Russian Navy To Replace Flagship Cruiser With Nuclear Guided Missile Cruiser By 2020

Russia has planned to replace the flagship cruiser of the Navy's Northern Fleet, Pyotr Velikiy, with nuclear guided-missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov by 2020.

"The Admiral Nakhimov is scheduled for maintenance," Navy Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Viktor Bursuk said Friday.

In July Sevmash shipyard said it was on schedule to deliver the overhauled cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to the Russian Navy in 2018.

"Presently, The two nuclear guided-missile cruisers, the Admiral Nakhimov and Pyotr Velikiy, which is the flagship of the Northern Fleet are the only Russian Navy's combat strength, Sputnik International reported Friday.

The ship requires modernization. Sevmash shipyard is currently completing the deep modernization of the Admiral Nakhimov. "It will finish its overhaul by the turn of the 20s when it will replace the Pyotr Velikiy." Busuk added.

The Admiral Nakhimov is the third of four Kirov-class guided-missile cruisers operated by the Soviet and then Russian Navy from 1980 to 1998.