Military observer Viktor Baranets reported that the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has almost completed its testing cycle after a deep modernization and may soon return to service with the Russian Navy.
According to Baranets, the return of the cruiser could more than compensate for the gap in the Russian Navy’s combat formation, especially since Russia’s only aircraft-carrying cruiser, Admiral Kuznetsov, entered repairs several years ago and it remains unclear when it will return to service.
He noted that the project had previously sparked debate. Some specialists questioned whether it made sense to modernize the cruiser, arguing that its age made such investment unjustified. There were also claims that building a new ship would be cheaper. Supporters of the modernization, however, insisted that Admiral Nakhimov had a reliable foundation for a major technological upgrade.
Baranets said the renewed missile cruiser received 80 cells of the universal shipborne firing system, designed to carry Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles, as well as Zircon hypersonic missiles.
In his view, such powerful and diverse armament makes the cruiser one of the most heavily equipped warships in the world. Its capabilities allow it to perform a wide range of missions, placing Admiral Nakhimov among the most dangerous surface combat platforms currently in existence.