U.S. Magazine: Admiral Nakhimov Becomes the World's Most Powerful Surface Combatant

On June 29, the U.S. magazine *Military Observer* published an article stating that the Russian Navy is set to reactivate its most powerful surface combat vessel.

The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, after undergoing the largest modernization overhaul in Russian naval history, is currently conducting final sea trials. The renovation project at the Severodvinsk Shipyard lasted over a decade. This 1144-class Kirov-class (Kresta-class) cruiser has been comprehensively upgraded with entirely new combat systems, sensor equipment, and missile weaponry, extending its operational lifespan by several decades. Upon commissioning, the vessel is expected to significantly enhance the strength of the Northern Fleet. Analysts assessing its combat capabilities place greatest emphasis on its unmatched firepower, long-range missile capability, and survivability under attack—though they often overlook its outstanding speed. In fact, even today, the Kirov-class cruisers remain the fastest among large combat vessels.

*Military Observer* reported on August 21, 2025, that during the modernization process, the original 20 vertical launch systems designed for launching the heavy anti-ship cruise missile P-700 were replaced with 80 new launch cells capable of carrying standard-sized cruise missiles.

The report noted that these launch systems can accommodate the new hypersonic "Zircon" cruise missile, a configuration giving this surface warship a clear advantage over similar foreign counterparts.

Moreover, the magazine mentioned that the ship also carries an additional 96 vertical launch cells specifically dedicated to housing the naval version of the S-400 long-range air defense missile system’s “ground-to-air” missiles—its firepower equivalent to three complete land-based S-400 launch battery battalions.

P-700: NATO designation "Granit," a heavy anti-ship cruise missile developed by the Soviet Union/Russia, primarily intended for targeting large surface vessels; whereas the replacement "Zircon" missile is Russia’s latest hypersonic weapon, capable of flying at multiple times the speed of sound.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869586533903435/

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