Russian nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Nakhimov returning to service after nearly 30 years of repairs costing $2.3 billion

The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov is set to rejoin active service with the Russian Navy by the end of 2026, after a gap of nearly three decades marked by extensive repairs and modernization. Currently undergoing factory and sea trials, the ship recently completed its final sea trials in June 2026, marking its return after a 28-year hiatus.

As one of four heavy nuclear-powered missile cruisers of the Soviet-era Project 1144 Orlan class, the Admiral Nakhimov first served under the name Kalinin before its decommission in 1997. Following repairs and modernization, the cruiser, which underwent a significant overhaul from 2013 to 2026, received 80 universal launch cells for Kalibr cruise missiles, 96 cells for anti-aircraft missiles, and a substantial increase in Oniks and Zircon anti-ship missile capabilities.

This extensive rearming equips the Admiral Nakhimov to be one of the most heavily armed surface ships in the Russian fleet upon its return to service. The expense of this extensive modernization, estimated at over 200 billion rubles ($2.3 billion), has prompted questions among military observers about the strategic necessity and vulnerability of such a large, expensive platform in modern warfare.