Russia prepares to return nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to service

Russia is preparing to bring the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov back into naval service after almost 27 years of repairs and modernization.

The 251-meter vessel is expected to enter service by the end of 2026, once it completes trials. During the overhaul, it received new radar, an AK-192M 130 mm naval gun and new missile weapons.

The cruiser no longer carries its original 20 P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles. Instead, it has been fitted with vertical launch systems capable of deploying Kalibr, Oniks and hypersonic Zircon missiles. Russian sources cited in the report say the ship has 176 launch cells, with 80 assigned to strike missiles and 96 allocated to S-400 surface-to-air missiles.

The modernization is expected to give the Soviet-era cruiser the combined role of a long-range strike missile ship and a powerful air-defense platform. It can also operate Ka-27 or Ka-31 helicopters. Its radar system is designed to extend detection of air and surface targets and pass information to the ship's weapons systems.

Despite its size and importance, Admiral Nakhimov was not designed to operate entirely alone. It will need escort ships to protect it from underwater, surface and aerial threats. The report said Russia may consider deploying the cruiser in the Arctic, where it could become one of the navy's leading assets after returning to service.