century technology. As Russia navigates geopolitical tensions, the Admiral Nakhimov embodies resilient naval innovation. This Kirov-class battlecruiser not only revives the Russian Navy’s Cold War might, but also helps it adapt to contemporary threats.
But even with the advances in air defenses, the fact is that the advent of drones will likely make this mighty ship a sunk cost. The future of warfare is not large, manned platforms, but unmanned, maneuverable, and ultimately disposable systems. The nation that first realizes this, and brings its resources to bear on developing those systems, is the nation that will dominate the waves in the 21st century. So far, that nation has not been the United States. But it has not been Russia, either.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
