Kirov-class Cruiser

Kirov-class Cruiser
- Guided Missile Cruiser -

- Kirov CG Image A -

Origin: (Real World)
Russia

Games Featured In:
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

Operators:
Belkan Navy
Emmerian Navy
Estovakian Navy
Yuktobanian Navy
Unknown (Assault Horizon)

Notable Vessels:
Cruiser 'Umhely' of the Yuktobanian Navy (AC5)
Cruiser 'Wilhelm' of the Belkan Navy (ACZ)
Cruiser 'Marigold' of the Emmerian Navy (AC6)

Armament:
20 × SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles
12 × S-300F launchers with 96 missiles
2 × Osa-MA with 40 missiles
4 × 9K331 Tor SAM
8 x 30 mm AK-630 close-in weapon systems

Overview:
The Project 1144 Orlan (meaning Sea eagle) class nuclear-powered missile cruisers, are some of the largest and most powerful surface-based warships of the Russian Navy, though they were originally built for the Soviet Navy. In the western countries they are usually known by their NATO designation Kirov, after the lead ship of the class, the battle cruiser Kirov. They are among the biggest warships in the world, second only to aircraft carriers, and are similar in size to a World War I-era battleship.

Although in the West the ships are designated as battle cruisers because of this, the Kirov lacks the characteristic heavy amour. Soviet and Russian naval analysts always referred to it as a "large missile cruiser." It is more appropriate to consider the Kirov a super-sized cruiser with long-range, guided missiles, analogous to the Alaska-class cruiser which had the displacement and armament of a battle cruiser but otherwise was more similar to a heavy cruiser in mission and construction. The appearance of the Kirov class was a significant factor in the U.S. Navy's recommissioning the Iowa-class battleships from the 1940's.

Sources:
Ace Combat Series (In-Game Data)
Wikipedia - Kirov class Battlecruiser

* Original Article By: Garm 3