The Russian heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" has been recognized as the fastest large warship in the world. This conclusion was reached by the American publication Military Watch Magazine, which analyzed the tactical and technical characteristics of the modernized Project 11442 "Orlan" ship.
The cruiser reaches speeds of up to 32 knots and confidently outpaces any surface ship in service with the US and NATO countries. This includes all classes without exception – from destroyers and frigates to amphibious assault ships and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. At the same time, the displacement of the "Admiral Nakhimov" reaches 28 thousand tons, which is almost three times higher than the most powerful NATO surface combat units – American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with their 10 thousand tons.
The publication emphasizes that such performance was made possible by a unique power plant. The cruiser is equipped with two KN-3 type reactors, which produce about 140 thousand horsepower through steam turbines. The "Admiral Nakhimov" remains the only active surface warship in the world with a nuclear power plant, and American analysts note that the Pentagon is only planning to implement similar technology on prospective ships of the BBG(X) program, whose future remains uncertain.
The key advantage of nuclear power, according to the authors, is its practically unlimited cruising range. While conventional warships lose speed and autonomy as fuel is consumed, the "Admiral Nakhimov" can maintain maximum speed over any distance without refueling. This gives the Navy command the ability to quickly redeploy the ship between theaters of operations, reinforce groups in crisis regions, and intercept the enemy before they reach key lines.
Speed is particularly important in the Arctic zone and the North Atlantic, where Russia concentrates its main naval forces, and distances are measured in thousands of kilometers.
The publication indicates that rapid maneuvering directly increases the ship's survivability: it is more difficult for the enemy to fix the target, and the cruiser itself reduces the time spent in zones of fire damage and can change launch angles after a salvo of long-range missiles.
Earlier, the military publication Military Watch Magazine published a comparison of the Russian heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" Project 1144 "Orlan" and the American stealth destroyer Zumwalt, assessing their size, armament, and combat potential.
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