Nuclear cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" nears long-awaited sea trials
The Russian nuclear cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" could soon begin sea trials, reports The War Zone, citing information from Russia. This would mark a significant step in the vessel's history, as it has been undergoing repairs since 1997, costing over five billion dollars.
The Russian defense industry has long had challenges with the nuclear cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov". At the end of 2024, the Ukrainian military-themed service Defense Express reported that there was still no end in sight for the repairs that began in 1997. Despite significant expenditures, the sea trials have been repeatedly postponed, and the ship remains docked.
Will "Admiral Nakhimov" return to sea?
The latest reports from Russia, noted by The War Zone, suggest this may soon change. Russian state media claim that the cruiser's two nuclear reactors are now operational, and the ship is expected to begin sea trials in the summer of 2025. It is worth noting, however, that earlier plans set the trial date for November 2024. There is a possibility that the schedule for "Admiral Nakhimov" may once again be delayed.
An anonymous source from the Russian state news agency TASS, reportedly affiliated with Russia's defense industry, stated that the activation of the ship's first reactor took place at the end of December 2024. The second reactor was activated at the beginning of 2025. "Factory sea trials of the cruiser with its going to sea will begin in the summer of 2025," added the TASS source, as quoted by The War Zone.
"Admiral Nakhimov", according to Russian sources, is currently at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk on the White Sea. It is a heavy missile cruiser of project 1144.2 (NATO designation: Kirov-class). The vessel was launched in 1986 under the name Kalinin and was renamed in honor of Russian Admiral Pavel Nakhimov after the collapse of the USSR in 1992.
"Admiral Nakhimov" and the years-long repair
The ship is over 820 feet long and has a displacement of around 24,000 tons. It is powered by two KN-3 nuclear reactors, providing it with an almost unlimited operational range, limited only by supplies for its crew of approximately 700 people. The maximum speed of "Admiral Nakhimov" reaches 32 knots (about 37 mph).
Before modernization, the cruiser was armed with 20 powerful P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles, S-300F Fort and Osa-M air defense systems, as well as 130 mm artillery and AK-630 close-in weapon systems. Additionally, it had torpedo launchers and RBU missile-torpedoes, making it versatile in combating surface ships, submarines, and aerial targets.
The modernization of "Admiral Nakhimov" began in the late 1990s, with actual work commencing only in 2013. The plan involved transforming the vessel into the most powerful unit of the Russian fleet. It includes replacing outdated weapons with modern missile systems, such as Kalibr, Oniks, and hypersonic Zircon missiles, which are intended to give Russia a strategic advantage in naval warfare.
The air defense systems were also upgraded with modern variants of the S-300 and Pantsir-M systems. New radars, sonars, and electronic warfare systems were installed. The work also included upgrading the nuclear reactors and propulsion systems.
