Choosing proven systems reduced development risk but also narrowed the class's modernization margin. A ship commissioned with the newest available equipment may retain several extra years of usefulness before obsolescence, while a ship built around mature systems begins closer to that threshold. Slava therefore required sustained maintenance and upgrades simply to preserve a smaller initial cushion. Decisions made during construction shaped how difficult it became to keep the class credible decades later.
Notable Point · 50:35-51:24
Off-the-shelf equipment shortened the modernization margin
A backup built with mature equipment entered service with less technological headroom, so later neglect consumed a smaller margin before its systems became outdated or unreliable.