The modernized nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, which will be able to carry Zircon hypersonic missiles, will enter sea trials at the end of 2023. This was announced by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a conference call at the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, May 30, RIA Novosti reports.

“Modernization of the Admiral Nakhimov missile cruiser involves equipping it with the latest state-of-the-art equipment, long-range high-precision weapons, including Zircon hypersonic missiles. Sea trials of the ship are scheduled for the end of 2023,” the minister said.

Shoigu noted that after the commissioning of the Admiral Nakhimov, it will continue to perform tasks as part of the Northern Fleet. According to him, measures will be outlined today that will allow the modernization of Admiral Nakhimov to be completed by the end of 2024.

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Heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" project 1144.2M "Orlan" was launched in 1986. In 1999, the ship was put in for repair and modernization, but in fact, work on the cruiser has been carried out since 2013. The upgraded cruiser will receive launchers of the 3S14 universal shipborne firing system, which will be able to carry Caliber-NK, Onyx and Zircon missiles.

In August 2022, Vladimir Korolev, Deputy General Director of the United Shipbuilding Corporation for Military Shipbuilding, announced that the Russian Navy could receive the Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and the Admiral Nakhimov cruiser with a delay.