The Ukraine war could mean the end for Russia’s battle cruisers

Summary and key points: The Russian Navy has decided against modernizing the Kirov-class nuclear-powered battlecruiser Pyotr Veliky due to high maintenance costs and outdated technology. Only the Admiral Nakhimov will be modernized, while Pyotr Veliky will be decommissioned when the Nakhimov re-enters service in 2024 or 2025.

– Built during the Cold War, the Kirov-class ships are the largest surface combat ships in service today, but are considered obsolete due to their size, high maintenance requirements, and vulnerability to modern weapons.

– The decommissioning of the Kirov class reflects Russia’s need to allocate its resources more efficiently in the face of ongoing economic constraints and the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s battlecruiser Pyotr Veliky to be decommissioned, Nakhimov to receive modernization

Last year, the Russian Navy announced that it would not modernize the Kirov-class nuclear-powered battlecruiser. Pyotr Velikiy as originally planned.

The only two Kirov ships, Pyotr Velikiy And Admiral Nakhimovboth should be updated, but now only the Nakhimov is being modernized. The decision is likely due to the ship’s high maintenance costs, ongoing technical problems and outdated Cold War-era technology.

Decommissioning of the Kirov

The Kirov is unique in its size. With a displacement of 28,000 tons, the Kirov class is the largest surface combat ship in service today, and by a long way: it is three times the size of the US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and comparable in size to the Japanese Izumo-class aircraft carrier.

The Soviet Union built four Kirov-class ships, of which only two remain today. The two decommissioned Kirov battlecruisers were both decommissioned shortly after the collapse of the USSR and placed in storage, where they deteriorated to the point that restoration became prohibitive.

Nakhimov is expected to be put back into operation sometime in 2024 or 2025. Veliki should start the renovation at about the same time. Instead Veliki will be “taken out of service if the Admiral Nakhimov returns to service – leaving the Navy with only one Kirov-class ship,” Military Watch Magazine reported.

Relic of the Cold War

The Kirov is a ship from the past with enormous dimensions. It is 249 meters long, 28 meters wide and has a draft of 9.1 meters. For propulsion, this class uses two nuclear reactors, two steam turbines and four propellers, which together generate 140,000 horsepower.

Launched in the 1980s, the Kirov was initially significant, serving during the final decade of the Cold War and demonstrating Soviet naval power in the Atlantic and Pacific. But the Kirov is past its prime, The National Interest reports. has reported in the past: “The age and maintenance of the Kirov class is a major problem. Since this boat is over 30 years old and requires extensive maintenance and constant upgrades to remain operational (and relevant on the modern naval battlefield), it is both costly and time-consuming for a Russia that needs simplicity and cost-effectiveness today.”

The Kirov’s usefulness today is further limited by today’s emphasis on speed and stealth. The Kirov is large and slow, making it vulnerable to new, modern weapons. It also has outdated sensors, communications equipment, and weapons platforms, meaning the Kirov is not as effective as it once was. As Brandon Weichert wrote, the Russians would be wise to simply decommission the entire Kirov class and move on: “Russia’s Kirov-class battlecruiser was never worth the rubles and resources Moscow spent on it. If Moscow were smart, it would decommission the (Kirov) and spend the freed-up resources on more advanced systems or cheaper unmanned underwater vehicles.”

With the war in Ukraine now in its third year and resources becoming increasingly scarce, the Kirov class may well be decommissioned altogether.

About the author: Harrison Kass, defense expert

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer who has written over 1,000 articles on world affairs. Harrison is a lawyer, pilot, guitarist, and part-time professional hockey player. He joined the U.S. Air Force as a student pilot but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

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