Next to aircraft carriers it is the most powerful surface combatant in the world.  The much-delayed Pyotr Veliky, which arrived in the Northern Fleet in November 1996 for acceptance trials, was finally commissioned on 18 April 1998, but in the Northern Fleet rather than in the originally planned Pacific Fleet.  This Kirov-class cruiser has extensive communications, command, and control facilities, and very luxurious officers' quarters.  The Pyotr Veliky is equipped with the updated ADGM  Kashtan close-in gun/missile system, which is more capable than the previous AK-630 30 mm gattling gun system.