[Regnum] The physical launch of the nuclear reactor was carried out in December 2024 on the nuclear heavy cruiser Admiral Nakhimov. This was reported on January 11 by a source in the military-industrial complex.
“In the third ten days of December 2024, a planned physical launch of the nuclear reactor was carried out on the cruiser Admiral Nakhimov without the ship going out to sea,” a competent source told TASS.
In addition, the demagnetization operation of the ship has been completed. At the same time, the physical start-up of the reactor, according to the source, does not mean the end of the repair and modernization of the ship, it is only evidence of the readiness of the nuclear installation to operate at full capacity.
It is noted that the factory sea trials of the cruiser were planned to begin in the summer of 2025, and then conduct state trials. According to another source, the transfer of the ship after completion of the relevant tests is planned for 2026.
The heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov is a Soviet and Russian cruiser of the 1144.2M Orlan project, previously known as Kalinin. It is a 1st rank ship. It has been undergoing repairs and modernization since 1999, but actual actions in these areas began only in 2013. As a result of the ship's modernization, it is planned to significantly increase its striking power.
"Even moreso when it actually leaves drydock!"
Earlier, Regnum news agency reported that the physical launch of two reactors of the modernized heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov was planned for November 2023.
It was assumed that the cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, after repairs and modernization at the Sevmash shipyard, would begin sea trials by the end of 2023, and its upgrades were planned to be finally completed a year later. The modernization of the missile cruiser involves equipping it with modern, cutting-edge equipment. The ship will receive 80 UKSK 3S14 launchers, which can launch missiles such as Kalibr, Oniks, and Zircon, Fort-M and Pantsir-M air defense systems, as well as Paket-NK and Otvet anti-submarine systems, and other weapons.