Meet The Kirov Class: Russian 'Monster and Largest' BATTLECRUISERS In The Russian Navy Today

The Soviet-era Kirov-class comprises the largest surface fleet vessels in the Russian Navy aside from the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. Along with their size, they are chock full of armaments. Pyotr Velikiy and Admiral Nakhimov battlecruisers carry 20 anti-ship missiles, numerous surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, and even helicopters. The ships are old (from the 1980s), but they are nuclear-powered.

The Kirov-class Somehow Made It to the Modern Era

Originally, they were designed to take on U.S. aircraft carriers and eliminate the escort ships in the American carrier battle groups. But after the Cold War, there was not enough money and resources to keep the battlecruisers afloat – three of the four Kirov-class ships were sent to refit. But they soldiered on, and the Russian Navy planned a facelift to bring them up to modern standards. Russia canceled the modernization plans of the Admiral Ushakov and Admiral Lazarev, two other Kirov-class battlecruisers, and sent those ships to the scrap yard in 2021.

Regional or Blue Water Navy?

Without a carrier and a large force of capital ships, it is more difficult to project power as a blue water Navy. Russia may have to choose the option of a regional force and protect only near borders and bases. But the anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles, including hypersonics that Russia fields, are impressive. If it can get one of the Kirov-class battlecruisers the next-generation suite of weapons, Russia could better stand up an advanced Navy. So, the Kirov-class upgrades are a bellwether of things to come.

A battlecruiser with those missiles is worth the wait. This would give Russia more options when it comes to shore bombardment with the Kalibr or anti-ship prowess with the Oniks – not to mention hypersonic missiles. The Kirov-class may still have a shot to serve as a modern floating missile truck.

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