Flagship of the new era: the modernized Admiral Nakhimov is already at sea

August 25 2025 5 078 31

The heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, after many years of extensive modernization, has set out for the White Sea to conduct factory sea trials. This step marks the completion of large-scale work to transform the ship, launched in 1988, into one of the most powerful combat units in the world fleet.

The long road of modernization, which formally began in 1999 but only really got underway by 2020, led to a radical transformation of the cruiser. Only the robust hull remained from the original design, while all its combat equipment was replaced with the most modern weapons and electronic equipment.

The key element of the updated cruiser is the universal launchers capable of using Oniks, Kalibr and hypersonic Zircon missiles. If previously the ship carried 20 anti-ship missiles, now their number has increased to 80.

At the same time, the Admiral Nakhimov's power is also complemented by a developed air defense and missile defense system, including at least six Pantsir-M anti-aircraft missile and gun systems, 96 silos for anti-aircraft missiles, AK-130 artillery mounts, modern radars and helicopters. Particular attention is paid to protection against new threats, such as sea and air drones, as well as cruise missiles.

However, it is worth noting that the significance of the above-mentioned event goes beyond the commissioning of one, even an exceptionally powerful, ship.

The Zircon missile, being an unrivaled hypersonic weapon, is beginning to be integrated into the fleet arsenals on a mass scale. The carriers of these missiles have already become the multipurpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project, submarines of the 949AM project and frigates of the 22350 project and now the Admiral Nakhimov. Moreover, information is emerging about the adaptation of this weapon for launching from coastal complexes and from Su-57 fighters.

Such a wide deployment of the latest weapon and its public demonstration, according to experts, may indicate that behind the scenes, active work is already underway on its even more advanced successor.

By the way, about achieving unique results in the field of hypersonics of technologies The President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov has already publicly reported. This statement can be regarded as an open signal to our opponents, indicating Russia's qualitative breakthrough in creating next-generation weapons.

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Sergey Latyshev

0

25 August 2025 20: 05

It would be interesting to compare his salvo with the salvo of some American missile destroyer.
1. Paul3390
  
  +1
  
  25 August 2025 20: 15
  
  The comparison would not be entirely correct. Firstly, what will the mines of both be loaded with? There are many options to cram in there. The same Tomahawk or Harpoon are not comparable to Onyx or Zircon. The same goes for the SAM system. Secondly, the difference in displacement also affects resistance to combat damage. Let's say Burke can sink from a couple of hits, but Nakhimov is unlikely to do so. Well, plus the difference in power and autonomy...
  1. Sergey Latyshev
    
    0
    
    25 August 2025 20: 23
    
    Of course it's not correct.
    But at one time it was believed that before 14, a salvo from the entire Black Sea Navy of the Russian Federation was equal to one USS R. destroyer.
    and around 20-22 years - to 2 destroyers. (there were detailed calculations at VO).
    And this is where statistics come into play...
2. Botrops
  
  -1
  
  25 August 2025 20: 29
  
  For example, compare it with Zumwalt))) A destroyer at the price of a cruiser with eternal problems with the power plant)) Secondly, what kind of salvo do you mean? With all missile weapons, including air defense missiles and anti-submarine missiles? Or with only Tomahawks? But, considering that the displacement of Project 1144 is at least twice as large as the displacement of not only a destroyer, but also a cruiser, the Nakhimov will have more chances after modernization. And the same Tomahawk is no match for Zircon. Yes, I think even Onyx)))
  1. Sergey Latyshev
    
    0
    
    25 August 2025 20: 47
    
    1) Zumwalt is an "experiment".
    2) At VO it was noted that until now there were no air defense systems installed on classic Rak, Esm, etc.
    i.e. "All missile weapons" - all with cruise missiles.
    3) Of course, there will be chances. But what kind?
    1. Botrops
      
      -2
      
      25 August 2025 22: 07
      
      2) At VO it was noted that until now there were no air defense systems installed on classic Rak, Esm, etc.
      
      What do you mean? A destroyer without air defense? I even got curious. Can you name at least one similar project?
      1. Sergey Latyshev
        
        0
        
        26 August 2025 09: 00
        
        I repeat. They wrote on VO that until a certain time, for a long time, they almost never installed air defense missiles and other non-standard equipment in the standard cells of missile-carrying US destroyers. The entire salvo was cruise missiles. And they explained the logic.
        
