25 Years Later, Russia's Kirov-Class Battlecruiser Makes a 'Comeback'
Key Points and Summary - After being docked for over two decades, Russia's Kirov-class nuclear-powered battlecruiser, the Admiral Nakhimov, is finally set to return to sea following a massive, billion-dollar refit. -The enormous Cold War-era warship has been upgraded with a new arsenal, including Russia's much-hyped Zircon hypersonic missiles. -However, its return is plagued by continuous delays and skepticism. The Kir0v-Class Battlecruiser Is Back (25 Years Later) The Russian Navy's Kirov-class nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov has begun preparations for long-awaited sea trials after more than 25 years in deep refurbishment, Russian media confirmed this week. The 252-meter-long vessel - one of only three remaining Kirov-class cruisers - was first commissioned in 1988 and has been laid up at the Sevmash shipyard since 1999. A modernization program was authorized in 2006, but work did not begin in earnest until 2013, with repea...