Best of the Best: Top 7 Russian Warships

Pyotr Velikiy is the fourth Kirov-class battlecruiser of the Russian Navy. It is the flagship of the Northern Fleet. The battlecruiser is nuclear-powered warship and the largest and heaviest surface combatant warship (i.e. not an aircraft carrier nor an amphibious assault ship) in operation in the world.
Its main purpose is to strike an enemy aircraft carrier groups and destroy both surface and shore targets. It is also used to provide complete anti-aircraft and anti-submarine defense.

It is designed to engage large surface targets and support and defend strategic missile-carrying submarines, surface ships and naval missile-carrying aircraft of the Russian Navy. The carrier is equipped to maintain 28 aircraft and 24 helicopters.

The Moskva is the lead ship of the Russian Navy’s Project 1164 Atlant class of guided missile cruisers. It is designed to strike large surface ships, particularly aircraft carriers. In addition, the ship can carry out air defense using remote control and provide fire support.

Varyag is the flagship of Russia’s Pacific Fleet. It is a Slava-class cruiser (according to NATO classifications). It was completed in 1989 and has operated in the Russian Pacific Ocean Fleet since 1990. The ship has a top speed of 60 km/h and can autonomously navigate for 30 days.

The Sovremennyy-class destroyer as it is called in NATO is the flagship of the Baltic Fleet. The primary role of this guided missile destroyer is to attack enemy warships while also providing sea and air defense for warships and transports under escort. It complements the Udaloy-class destroyers in anti-submarine operations.

Tatarstan is the flagship of the Caspian Flotilla. It uses stealth technology which is provided by its outer coat made of aluminum-magnesium alloys. The main purpose of Tatarstan is to search and locate surface vessels, submarines and air targets. It provides protection for the marine economic zone.

Soobrazitelnyy is the second ship of the latest class of corvettes of the Russian Navy, the Steregushchy class. The ship is the first of its class to be fitted with the Redut system intended to increase its anti-aircraft capabilities with respect to the Kashtan CIWS system previously used. It is a part of the Baltic Fleet and it received the honorary title of “Guards” in 2012.