        However, no one has responded to my first comment in essence. All the blah-blah is irrelevant, just to hang noodles on people. IMHO.
        Found in other articles, by chance - 94 cells for missiles in Nakhimov. Quite decent.
        
        Botrops
        
        +2
        
        26 August 2025 10: 01
        
        Just a professional interest. I spent 25 years serving in the Russian Navy and this is the first time I've heard of a destroyer being completely devoid of a SAM system. This means only one thing - it lives until the first missile or the first aircraft. You can't put, for example, "sea sparrow" missiles in standard cells for tomahawks - they are different in size. Before the modernization, Nakhimov had 20 containers with Granits, after the modernization, I admit that there will be more. But I don't see much point in repairing it. "Death Stars" like Yamato, Tirpitz or Bismarck, at one time proved themselves to be less effective than ships of smaller displacement, but in greater numbers.
        
        Sergey Latyshev
        
        0
        
        26 August 2025 15: 55
        
        We discussed this in more detail on VO, about 4 years ago. Referring to known facts.
        It is logical that when it is necessary to chase away the bearded ones who do not have normal aircraft (the Syrians, for example), it is logical to put cruise missiles in standard cells, and not anti-aircraft missiles. And neighboring ships or aircraft will cover. It was written that later, with the growth of tension, they began to put more anti-aircraft missiles.
3. Vladimir1155
  
  0
  
  10 September 2025 20: 09
  
  comparing the performance characteristics, we can come to the conclusion that the cruiser Nakhimov is approximately equal to two or three Arlibark destroyers, the US has 96 such destroyers and still has Ticonderoga 6 VMP cruisers, they are larger than Arlibarks
  1. savage3000
    
    -1
    
    6 October 2025 21: 43
    
    And yes, the US has 70 Arleigh Burkes. And the slave-gallery companies don't even think about building 9-10 thousand ton destroyers. Not to mention that they build vanishingly few 22350s.
4. savage3000
  
  0
  
  25 September 2025 23: 38
  
  So compare! What's the problem? 80 launchers for anti-ship and cruise missiles, 96 S-300 air defense missiles. Compare.
5. savage3000
  
  0
  
  7 October 2025 21: 32
  
  The coolest part is that it has 6 armored shells with 4 tubes each and a 240-missile ammunition load. And an armored hull.
Yan Yanov

-1

26 August 2025 12: 17

Another "galosh" from the Soviet era..
Vladimir Tuzakov

-2

10 September 2025 11: 18

Modernization plans were signed at the end of the 20th century, and before the SVO, when size and show-off were the main criteria of the "thinking" of the Russian Defense Ministry (flag demonstration). We have been living for the fourth year in other criteria, where it is necessary "not to demonstrate the flag", but to use force. - these are two big differences. Counting the missile armament cells is not in favor of the lonely "Nakhimov", on dozens of US cruisers "Ticonderoga" (9 thousand tons) there are 122 cells, when Orlan has 96, there is a difference Conclusion: The modernization of "Orlan" is late for about a quarter of a century, today it is money down the drain only for the desire to have a large and impressive, when something completely different is needed.
1. Vladimir1155
  
  -3
  
  10 September 2025 20: 12
  
  Quote: Vladimir Tuzakov
  Modernization plans were signed at the end of the 20th century, and before the SVO, when size and show-off were the main criteria of the "thinking" of the Russian Defense Ministry (flag demonstration). We have been living for the fourth year in other criteria, where it is necessary "not to demonstrate the flag", but to use force. - these are two big differences. Counting the missile armament cells is not in favor of the lonely "Nakhimov", on dozens of US cruisers "Ticonderoga" (9 thousand tons) there are 122 cells, when Orlan has 96, there is a difference Conclusion: The modernization of "Orlan" is late for about a quarter of a century, today it is money down the drain only for the desire to have a large and impressive, when something completely different is needed.
  
