Moskva-class

The Moskva class, designated Project 1123 Kondor, was the first class of operational helicopter carriers built for the Soviet Navy. Developed from an operational requirement issued in 1959, the vessels were designed to counter NATO Polaris submarines and serve as flagships for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) task forces. Construction took place at Shipyard No. 444 in Nikolayev.

The ships were classified by the Soviet Union as helicopter cruisers and did not operate fixed-wing aircraft. The air wing consisted of Kamov Ka-25 or Mi-8 helicopters. The sensor and weapons suite was configured for ASW operations against nuclear submarines. Shipboard armament included surface-to-air missile launchers, ASW mortars, torpedo tubes, and a launcher for FRAS-1 projectiles. Propulsion was provided by a high-pressure steam plant, as gas turbines were not yet utilized for vessels of this size during the design phase.

The Soviet Navy commissioned two ships of the class: Moskva in 1967 and Leningrad in 1969. Both vessels were assigned to the Black Sea Fleet. A third planned ship, Kiev, was canceled in 1969. In service, the class demonstrated limited sea keeping in rough seas and sustainable speeds were lower than anticipated. Moskva underwent a machinery rebuild in 1973 following a shipboard fire. Leningrad was retired in 1991 and scrapped in 1995. Moskva was retired in 1996 and scrapped in 1997. The Project 1123 design was succeeded by the Kiev class.