During the course of yesterday, Russian media outlets reported that, after more than 20 years without being able to sail, the nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Nakhimov of the Russian Navy has finally begun the sea trials established by the shipyard in charge of its modernization process. The significant development was disclosed by sources within the Russian naval industry and, although it has not been officially confirmed, various images were published on social media showing the vessel heading out to sea.
Quoting some of the specific statements: “The nuclear-powered heavy missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has gone to sea for shipbuilder sea trials.” Expanding on the details, the sources indicated that the cruiser is involved in an initial phase of trials to be carried out in the White Sea, after which it will move on to the next stage, expected to last several months and take place in the Barents Sea.
It should be mentioned at this point that the possibility of the Admiral Nakhimov nuclear cruiser finally starting this trial cycle had been imminent in recent weeks, with various Russian officials and authorities stating that the shipyard’s modernization process was practically complete. One of them was Captain First Rank Vladimir Maltsev, leader of the so-called All-Russian Movement for Naval Support, who on August 12 declared that the vessel would begin the corresponding trials this very month.
Additionally, as reported toward the end of July, officials of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (JSC) indicated that the mentioned vessel was close to being reincorporated into the ranks of the Russian Navy. Specifically, JSC President Andrey Kostin stated: “And, of course, an important 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 in this context that the cruiser has officially been under repair since 1999, although work was not effectively able to begin until 2013, according to Russian reports. The process was plagued with setbacks that cast doubt on the possibility of a return to service, mainly due to the financial difficulties tied to its development, and further complicated by the case of its sister ship, Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), whose modernization was canceled, leading to its definitive decommissioning.
Lastly, reviewing some of the main upgrades reportedly integrated into the Admiral Nakhimov cruiser, Russian documents point to a notable increase in its firepower. This comes through the installation of up to ten missile launch systems, each capable of carrying eight cruise missiles. In addition, Fort-M and Pantsyr-M systems are said to have been added, significantly enhancing the ship’s air defense capabilities and thereby adapting it to the requirements of modern warfare.
*Image credits to their respective owners
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