Russia’s Kirov-Class Battlecruisers Can Be Explained in Just 2 Words

Total Failures: Russia’s Kirov-class battlecruisers, once symbols of Soviet naval power, now represent an era long past.

-At 28,000 tons and over 800 feet long, the Kirov-class boasts impressive size and firepower but suffers from maintenance challenges and high operational costs.

-Only two of the four originally built remain, with Admiral Nakhimov undergoing modernization and Pyotr Veliky facing an uncertain future.

-While upgrades like S-400 and Zircon missiles could enhance capabilities, the battlecruisers remain vulnerable and ill-suited for modern combat.

-Given their limited utility, Russia may be better served by retiring these Cold War relics and reallocating resources to more versatile vessels.

Kirov-Class Battlecruisers: Russia’s Naval Relics or Still Relevant?

Russia’s Kirov-class battlecruisers had a heady mission. They were to counteract American submarines and aircraft carriers during the Cold War and dominate the seas. Four entered service with much fanfare, and only two were left to carry on the fight. They are the most significant and heaviest warships in the world, but they have a spotty service record, with one battlecruiser still in maintenance overhaul. The entire class never lived up to their initial hype.

The Russian navy often exhibits a curious display of prestige, nostalgia, and sentimentality. The Russian naval command somehow believes their navy is still glorious and yearns for the days of the Cold War when the navy had many ships to overawe the Americans. Those days are over, and the Kirov-class represents an era that has passed.

The one Kirov-class that is left is too big for complicated maneuvers and is easy to spot by satellites, radar, airborne early warning aircraft, or reconnaissance drones. It would take many missiles, torpedoes, and bombs to sink a Kirov-class, but they are still vulnerable in modern combat situations.

A starboard bow view of the Soviet Kirov class nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser KALININ.

Let’s take a closer look at this antique from the Cold War.

More About the Kirov-Class Battlecruisers

The ships are a massive 28,000 tons and 827 feet long with over 800 crew members – bigger than some aircraft carriers around the world.

They easily outweigh American destroyers. The Pyotr Veliky is the most recent battlecruiser, laid down in 1986 and hitting the water for action in 1989. When the Soviet Union broke apart, two of the other Kirov-class ships were taken out of service. The Admiral Nakhimov, Pyotr Veliky’s sister ship, was laid down in 1983.

The status of these two warships is not completely clear as the Russian navy has changed its plans for the battlecruisers repeatedly. They were both to enter drydock for modernization, with Admiral Nakhimov returning to duty in 2025 and the Pyotr Veliky receiving a similar re-fit sometime later.

What Is the Mission Now?

One potential mission for the battlecruiser is to avoid service against Ukraine in the Black Sea and sail with the Northern Fleet. This would allow the nuclear-powered Veliky to steam unimpeded to enforce Russian territorial claims in the Arctic. That mission makes sense, but this means that the Russian navy admits that Veliky should be out of harm’s way and that it cannot execute a 21st-century combat mission.

A port view of the Soviet nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser KIROV at anchor. In the background is a Soviet Krivak I-class guided missile frigate.

Add Modern Weapons to the Battlecruiser

Meanwhile, the Nakhimov is slated to undergo a significant upgrade, outfitting it with the naval version of the modern S-400 missile defense system to go along with S-350 missile defenders. The P-800, Kalibr, and Zircon cruise missiles will be added for offensive capabilities. There will be 176 launch cells for these missiles. This could enable the Nakhimov to launch hypersonic missiles someday.

The Kirov-class can steam at 32 knots with an unlimited range of nuclear power. However, the nuclear power plant has old reactors, and the entire vessel has high maintenance requirements. Operational upkeep is also expensive, and as a result, the Veliky may not be able to take on the Arctic mission.

Time to Retire

This makes the Kirov-class an all-around liability. The Russian navy wants the prestige of having the largest ship in the world, but it does not want to invest more time, money, and effort to keep both the remaining ships seaworthy. The Nakhimov has been in drydock so long that it may stay there past 2025.

Aerial starboard quarter view of the Soviet Kirov class guided missile destroyer FRUNZE underway back in 1985.

The Kirov-class is thus a cautionary tale for a navy that is overstretched and overburdened with the ground war in Ukraine taking priority. Yes, the Kirov-class could make a comeback and lead the Arctic patrol mission, but service in the Black Sea to make a difference in the war is not an option. The Kirov-class is too much of a liability. Russia should consider removing the Veliky from duty and retiring both vessels for good. They could then take the money and resources saved to invest in other warships of the line. The Kirov-class just never reached its potential.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.