Recurring Russian proposals for a new nuclear-powered destroyer sought to recover the effect created by the Kirov class. The goal was a very large surface combatant able to command attention abroad and represent national naval power through one conspicuous ship. Such a vessel would fill the presence and diplomacy roles that made the original class useful, instead of serving as a direct substitute for an aircraft carrier.
Notable Point · 21:17-21:46
What Russia sought in a Kirov successor
Recurring proposals for a large nuclear-powered destroyer are interpreted as attempts to recover Kirov's singular presence rather than to replace an aircraft carrier.