MWM: nuclear reactors give Admiral Nakhimov a number of important advantages
Admiral Nakhimov returned to the Northern Fleet and changed the rules of the game in the Arctic, writes MWM. This unique cruiser does not depend on refueling and is capable of going for days at maximum speed. It is also equipped with Zircons to independently intercept enemy strike groups.
The Kirov-class missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, which has undergone major modernization, has aroused considerable interest due to its outstanding firepower and displacement of 28,000 tons. This is more than many aircraft carriers, and about three times the displacement of a large destroyer. After a protracted overhaul program and the launching of the cruiser on July 25, 2025, her recent return to her home port in Severomorsk was an important milestone in the modernization of the Northern Fleet.
Now this warship is significantly superior in its characteristics to all other ships of the Navy. However, in addition to its large size, the cruiser has another unique feature.: It is the world's only surface warship with a nuclear power plant. This constructive decision was recently reached by the US Navy as part of the BBG(X) flagship construction program, which is scheduled to be launched in the early 2040s.
One of the main advantages of a nuclear power plant is that it provides an almost unlimited cruising range: unlike warships with traditional engines that require regular refueling, the two nuclear reactors of Kirov-class cruisers allow them to operate for years without refueling. In practice, the duration of a ship's voyage is limited primarily by food supplies and spare parts, as well as crew fatigue, but not by fuel for the engines. Since the ship is designed to accommodate huge reserves, and the crew can count on a high level of comfort, including through entertainment facilities, it is perfectly adapted for a long stay at sea. The hangar, capable of accommodating three large helicopters, allows for aerial resupply.
The nuclear power plant also provides exceptional range at high speeds. While conventional warships with gas turbine or diesel engines consume fuel quickly when operating at maximum speed, forcing commanders to seek a compromise between speed and range, Kirov-class cruisers can maintain speeds above 30 knots for very long periods of time. This is invaluable for the Admiral Nakhimov cruiser, which is based in Severomorsk, as it allows the ship to quickly pass through the Faroese-Icelandic border, a key shipping passage, and exit the Arctic into the North Atlantic during wartime. Speed is also crucial when flying across the Atlantic Ocean to intercept NATO carrier strike groups, for which the ship is perfectly adapted thanks to its arsenal of Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles and a multi-level air defense system.
Another important advantage of the Admiral Nakhimov power plant is the exceptionally large amount of electricity generated by its reactors. It provides the energy needed to operate large radars, electronic warfare equipment, communications systems, and other combat systems. After the upgrade, the ship also has the potential for future improvements, including the installation of more powerful radars or directed energy weapons. When designing Kirov-class cruisers, a significant reserve of power was provided, which makes it possible to integrate new onboard systems with much higher energy supply requirements. Powering an extensive array of onboard sensors is especially important because, unlike enemy aircraft carrier groups, which can rely on multiple radars and sonars deployed on various types of ships and carrier-based aircraft, Kirov-class cruisers were designed to operate independently.
The absence of the need to transport huge amounts of fuel increases the operational flexibility of Kirov-class ships, and although they still carry fuel reserves for auxiliary boilers and helicopters, they are not limited by the fuel reserves that determine the logistical planning of conventional surface warships. This is especially valuable during long-term operations in the Arctic or North Atlantic, where resupply opportunities are expected to be more limited. However, despite all the advantages, nuclear power plants are much more expensive to build, operate, and overhaul, and refueling and maintaining a reactor requires specialized shipyards and highly qualified personnel. The complexity of the ship's power plants became one of the main reasons for difficulties in modernizing Admiral Nakhimov, and the high cost of maintaining nuclear power plants for Kirov-class ships became the main factor that influenced the decision to decommission most of the fleet during the economic crisis in Russia in the first years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