  true! how much i fought with these flag demonstrators and force projectors.....i really regret that i submitted the idea of restoring three 1144, but they promised that they would repair it for only 50 billion, it would have been profitable, but the usk turned out to be scammers and they have already been fired for this, but you can't get back the money invested
2. savage3000
  
  0
  
  6 October 2025 21: 41
  
  The Nakhimov has 176 launchers. Plus an immeasurable number of defenses that the old Ticonderoga lacks. Plus an armored hull.
  1. Vladimir Tuzakov
    
    0
    
    6 October 2025 21: 45
    
    The Tikanderogs are also being modernized, and the A. Nakhimov is only slightly superior to one US cruiser, in your opinion. But in terms of weapon quality, it's a different story and not in favor of the TARK (AEGIS, etc.)... The armored hull (how many inches of armor, 30 or all 100) - is this related to artillery?
    1. savage3000
      
      0
      
      6 October 2025 21: 56
      
      Are you kidding? Are Onyx and Zircon lagging behind? 6 Carapace on 4 channels each? Are the packets and responses lagging behind?
      
      Fort-M may be old, but it's still more than enough to work against air defense drones and aircraft.
      
      A Fregat radar with a range of 500 km, located at an altitude of 59 meters above sea level?
      
      Before you can sneeze, it will wipe the AUG off the ocean surface.
      1. Vladimir Tuzakov
        
        0
        
        6 October 2025 22: 00
        
        The Black Sea Fleet's flagship, the cruiser Moskva, was sunk by the crests, who have no navy, and now you're going to compete with the US Navy, the world's number one. Are you kidding?
        
        savage3000
        
        0
        
        6 October 2025 22: 05
        
        What happened to the Moscow—none of us know. The 1164 Moscow was an old ship, its equipment updated in the last century. It only underwent a partial mid-life refit. It was an old galosh and most likely sank on its own.
        
        Don't compare God's gift to scrambled eggs, ignoramus!
        
        P.S. The idea of rivalry with the US Navy was invented by your inflamed, ignorant brain.
        
        Vladimir Tuzakov
        
        0
        
        6 October 2025 22: 07
        
        It remains to add: "The more oaks, the stronger the army and navy"...
        
        savage3000
        
        0
        
        6 October 2025 22: 09
        
        The more stupid people there are who can't count the number of PUs, the worse it is for the country.
        
        Vladimir Tuzakov
        
        0
        
        6 October 2025 22: 16
        
        If you're unfamiliar with the Moskva cruiser, what are we talking about? It's amateurishness. The cruiser was hit by two Neptune anti-ship missiles in the side (they missed the target, and the air defenses were absolutely useless). The most interesting thing is that the warheads didn't detonate, but the fuel blew up the ammunition magazines. The crew was rescued from the ship, and while being towed in stormy weather, the cruiser sank. A clear example of the level of today's naval command...
        
        savage3000
        
        0
        
        7 October 2025 13: 47
        
        Tuzakov, these are just the figments of your strange mind. What's your evidence?
        
        To you personally Ukrainians reported?
        
        Vladimir Tuzakov
        
        0
        
        7 October 2025 15: 23
        
        Well, what can you say about a person who doesn’t know the main events of the SVO - an amateur or a demagogue... (Perhaps both together).
        
        savage3000
        
        0
        
        7 October 2025 21: 30
        
        Is there any evidence? That it was the anti-ship missile system, and specifically those very same Neptunes, oh my god, whose warheads failed. They made the missile, the missile flies, the missile hits... but the warhead doesn't detonate? )))
        
        class!
        
        Vladimir Tuzakov
        
        0
        
        7 October 2025 22: 12
        
        Try to prove it to a demagogue; look for it and see for yourself. Facts mean nothing to a demagogue; he ignores them. (For non-Jews, that's more common, using any means necessary to appear right.)
        
        savage3000
        
        0
        
        7 October 2025 22: 18
        
        Because you are a demagogue and a troll. There are no facts.
    2. savage3000
      
      0
      
      7 October 2025 21: 34
      
      An armored hull means survivability, as do 240 Pantsir missiles and 24 missile launchers.
savage3000

0

6 October 2025 21: 39

The photo shows an old, unmodernized ship. Although there's been a photo of the new one for a long time, the author is too lazy...