Russia Launches Second Nuclear Reactor On World’s Strongest Surface Combat Ship

The modernised nuclear battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov now has both of its nuclear reactors online. According to state media and third-party reports from Russia’s defense-industrial complex, the first reactor was activated at the end of December 2024, and the second reactor was physically launched on February 2, 2025.

These steps are said to prove that the entire nuclear power plant is ready to operate in all modes. The reactivation of the reactors is a big milestone in the long modernisation process of the Admiral Nakhimov-a 28,000 ton warship originally launched in 1986 and known as part of the Kirov class (Project 11442), with its modernised version designated Project 11442M.

A source familiar with the matter told the state-run TASS news agency that the physical launch of the reactors confirms that the ship’s power plant is fully operational. TASS reported that factory sea trials with the ship’s launch at sea are expected to begin in the summer of 2025.

Admiral Nakhimov has been undergoing an extensive refit at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk on the White Sea. The modernisation work has been in progress since 2008, with actual repair work starting in 2013 after the ship sat idle for over a decade.

The project was originally expected to be completed by 2018, then delayed to 2019, 2020, and even 2021 or 2023 according to various reports.

In 2022, the shipyard announced that the ship would not rejoin service before 2024. Now, with the nuclear reactors operational, the ship appears to be closer than ever to returning to active duty.

The overhaul of Admiral Nakhimov is not only about reactivating its nuclear power, it also focuses on greatly increasing its combat strength. The modernisation plan includes:

Vertical Launch Systems: Initially, the battlecruiser was to receive 174 vertical launch tubes. Of these, about 80 are expected to be dedicated to modern Russian cruise missiles, such as the subsonic Kalibr, the supersonic Oniks, and the hypersonic Zircon.

Although Zircon is reported to have been deployed on Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, there is evidence that it may have seen combat use in Ukraine.

Air Defense Upgrades: The ship will feature tubes that can launch surface-to-air missiles related to the S-300FM Fort system, a naval version of the ground-based S-300. This system is expected to be further strengthened with eight Pantsir-M combined gun/missile systems for close-range defence.

There are also suggestions that a naval variant of the S-350 Vityaz or missiles from the S-400 system may be incorporated.

Sensor and Combat Systems Overhaul: Nearly all combat-related equipment is being replaced with more modern systems. This upgrade aims to boost the battlecruiser’s ability to strike targets and defend itself, making it one of the most powerful surface combatants in the world.

The modernisation of Admiral Nakhimov comes as the Russian Navy currently relies on its only other active Kirov-class battlecruiser, the Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great). The Pyotr Veliky, which has received only minor updates, still uses much of its older Soviet-era weapons and sensors.

On the other hand, the fully modernised Admiral Nakhimov-with its nuclear propulsion, enhanced missile systems, and advanced air defence- could soon serve as the centrepiece of Russian naval strength.

Earlier hulls from the same class, such as the Admiral Ushakov and the Admiral Lazarev, have been out of service and scrapped.

With continuing delays and problems affecting other major warships, like the troubled aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the successful reactivation of Admiral Nakhimov’s reactors is seen as a major boost to Russian naval prestige.

Developed during the Soviet era, the Kirov-class ships were once the world’s most advanced surface combatants.

Admiral Nakhimov stands out not only because of its size, which is more than three times the displacement of American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers but also because it is the only nuclear-powered surface combatant still in service.

Although modern stealth features found on newer ships like the Chinese Type 055 or American Zumwalt are absent, its nuclear propulsion allows for sustained high speeds and long-range operations.

Defence industry sources have reported that the modernisation has significantly increased the ship’s striking power, with up to 10 universal ship-based firing systems, each capable of launching eight modern cruise missiles.

References: TWZ, TASS

Source: Maritime Shipping News