Among the vast lineup of the world's navies, there is one warship that stands out in particular: the Russian Navy's Peter the Great "Kirov-class" cruiser. This world's last remaining cruiser is so powerful with its more than 500 missiles that even the US aircraft carrier fleet has to retreat and make a detour when it encounters it at sea.
The Peter the Great was built in 1986 and commissioned in 1998, when the Cold War clouds loomed over the world, and the Soviet Union did not hesitate to invest huge sums of money and scientific research to develop this epoch-making cruiser in order to compete with the United States for maritime supremacy. Time passed, although the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the prestige of Peter the Great is still undiminished, it is like a mobile military fortress, guarding Russia's maritime territory, and currently serving the Russian Northern Fleet.
The combat effectiveness of this cruiser is staggering enough to be called a mobile ammunition depot. It has a huge displacement of 25,800 tons, which is no different from an aircraft carrier, and uses two advanced nuclear reactors as a power source, which makes it extremely fast. With a maximum speed of up to 32 knots, it is able to quickly respond to various operational needs and perform tasks at sea for long periods of time.
Peter the Great also uses advanced systems and technologies in a number of ways. For example, in terms of weaponry, Peter the Great is equipped with advanced missile systems, naval guns and shipborne weapons, including SS-N-19 supersonic heavy anti-ship missiles, P-700 missiles, etc., which can deal with different degrees of maritime threats.
The ship is also equipped with a multifunctional radar and sonar system, providing excellent reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. In terms of hull design, Peter the Great adopts a stealth design, which reduces the reflection of radar signals, improves stealth performance, and can maintain a high degree of combat effectiveness in a complex electromagnetic environment.
It is also equipped with a variety of missile launch systems, such as 12 sets of medium and long-range missile vertical launchers at the front end of the island, and each silo is equipped with eight missiles. It is also equipped with two groups of close-range air defense systems, each with 8 silos, also with 8 missiles. And the 3K95 Dole ship-to-air missile system alone is carried up to 128 pieces, and the P-700 anti-ship missile has reached 20 pieces.
These munitions are like swords unsheathed, pointed at any enemy who dares to provoke. Whether it's long-range strikes or close-range defenses, the Peter the Great can show amazing strength.
The American aircraft carrier, as a symbol of supremacy at sea, also had to be cautious in the face of the Peter the Great. Because in the event of a conflict with it, the consequences will be unimaginable. Therefore, when an American aircraft carrier encounters this cruiser at sea, it usually chooses to take a detour in order to avoid unnecessary risks. This kind of scene undoubtedly adds a bit of mystery and majesty to the Peter the Great.
And behind the great strength, there is also a hidden dilemma of the Russian Navy. In recent years, the Russian Navy has faced problems such as aging ships and insufficient funding, which makes the maintenance and upgrading of the Peter the Great extremely difficult. Despite this, Russia is still firmly defending the combat effectiveness of this cruiser, because it is not only the pride of the Russian Navy, but also an important symbol of the country's military strength.