Project 1144.2 Orlan
Kirov class
Guided Missile Cruiser (Nuclear Powered)
Reports circulating in the West in the late 1970s that the class [known at the time as the Sovietsky Soyuz class] was intended to consist of 12 units ultimately proved incorrect.
Hull numbers were not permanently assigned, and at various times the following hull numbers were seen: 028, 050, 059, 065, 080, 180, 181, 183, 190 and 750.
Admiral Ushakov (ex-Kirov)
At the end of 1997 only the Admiral Nakhimov remained operational.
The Admiral Ushakov, which had been inoperable since 1989-1990, was stricken in October 1998 to provide material for a refit of the other active unit of the Kirov class, the Admiral Nakhimov. However, on 14 January 1999 the Russian Duma voted the Admiral Ushakov be repaired and restored to service, using funding allocated for other construction and repair projects. In September 1999 the Russian Northern Fleet's Admiral Ushakov cruiser was sent from Severomorsk to Severodvinsk to undergo modernisation. The ship's nuclear powerplant will be replaced. Besides, the cruiser wil be armed with the latest weapons and fitted with most advanced navigation equipment. The money for the upgrade was provided by the Russian regions. As of 1999, over 10 million roubles have already been allocated of the total of 100 million roubles needed for the Admiral Ushakov upgrade.
The Admiral Ushakov was reportedly written off in 2001 and eventually decommissioned in 2002.
In October 2003 it was reported that Zvezdochka shipyard’s Director Nikolai Kalistratov stated that Norway will allocate $40m for dismantling the atomic cruiser Admiral Ushakov. $12 million more will be required to upgrade the place where the used nuclear fuel is spent.
Admiral Lazarev (ex-Frunze)
At the end of 1997 the Admiral Lazarev was said to be slated for disposal because of insufficient funding for needed repairs. As of 2004 the ship had been held in reserve near Vladivostok at Strelok Bay.
Admiral Nakhimov (ex-Kalinin)
In April 2001 Russia Navy Commander-in-Chief, Adm Vladimir Kuroyedov stated that the Kirov-class battle cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, which had been laid up since 1999 at Severodvinsk, will be re-commissioned by the Russian Navy.
As of early 2004 the Admiral Nakhimov was undergoing repairs at Sevmash. These focused predominately on the critical zones of its reactor, the electronics system, and its missile systems. Its overhaul was due to be completed in 2007.
On the 11 May 2008 the crew of the heavy nuclear missile carrier “Admiral Nakhimov” had two reasons for festive formation on deck: Victory Day and the ship’s birthday. Deputy Governor of Arkhangelsk region Mikhail Sitkin, chiefs from Murmansk region came to congratulate military sailors with 19-years anniversary of the ship. Such meetings take place every year. Traditionally guests awarded distinguished sailors, wished crew good health and to return in sea for cruiser. From 1999 “Admiral Nakhimov” has stood near a Sevmash berth. In spite of such a long period of inactivity, the cruiser was kept in good condition by the enterprise'ss services and crew. According to commissioning manager Boris Gulin, at that time the repair schedule is being updated. During 2008 shipbuilders were preparing for "discharge of reactor active zone" - that is the removal of the ship's reactor's core and replacement with a fresh core. Such a refueling operation could require several years to complete, suggesting that the Admiral Nakhimov was unlikely to return to active service prior to 2010.
Petr Velikiy
The much-delayed Petr Velikiy, which arrived in the Northern Fleet in November 1996 for acceptance trials, was finally commissioned on 18 April 1998, but in the Northern Fleet rather than in the originally planned Pacific Fleet. However, she was subsequently laid up at Severomorsk awaiting completion and repairs.
On 23 March 2004 Russia's navy chief reportedly said that the nuclear-powered “Peter the Great” missile cruiser was in such dire condition that it could "explode at any moment" - only to backtrack on his statement a few hours later. Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov said the massive cruiser had been badly maintained and added that "it's especially dangerous because it has a nuclear reactor". Just three hours later, however, Kuroyedov retracted his ominous statement, saying he had been misunderstood by the media. "There is no threat whatsoever to the ship's nuclear safety," he said in a statement. "The ship's nuclear safety is fully guaranteed in line with existing norms." He added that some flaws in maintaining the cruiser's living quarters would be fixed within three weeks, after which the ship would become fully combat-ready.
The Petr Veliki cruiser docked for repair at Roslyakovo starting on 19 April 2004. The ship repairers cleaned and painted the submerged part of the ship, repaired the armature, and examined the steering system. The floating dock PD-50, where the Admiral Kuznetsov had been repaired, was prepared for the flagship of the navy. By July 2004 the flagship of the Northern Fleet, fresh from repairs, began carrying out missions in what was called “first-line” readiness in the second half of August 2004.
Following repairs to the Admiral Kuznetsov, the Pyotr Veliki accompanied the aircraft carrier and participated in the most ambitious naval exercise performed by the Russian Navy to date. The task force consisted of these two ships, the cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the destroyer Admiral Ushakov, a tanker and two support ships. The group arrived at an area approximately 20 nautical miles off Iceland on 05 October 2004 and returned home on 01 November 2004.
Kuznetzov
Budget cuts at the end of the Cold War led to discontinuing the construction of a fifth unit of the Kirov class.
