The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser “Admiral Nakhimov” has completed its initial sea trials and returned to the Northern Machine-Building Enterprise. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the successful completion of the first phase on Monday, September 15, marking a significant step in the cruiser’s return to service.

During this initial stage, vital systems were assessed. The primary focus was on verifying the functionality of the main power plant, alongside the operation of various ship systems and mechanisms. The trials involved collaboration between the “Sevmash” delivery team and the cruiser’s crew. Plans are in place to continue sea trials in the future.

The cruiser’s return to the sea on August 18 followed a 26-year period of inactivity in shipyards. “Kommersant” reports that the “Admiral Nakhimov” underwent repairs costing 200 billion rubles.

The “Admiral Nakhimov,” a Northern Fleet cruiser, boasts a displacement of approximately 28,000 tons and a crew of nearly 800 personnel. Originally commissioned in 1988, it was placed in repair in 1999. Since 2013, it has been undergoing extensive modernization at “Sevmash”.

Initial projections from 2016, made by then Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Vladimir Korolev, anticipated the “Admiral Nakhimov” rejoining the fleet by 2020. Subsequent delays pushed the timeline back, with Alexey Rakhmanov, head of USC, citing 2022 in 2019. These postponements were attributed to a comprehensive rearmament program, intended to equip the cruiser with a larger arsenal of cruise and hypersonic missiles than any other vessel in its class. Factory sea trials ultimately commenced in December 2024, followed by the launch of a nuclear reactor on board in January 2025.