Agree on the Slava’s inherently offering value as a more readily upgradeable platform than the 1144’s. What value does Vulkan offer that replacing each launch tube with a, for example, triple Yakhont group wouldn’t do better?.
Every developed navy on the planet is now outfitting with inner-layer missiles like ESSM, Aster/SAAM, with high-capacity direction elements. How does a legacy missile like Vulkan penetrate those types of defences…and if it cant what value is there embarking it?.
Jonesy.. I think the real value is for large asset survival.
Yakhont in the current state puts the ship much closer to the target (1/2 the range really). This naturally means you’re far more likely to get shot back at. Vulkan types give you the better opportunity to shoot and run if necessary.
As far as the layered SAMs go, that’s all a possibility with upgrading of the old SAM systems on the ship. New S-300FM/400, TOR and Kashtan, along with all the other toys I can hardly keep up with.
And for the record, how are the Kirovs any worse? $3-4 billion more for Russia isn’t exactly wild dreams, and for those Kirovs, I would actually agree that a very large mix of missiles would work (including very long range land attack ones).
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