 The lead ship of the class, "Kirov" (renamed "Admiral Ushakov" in 1992), was laid down in June 1973 at Leningrad's Baltiysky Naval Shipyard, launched on 27 December 1977 and commissioned on 30 December 1980.When she appeared for the first time in 1981, NATO observers called her BALCOM I (Baltic Combatant I).She is currently in reserve.