The vessel would have about 72,000 tons displacement, a nuclear powered propulsion system and steam catapults for aircraft launch, similar to the earlier Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers of the U.S. Navy.

Unlike them and the preceding Soviet aircraft cruisers, it was also designed with a large offensive capability; the ship mounts including 20 vertical launch tubes for anti-ship cruise missiles.

In addition, the ship was installed with 16 P-700 Granit anti-ship missile VLS beneath the flight deck for an offensive abilities and to bypass the Montreux Convention, which forbade aircraft carriers from crossing the Dardanelles Strait.

Compared to Project 1160, it is planned to have a displacement of 8.000 tons less while retaining its nuclear powered propulsion system and the VLS for anti-ship missiles.

Ustinov found the project being too expensive and so the plans were ordered to be redrawn and reduced to 60.000 tons to minimize the budget spending.