Delay on the Admiral Nakhimov

A few days ago, another delay was announced in the repair and modernisation of the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov (project 11442M) was reported. The reason given was delays at suppliers. This means that the cruiser is not expected to return to service in the Northern Fleet before 2023. The ship has not been in service since 1999. In 2013, repair and modernisation work began at the "Northern Engineering Company", commonly known as Sevmash, in Severodvinsk. Given the ineffectiveness of the Russian shipbuilding industry and its suppliers, this delay is hardly surprising.
With the Admiral Nakhimov is a cruiser of the Kirov-class from the Cold War era. After being launched in 1986 and commissioned two years later, the Nakhimov was decommissioned in 1999. The 250 metre long and almost 29 metre wide ship is nuclear-powered and can reach speeds of up to 32 knots. During the conversion at Sevmash, the missile armament in particular is to be brought up to date. Instead of the previously installed launchers for SS-N-19s, ten vertical launchers for up to 80 Kalibr, Oniks and Zirkon missiles will now be used. This would once again make the cruiser an important operational asset with state-of-the-art armament.

Text: Axel Engel/mb; Photo: Sewmasch