Weeks after Russia successfully activated the second nuclear reactor on its Project 11442M Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov—the largest surface ship in the Russian Navy—state media now reports that the warship is being equipped with advanced modern weaponry and is set to return to service soon.
The state-run news agency RIA Novosti, citing Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation, disclosed this information on February 18.
Patrushev confirmed that the reactors on the Admiral Nakhimov were restarted a few weeks ago. “The cruiser[Admiral Nakhimov] is receiving the most modern weapons and will soon return to service, where it will serve together with its brother – Peter the Great,” he added.
Patrushev made this statement while discussing how the Russian Navy continues to successfully use the legacy of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Gorshkov, whose 115th birthday will be commemorated on February 26.
Patrushev said that Admiral Gorshkov was a brilliant theorist who played a key role in shaping a bold naval doctrine aimed at strengthening Russia’s position in the World Ocean.
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He also noted that Gorshkov’s theoretical works, along with the experience gained from Soviet naval construction, are still highly relevant today as Russia faces renewed challenges to its status as a major maritime power from its geopolitical opponents.
Patrushev also asserted that the Russian Navy is successfully progressing and modernizing with the addition of new ships.
He stated, “Today, the domestic Navy, in accordance with the strategic tasks set by the country’s leadership, is successfully developing, equipped with new ships.”
Construction is underway at various factories across the country, and some military ships are close to completion. New ships are also being laid.
Nonetheless, Patrushev did not discuss the exact timeframe for when the Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov will enter service.
Russia’s Biggest Battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov
The Admiral Nakhimov, originally launched in 1986, is part of the Russian Navy’s Project 11442 class of warships, also known as the Kirov class by NATO. In its modernized form, the ship has been redesignated as Project 11442M.
At over 25,000 tons in displacement, Admiral Nakhimov is the largest surface combatant in the Russian Navy. The vessel is powered by a nuclear reactor and designed to target large surface ships while also offering integrated air defense and anti-submarine capabilities.
Currently, the Russian Navy operates only one Kirov-class battlecruiser, the Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), which is part of the Northern Fleet. However, Pyotr Velikiy has undergone only minor upgrades and largely depends on outdated Soviet-era weaponry and sensors.
Initially, plans were in place to modernize Pyotr Velikiy like Admiral Nakhimov once the latter’s refit was completed. However, those plans were abandoned.
Of the four Kirov-class warships originally built, two, Admiral Ushakov (formerly Kirov) and Admiral Lazarev (formerly Frunze), have already been decommissioned and sent for scrapping.
However, Admiral Nakhimov’s modernization has been marred by significant delays and cost overruns. Work on the vessel began in 2015, but its delivery has been postponed repeatedly. Initially slated for completion in 2018, the project was then delayed to 2019 and later 2020.
By 2017, it was anticipated that the ship would be finished by 2021. However, the timeline was further pushed back, and by 2022, the Sevmash shipyard indicated that the ship would not return to service before 2024.
In November 2024, Russian sources claimed that the vessel’s return had been delayed indefinitely because of the escalating modernization costs.
Despite the ongoing setbacks, Admiral Nakhimov’s modernization remains a key priority. The battlecruiser is planned to be equipped with up to 174 vertical launch tubes, a number that would surpass that of any other surface combatant or submarine in the world.
Among these tubes, 80 were expected to accommodate advanced Russian cruise missiles, including the Kalibr (subsonic), Oniks (supersonic), and possibly the hypersonic Zircon. However, it is still unclear whether the full weapons upgrade will be realized as intended.
Should Admiral Nakhimov return to service with the anticipated new weapons and sensors, it would become the Russian Navy’s most formidable surface combatant. Alongside the less modern Pyotr Velikiy, it would play a central role in the Navy’s flotillas to offer greater strength at sea.
This would be especially important, considering the unclear future of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which has no clear timeline for its return to active duty.
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