After modernization, the Russian heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will become the most powerful surface ship in the world.
This was stated by the general director of the Northern Design Bureau (SPKB) Andrei Dyachkov.
"The high modernization potential of these ships, incorporated in them during the design, made it possible to carry out certain work and equip the Admiral Nakhimov with the most modern weapons, which makes it the strongest surface combat ship in the world," the head of the SPKB quotes TASS.
Despite the emergence of modern ships, heavy nuclear missile cruisers of Project 1144.2 - such as the Admiral Nakhimov - are still the hallmark of the Russian Navy, Dyachkov said.
Soviet legacy
Let us recall that the construction of Project 1144.2 Orlan heavy nuclear missile cruisers, designed by SPKB specialists, began in 1973.
Until 1996, four such ships out of seven planned were built: Kirov (from 1992 to 2004 known as Admiral Ushakov), Frunze (later Admiral Lazarev), Kalinin (renamed Admiral Nakhimov ") And" Kuibyshev "(called" Peter the Great ").
The Admiral Nakhimov was laid down in 1983, launched in 1986 and adopted by the USSR Navy in 1988.
However, already in 1999 the cruiser arrived at the Sevmash shipyard for repairs and modernization aimed at increasing its striking power.
Northern Fleet.
Exercises in the Barents Sea.
Heavy atomic missile armored cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" and aircraft of the base patrol aircraft "Orion"
RIA News
© Oleg Lastochkin
As part of the current deep renovation of the "Admiral Nakhimov", the entire complex of radio-electronic equipment will be replaced, as well as the armament will be strengthened.
In open sources, there were reports that the upgraded cruiser will be equipped with high-precision cruise missiles "Caliber", anti-ship "Onyx" and hypersonic "Zircon".
In addition, the ship is planned to be reinforced with the Fort-M and Pantsir-M sea-based air defense systems, as well as the Paket-NK and Answer anti-submarine systems.
At the end of last year, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko announced that the modernized "Admiral Nakhimov" will become part of the Russian Navy in 2022.
“We have checked the progress of the repair work.
As planned, the ship is expected to be received at the end of 2022.
These terms are not in doubt, "Krivoruchko stressed.
The deputy head of the Ministry of Defense also confirmed earlier that the "Admiral Nakhimov" will be equipped with "Zircon" missiles - with a range exceeding 1,000 km and a flight speed of Mach 9.
Impact power
In the NATO classification, the ships of the project 1144.2 are referred to as "Kirov-class battlecruiser" - that is, as "battle cruisers" - because of their impressive dimensions and strike weapons.
These ships are designed to perform a wide range of tasks in the far sea zone: fighting against groups of ships and intercepting them, protecting sea convoys and supporting large naval formations.
"Admiral Nakhimov" has a displacement of 24.3 thousand tons with a length of 252 m and a width of 28.5 m. Like other cruisers of Project 1144.2, she became one of the world's largest non-aircraft-carrying ships built after the Second World War.
Its crew is 727 people, including 97 officers.
Heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy in the Barents Sea
RIA News
© Oleg Lastochkin
Ships 1144.2 are nuclear powered - they are powered by a 342 MW power plant with two KN-3 reactors running on enriched uranium.
It can supply the ship with energy for 10-11 years without recharging.
The maximum speed of the "Admiral Nakhimov" is 32 knots (about 60 km / h), while the ship has no limitation on the power reserve of nuclear reactors.
The duration of autonomous sailing is up to 60 days.
Recall that one of the main distinguishing features of the project 1144.2 cruiser is its armament.
The striking power of the updated Admiral Nakhimov will be represented by the Caliber and Onyx multipurpose complex with ammunition capacity of up to 80 missiles.
Before the modernization began, the ammunition load of this ship included P-700 Granit missiles with a range of up to 700-800 km, capable of destroying large surface objects, including aircraft carriers.
Also, the cruiser's arsenal included several types of torpedo-mine weapons.
The anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) S-300F "Fort", the system 4K33 "Osa-M" and the artillery mount 3M87 "Kortik" were responsible for the air defense of the ship.
"Admiral Nakhimov" also carries artillery weapons - a twin installation of AK-130 caliber 130 mm.
The cruiser carries three Ka-27 PL anti-submarine helicopters.
At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry previously reported that after the completion of the modernization "Admiral Nakhimov" will have completely new tactical and technical characteristics, and its commissioning "will significantly increase the potential of the surface forces" of the Northern Fleet.
According to its capabilities, the Soviet cruiser will become practically a new ship, the defense department noted.
Experts, in turn, call the cruisers of the project 1144.2 unique, noting that other states do not have ships similar in striking power.
“First of all, these are the largest nuclear cruisers in the world that exist.
They have no analogues, "Dmitry Litovkin, editor of the newspaper Nezavisimoye Voennoe Obozreniye, emphasized in a conversation with RT.
According to him, after modernization, it will become even more difficult to compete with them in power.
“If we are talking about Admiral Nakhimov, then Caliber and Onyx missiles will be placed on board, S-400 systems will be supplied, other weapons systems will be replaced, which are only being introduced into the armed forces today or should be implemented, ”he explained.
Dmitry Litovkin recalled that another cruiser 1144.2, Peter the Great, will also be upgraded, which will also receive new types of weapons.
At the same time, such large ships should be used as part of strike sea formations, the expert says.
“You have to understand that one cruiser does not sail at sea.
It must be surrounded by escort ships in order to create barriers to the means of destruction of the enemy.
Now frigates are being built, which will have to go along with "Peter the Great" and "Nakhimov", - the analyst explained.
According to the editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko, the Admiral Nakhimov and the cruisers of Project 1144.2 stand out against the background of other ships, including due to their power plant.
“A nuclear power plant provides virtually unlimited autonomy.
This, in turn, gives the Russian Navy a significant advantage in protecting national interests, including in the far sea zone, ”says Korotchenko.
According to him, ships of this class with heavy weapons are now in great demand in the Russian fleet, including because of the difficult geopolitical situation in the world.