The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Admiral Nakhimov is believed to be close to returning to operational status after it was spotted by satellite undergoing sea trials in Kola Bay on June 25, 2026. The Kirov-class ship, likely to be commissioned as the new flagship of Russia’s Northern Fleet, has an equivalent price of $5 billion. Indeed, to call it far-fetched is an understatement. The ship has been decommissioned for 27 years, although major renovations did not begin until 2014. By comparison, the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, took 12 years to build.
Nakhimov began operations in 1988 and was originally known as Kalinin but was renamed in 1992. Weighing about 28,000 tons, the 823-meter ship is the only nuclear-powered warship in the world other than aircraft carriers. However, by 1997 the ship had been decommissioned and spent two years docked at Severomorsk, the main base of the Russian Northern Fleet. It was then towed to Severodvinsk and put into dry dock. And, for a few years, nothing much happened.
As noted, it was not until 2014 that the project to modernize the large ship began. Initially, this was intended to be a limited renovation, and the work was originally quoted to be completed in 2018. However, the plan was continuously delayed, resulting in nearly three decades of absence from operational activities.
With recent developments suggesting progress has been made, let’s take a closer look at what we know about the ship and its twenty-year refit.
What we know about Admiral Nakhimov and its repairs
The Admiral Nakhimov refit project may have started as the equivalent of a fast service warship, but this quickly became a major project and one of the largest ever undertaken by the Russian Navy. While we don’t know the full details of the renovation, there are some gaps we can fill.
Starting with the propulsion system — this ship is fast, with a top speed thought to be 32 knots (36.8 mph). This is faster than most large warships, and even beats the top speed of a US Navy aircraft carrier. Providing all this power are two nuclear reactors that can produce an incredible 140,000 hp. Although these were not replaced at the rebuild, they were repaired and fueled. Both reactors were back online by February 2025. As a side note, the reactors in use are pressurized water reactors – also the most common type of nuclear reactor in the world.
In terms of weapons, Admiral Nakhimov also packs a heavy punch. The original P-700 Granit anti-ship missile system was removed from the ship as part of the overhaul and replaced with 10 modules of eight cells, universally launched, supporting a total of 80 UKSK direct launch system cells. As the name would suggest, these are various modules that can be used by many Russian missiles. These include anti-submarine, anti-ship, and land attack missiles as well as the 3M22 Zircon missile, the world’s fastest hypersonic missile.
Additionally, the ship is believed to be equipped with advanced sensors, advanced radar systems, and advanced anti-aircraft missiles.
Admiral Nakhimov is a great asset — but a tempting target
If Admiral Nakhimov is welcomed back after being suspended for nearly ten years, his mission will be of strategic importance. The ship is expected to lead Russia’s Northern Fleet, the main support arm of the country’s most valuable naval asset – its missile submarines. In essence, the Northern Fleet operates as part of a defense “zone” established by Russia to protect its operations in the Barents Sea. A ship with Nakhimov’s speed, unlimited range, and long-range air defense and attack capabilities is designed to bolster this defense.
However, how the ship will perform in the role is a matter of speculation. A lot has changed since the Kalinin battlecruiser first went to sea. The emergence of drone warfare has dramatically changed the playing field. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Black Sea. In sheer size, comparing the Russian Navy’s resources in the Black Sea with Ukraine’s resources is like comparing Goliath to David – yet we all know how that ended. The use of drones in Ukraine has reduced the Russian Navy from defensive operations and severely limited the use of its large warships.
This is the world that the Nakhimovs will enter. Although it is considered to be the most heavily armed surface warship, it exists in an era where packing “eggs in one basket” is highly challenged in military doctrine. The changing face of naval warfare is one of the reasons why the US Navy is looking for long-range drone ships. Time will tell if Nakhimov remains relevant in such a rapidly evolving field.