Kirov class
Kirov class is a nuclear-powered cruiser operated by Russian Navy, powered by 2 KN-3, twin of about 300 MWt each. Operating.
The only nuclear-powered surface warships built by any navy other than aircraft carriers, and the largest surface combatants afloat anywhere apart from carriers. One, Admiral Nakhimov, has been under overhaul for over a decade; the American Long Beach shows the same idea tried once and not repeated.
| Reactor | KN-3, twin |
|---|---|
| Reactors per vessel | 2 |
| Thermal output | 300MWt each |
| Fuel enrichment | not disclosed |
| Refuelling | not disclosed |
| Category | cruiser |
|---|---|
| Role | battlecruiser |
| Operator | Russian Navy |
| Country | Russia |
| Vessels in class | not stated |
| In service from | - |
| Status | Operating |
Other cruisers
| Class | Enrichment | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | HEU | Retired |
Kirov class in context
It is one of 2 cruiser programs on record, 1 of them operating and 1 retired, and one of 13 naval reactor programs from the same country.
With 2 reactors per vessel, the combined thermal rating is about 600 MWt.
Worked out from the entries on this site only, so a figure compares Kirov class with what is recorded here, not with everything that exists. An entry with no value for a measure is left out of that measure's ranking and median.
Sources
- World Nuclear Association, Nuclear-Powered Ships · retrieved 2026-09-07
How these sources are used, including the corrections applied on top of them and what is deliberately left blank · download the underlying data