The Russian colossal nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov comprehensively and clearly outperforms the American Zumwalt-class destroyer in armament, survivability, and autonomy, as openly admitted by the American magazine Military Watch Magazine.
The Western magazine reminds that the Admiral Nakhimov is significantly larger than the Zumwalt and has been designed to destroy NATO aircraft carrier strike groups using overwhelming missile power.
Different missions
The mission of the American ship, according to the magazine, is different.
The highly automated stealth destroyers are designed for operations in conditions of network-centric conflicts, and specifically for delivering isolated precision strikes.
The publication identifies the advantages of the Zumwalt over the Admiral Nakhimov in its low visibility (stealth technology) and its anti-missile defense.
Journalists consider both ship programs to be problematic.
However, they remain the most unique classes of surface warships in the naval forces of both countries, the magazine states.
Earlier, the American publication 19FortyFive had noted that the Project 1144 Orlan heavy nuclear-powered missile cruisers remaining in the Russian Navy, including the Admiral Nakhimov, constitute a real fortress within the surface ship group.
In December 2024, Defense News reported that the destroyer Zumwalt became the first US Navy ship to be converted to carry hypersonic missiles.
The comparison between the Admiral Nakhimov and the Zumwalt is not just a contest of technical specifications, but a clash of two entirely different military doctrines.
Admiral Nakhimov: Russia's nuclear fortress
The Admiral Nakhimov belongs to the famous Orlan class (Kirov-class according to NATO).
These are the largest surface warships in the world, if one excludes aircraft carriers.
Its primary role is the so-called Sea Denial, meaning the denial of maritime access.
Russia, lacking the large aircraft carrier fleet of the USA, constructed these ships as carrier killers.
After its radical upgrade, the ship turns into a floating arsenal, capable of carrying a massive volume of missiles, including the hypersonic Zircon, the Kalibr, and the Onyx anti-ship missiles, as well as advanced air defense systems equivalent to the S-400.
Its nuclear propulsion gives it essentially unlimited range and autonomy in the global seas.
Zumwalt: The US stealth gladiator
The USS Zumwalt was designed with an entirely different philosophy, influenced by the era of absolute American dominance after the Cold War.
It was designed as a stealth ship that can approach enemy shores invisibly to provide precision fire support and strike land targets deep in enemy territory.
The original doctrine partially failed due to the astronomical cost of its advanced guns, resulting in the USA dramatically cutting the program from the 32 planned ships to just 3.
Now, the US Navy is converting it into a Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile launch platform, changing its role to a long-range strike ship.
Why they characterize them as problematic programs
Both ships are victims of their technological complexity and the massive financial cost required for their maintenance and construction.
For the Zumwalt, the unit cost skyrocketed, its radar was changed during design, and its guns were left without ammunition because each shell ended up costing as much as a Cruise missile.
On the other side, for the Admiral Nakhimov, the modernization and repair process at the Sevmash shipyards dragged on for over a decade, facing continuous delays, technical challenges, and a massive absorption of state funds.
In a direct confrontation, the Russian giant excels in pure brutal firepower, endurance, and the ability to survive in an all-out war on the open sea. On the other hand, the American Zumwalt relies on the technological superiority of concealment, trying to strike first before even being detected on enemy radars.
Despite their problems, they remain the most imposing symbols of naval power for the two states.
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