What would a modern American counterpart to the Soviet Kirov class look like?
Short answerIt would resemble the proposed very large US surface combatant: a ship imposing enough to project status and firepower worldwide without requiring a carrier beside it.
NotesKirov is interpreted here as a ship that could counterbalance the peacetime status of American carriers. Its size and apparent power allowed it to make a diplomatic impression without being a carrier itself. The proposed large US combatant is offered as a modern comparison on that basis. A detailed displacement, armour or weapons fit for an American counterpart is left unspecified.