In line with what was announced earlier this year, officials from the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) have reiterated the possibility that the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov may soon return to the Russian Navy, currently undergoing trials ahead of a potential recommissioning. This development would mark a significant milestone in the ship’s extremely long and troubled repair process, which began back in 1999 and has been characterized by numerous delays and setbacks.
Expanding on the details, Russian local media reported that the news was confirmed by the current president of the aforementioned JSC, Andrey Kostin, who made the statement during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kostin is one of the most important authorities involved in the program, as in addition to his role at JSC, he is also the CEO of Russia’s VTB Bank, which has provided funding for the ship’s overhaul.
Quoting some of his remarks: “I believe we are working successfully on the government’s defense contracts. Today, a nuclear missile submarine was cleared to raise its flag. In March, the Perm submarine came out of the shed. And, of course, a major event for us is the completion of repairs on the battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov, which is already undergoing trials and, in the near future, we believe it could enter service with the Russian Navy.”
It is worth recalling, as initially mentioned, that the Admiral Nakhimov has been in the repair process since 1999; although Russian sources claim that the actual work began only in 2013. Since then, public Russian documents have highlighted a major achievement: a substantial increase in the ship’s firepower, particularly the integration of up to ten missile launch systems capable of carrying up to eight cruise missiles each—such as the Onyx and Kalibr-NK missiles. In addition, new air defense systems—namely the Fort-M and Pantsir-M—have been installed, providing the ship with significantly enhanced combat survivability.
Lastly, it is important to note that, despite such statements suggesting a potential return of the ship in the near future, the extensive delays and obstacles encountered throughout the process continue to cast doubt on the credibility of these claims—especially in wartime. In this context, the fate of the Admiral Nakhimov’s sister ship, the Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), is particularly relevant. Originally launched in 1986, that vessel also suffered major delays during its repair process, mainly due to rising costs, which ultimately led to the decision to cancel the overhaul and permanently decommission the ship.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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