The Kirov-class nuclear-powered guided-missile battlecruisers, known as Project 1144 Orlan, have been in service with the Soviet/Russian Navy since 1980.
During the Cold War, the USSR developed the Kirov-class battlecruisers to counter U.S. naval dominance, specifically targeting aircraft carriers like the USS Enterprise.
Russia s Kirov-Class Battlecruisers: A Nightmare That Isn t Going to Stop nationalinterest.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nationalinterest.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Kirov-class battlecruisers, once envisioned as the crown jewels of the Russian Navy, failed to live up to their formidable reputation. Despite being among the largest warships, second only to America's aircraft carriers, their operational effectiveness has been questioned.
Perhaps the Navy doesn’t need a new large surface combatant? Ship displacement is historically a balance between lethality, survivability, and affordability. If size makes ships both more lethal and more survivable, warships will increase in size. Over the course of naval history, lethality and survivability have not necessarily scaled with size.