For nearly seven decades, the Soviet defense-industrial complex matched Western firms, occasionally surprising with cost-effective innovations but sometimes struggling with reliability. Key weapons might have altered the USSR's decline trajectory, highlighting the intricate interplay between technology and warfare's human aspects.
While these battleships never saw the sea, their designs reflect the immense investments and ambitions of their respective nations. Changes in technology, international agreements, and shifting strategic priorities ultimately determined their fate, with resources redirected to smaller ships, other military endeavors, or peaceful pursuits.