The Admiral Nakhimov, a Project 1144 Orlan nuclear-powered missile cruiser, often looks imposing on paper, yet many observers describe it as a paper tiger. A recent analysis in the American publication National Interest questions how much real combat power the ship retains today.
The article recounts that the earliest cruisers of this class entered service during the Cold War, earning a reputation for their impressive size and array of modern weapons. Initially designed to counter the U.S. Navy, these ships were expected to be formidable sea forces. Over time, most of the class have been retired, and only the Admiral Nakhimov remains active, having undergone a major modernization program.
Opinion from a policy and defense perspective suggests that the claim of equipping Admiral Nakhimov with Zircon hypersonic missiles may overstate the vessel’s current capabilities.
According to the analysis, while the Kirov-class cruisers continue to command attention on paper, their operational impact could be limited, with some experts arguing that these ships may not be deployed at sea again in their current or planned configurations.
Earlier reporting notes that sea trials for the Admiral Nakhimov are scheduled to proceed in the autumn season, marking a renewed phase of assessment for this aging capital ship and its modernization suite.