Russia’s $10 Billion Warship CATASTROPHE Continues

Russia’s decades-long struggle to modernize a single Cold War battlecruiser offers a sobering preview of what America’s new Trump-class battleship program might become.

Story Overview

Russia’s Admiral Nakhimov battlecruiser has been stuck in modernization hell for over two decades with no completion date
Trump announced plans for up to 25 new battleships in his “Golden Fleet” starting with USS Defiant
Military experts warn both projects represent obsolete thinking in an era of drones and precision missiles
Russia’s experience shows how massive naval projects can drain budgets while delivering questionable military value

Russia’s Cautionary Tale

The Admiral Nakhimov entered modernization in 1999 and remains incomplete 26 years later. Originally scheduled for mid-2010s completion, then pushed to 2020, then 2023-2024, the project now extends into the late 2020s or early 2030s. This Kirov-class nuclear battlecruiser was designed during the Cold War to counter American carrier groups, but its endless refit has become a symbol of misplaced priorities and fiscal mismanagement.

The ship’s modernization includes hypersonic Zircon missiles and advanced defense systems, theoretically making it formidable for Arctic operations. However, the astronomical costs have diverted funds from building modern frigates and corvettes that Russia desperately needs. Putin views the project as essential for prestige and Northern Sea Route control, but military analysts question whether any battleship can survive in today’s threat environment.

America’s Battleship Revival

President Trump announced his Trump-class battleship program in December 2025, calling for an initial two ships with plans for 20-25 total vessels. The USS Defiant would serve as the lead ship, featuring conventional guns and nuclear missile capabilities. Navy Secretary John Phelan detailed plans to build these ships at Hanwha Philly Shipyard, filling what Trump sees as a critical gap in American naval power since the Iowa-class retirement in 1992.

The Trump-class represents the first new American battleship design since the canceled Montana-class of 1943. These massive vessels would carry nuclear weapons and serve as floating symbols of American naval supremacy. However, the announcement has sparked intense debate about whether such ships make tactical sense or merely satisfy political ambitions for impressive military hardware.

Modern Naval Warfare Reality

Both the Russian and American projects ignore fundamental changes in naval warfare. Ukraine’s successful drone attacks against Russian Black Sea Fleet ships, including the sinking of the cruiser Moskva, demonstrate how vulnerable large surface vessels have become. Modern naval doctrine increasingly favors smaller, stealthier ships that can operate independently rather than massive platforms requiring extensive escort fleets.

The shift toward asymmetric threats makes battleships attractive targets rather than deterrents. Swarms of cheap drones can overwhelm even the most sophisticated defense systems, while precision missiles can disable or sink ships costing billions of dollars. Russia’s experience with the Admiral Nakhimov shows how these legacy platforms consume resources that could build multiple modern vessels better suited for contemporary threats.

Budget Battles and Political Realities

Russia’s Kirov modernization has strained defense budgets amid the Ukraine conflict, forcing difficult choices between prestige projects and practical fleet needs. The Admiral Nakhimov’s endless delays mirror problems with other mega-projects like America’s Littoral Combat Ship program, which suffered cost overruns and early retirements. Military experts worry the Trump-class could follow similar patterns of feature creep and budget explosions.

Congressional skeptics and budget hawks already question the Trump-class feasibility, with some analysts predicting the ships “will never sail” due to construction timelines and fiscal realities. The Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that modern shipbuilding delays could stretch projects across multiple presidential administrations, making completion uncertain. Russia’s Admiral Nakhimov serves as a perfect example of how naval ambitions can outlast political promises and budget allocations.