Intervied by Ekho Moskva, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Vladimir Popovkin says there is a need for a renovated fleet of surface vessels. In particular, the nuclear powered cruisers are subject to reconstruction programs, which now are being developed, Popovkin said.
Today, Russia has only one nuclear powered battle cruiser, Pyotr Veliky, based in the Russian Northern fleets main base Severomorsk.
Three other vessels of the same class are laid up. They are Admiral Ushakov and Admiral Lasarev in the Northern fleet and Admiral Nakhimov in Russia’s Pacific fleet. All three have been out of active service since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Pyotr Veliky was taken into service in 1996 and is today considered to be the flagship of the Northern fleet.
Deputy Defense Minister Popovkin said the Navy should include at least two or three nuclear powered battle cruisers with the purpose of long-distance sailings.
Arriving at its homeport Severomorsk in March this year, Pyotr Veliky had made the longest and longest lasting tour in the modern history of the Russian Navy, as reported by BarentsObserver. The cruiser had then visited both South Africa, hunted pirates outside Somalia, participated in joint drills with both the Venezuelan Navy and later with the Indian Navy. The vessel can be armed with nuclear cruise missiles.
Although, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister says the laid-up cruisers could be reconstructed, that task will eventually be difficult and expensive. The vessels have been out of service for nearly 20 years and are reported to be in bad shape.
Russia’s nuclear cruisers are each equipped with two nuclear reactors generating 300 MWt.
