The Russian Navy Kirov class heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov is expected to re-enter service in the Russian Navy later in 2026, after completing one of the most ambitious naval modernisation programmes undertaken anywhere in the world. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Alexander Moiseyev confirmed that the vessel is currently undergoing the final stages of post-modernisation trials, with comprehensive testing now underway before formal acceptance into service. This will mark the culmination of a modernisation program that has lasted for decades, with the warship having entered overhaul at the Sevmash shipyard in 1999 before a comprehensive reconstruction programme was formally approved in the early 2010s.
Russian Navy Kirov Class Cruiser
The Admiral Nakhimov was re-floated on July 25, 2025, before setting sail under its own power for the first time in 28 years in August 2025, and beginning the final phase of its sea trials on June 1. The cruiser was confirmed on July 21 to have returned to port Severodvinsk following another phase of sea trials. Admiral Moiseyev declined to specify an exact commissioning date but expressed confidence that the cruiser would join the fleet before the end of the year. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I think we will carry out this year’s plans. This year. Comprehensive testing is underway,” he stated.
Russian Kirov Class Nuclear Powered Cruiser Admiral Nakhimov After Refurbishment
The Kirov class is by far the heaviest surface combatant in service worldwide, with a displacement of 28,000 tons, compared to just 10,000 for NATO’s most powerful surface combat ships the Arleigh Burke class destroyers. The cruisers’ speeds are also outstanding, with top speeds of approximately 32 knots allowing them to comfortably outrun every commissioned cruiser, destroyer, frigate, amphibious assault ship and aircraft carrier operated by NATO navies. This is facilitated by the cruisers’ unique propulsion systems, as each is powered by two KN-3 pressurised water nuclear reactors feeding steam turbines producing approximately 140,000 shaft horsepower. The Kirov class is the only nuclear powered class of surface combat ship in the world.
Russian Kirov Class Nuclear Powered Cruiser Admiral Nakhimov After Refurbishment
The return of Admiral Nakhimov comes at a time when Russia is placing increasing emphasis on long-range precision strike capabilities across all branches of its armed forces. The modernised cruiser’s greatest value lies not simply in anti-ship warfare but in its ability to launch large salvos of Kalibr and Zircon cruise missiles against strategic targets at sea and on land, effectively serving as a mobile long-range missile arsenal. This reflects broader trends in Russian naval doctrine, which increasingly prioritise stand-off strike capabilities over traditional fleet engagements. The Admiral Nakhimov’s air defence capabilities are in many respects the most formidable in the world, with each integrating 96 surface-to-air missile launch cells for long range missiles from the S-400 system.