Overview

• The 28,000-ton Kirov-class cruiser departed Sevmash on August 18 and entered the White Sea under its own nuclear power.
• Initial phases focus on navigation and propulsion reliability, with weapons and combat-system evaluations scheduled later in the trials.
• Shipbuilding sources report roughly 174–176 vertical-launch cells with slots for Kalibr, Oniks and potentially Tsirkon missiles.
• Air-defense fit is described as 96 cells for S-300FM or possibly S-400 interceptors plus Pantsir-M close-in systems, though the exact loadout remains unverified.
• Modernization began in 2014 after years in dry dock, and if trials succeed the cruiser is expected to replace Pyotr Velikiy as Northern Fleet flagship, with USC having briefed President Vladimir Putin on the sortie.