Kirov airship (Red Alert 2)

	For other versions, see Kirov Airship.

“

Warning! Enemy air armada detected!
- Zofia warning the commander of incoming Yuri's Kirovs^(src)

”

The Kirov airship is a Soviet anti-surface bomber zeppelin in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge.

Official description[]

“

These huge Soviet zeppelins are a true force to contend with in the air. Able to withstand tremendous amounts of damage, a Kirov attacks with massive payloads of heavy bombs. These can devastate an area. Slow speed is the main weakness of this unit.
- Red Alert 2 manual^(src)

”

Game unit[]

By far the heaviest and most destructive weapon in the Soviet arsenal, the Kirov can take down even the hardiest land units with just a few bombs. It is also the slowest vehicle in the USSR's employ. Thus, while it can take down an entire base on its own, it can be destroyed, as its low speed allows opponents to effectively target it with anti-aircraft weaponry against which the Kirov can't defend itself fast enough. Furthermore, it is the most expensive aircraft in the game. The Kirov can self-repair.

Any effective assault using Kirovs should bear in mind that while these airships have extremely tough armor, they are not invincible. When attacking another Soviet base, it is advised not to bunch up several airships together; they'll take significant splash damage from Flak based weapons like Flak Tracks, Flak Troopers, and Sea Scorpions, whose attacks inflict area of effect damage on all air targets. Also, attacking multiple different targets is also recommended to throw off enemies.

While extremely resistant, and has destructive firepower, Kirov Airships are dramatically useless for guard duties. They will only drop their bombs when the target is directly underneath, meaning that by the time the bomb reaches and explodes on impact, the hostile unit will have gone sufficiently far away from the blast zone. Therefore as such, force-firing the ground is a favored tactic. However, they are effective when placed over areas where AI masses units before attacking base or over attack routes to thin out enemy units, especially against infantry.

It would be advisable to destroy all air defenses such as Patriot Missile systems, Flak cannons, and Gattling cannons before sending in Kirov Airships. Also beware of enemy units inside their base: Allied IFVs, Rocketeers and Guardian GIs, Soviet Flak tracks, Flak troopersand Apocalypse tanks defending inside the base will make short work of them.

Kirov Airships are known to significantly damage or destroy enemy units due to its death crash. This is unconventionally effective against anti-air units (i.e. IFVs) grouped too close together as the Kirov Airship is shot down by them.

Counters[]

Kirov Airships are one of the most powerful Soviet units in the game and carries perhaps the most armor of any vehicle or aircraft in the game, and as such it can be difficult to defend against them. Multiple large air defense systems like allied Aegis Cruisers and/or Elite IFVs are critical for success against Kirov Airships.
Their slow speed and lack of ranged weapons means that Kirov Airships can be easily kited. A pack of 5 Anti Air vehicles/vessels can use their speed to hit and run a Kirov before they can be damaged just by moving to another location after firing before the airships can drop their ordnance.
Because their weapons are purely for ground attacks meaning they are helpless to Air-to-air attacks like from Siege Choppers, Rocketeers and the Floating discs although their high HP makes needs some numbers of these units to chip away their health. Still having some ground-to-air escorts are the best way to get around its ponderously slow speed.

AI behavior[]

In skirmish, the AI occasionally sends out 1-3 Kirov Airships as a wave to destroy the enemies' base, depending on their difficulty (None for Easy AI, 1 Kirov for Normal AI, 3 for Brutal AI). They will always prioritize any production buildings, especially the Construction Yard before moving on to destroy the rest of the base. This can be exploited to bait them by continuously constructing cheaper production buildings such as Barracks and Naval Shipyards away from more important structures in order to buy more time to destroy the Kirov fleet.

Kirovs controlled by the AI have the following attack patterns:

Medium[]

1x targeting production structures

Medium/Hard[]

2x targeting Grand Cannon

Hard[]

3x targeting production structures

Background[]

These massive zeppelins are the aerial terror of the Soviet force, capable of dropping massive payloads of bombs that tear into enemy structures and decimate nearby units as well. During the initial stage of the Soviet Union's invasion of the United States, a massive fleet of Kirovs entered US airspace from all sides.

In the Allied campaign they were only encountered in mission Chrono Storm where they attempt to level the chrono shifted allied forces.

In the Soviet campaign they were first made available on mission Red Revolution where they appear both as the commander's and Yuri's main air unit. In Polar Storm, three were seen available after the commander captures the local airport.

Aftermath[]

After the Psychic Dominator Disaster, the Soviets introduced a new design of their Kirov airship. It was still powerful, but still vulnerable to anti-air defenses.

After Einstein's erasure in 1927, Kirov airships were modified and somewhat less heavily armored than their predecessor, but were still able to sustain a great deal of damage. Also, they were slightly faster and didn't have to alter their height to be in position to bombard.

Quotes[]

When created[]

Kirov reporting.

When selected[]

Kirov reporting.
Acknowledged.
Airship ready.
Helium mix optimal.

When moving[]

Setting new course.
Maneuver props engaged.
Bearing set.

When ordered to attack[]

Bombing bays ready.
Target acquired.
Closing on target.
Bombardiers, to your stations!

When crashing[]

Mayday! Mayday!
We're losing altitude!
She's going to blow!

Gallery[]

Early concept
Early concept
Voxel
Loading screen render
Render
Render
Alpha footage
Three Kirovs and their completely upgraded explosives

Cameos[]

French and German versions share the same cameos.

English	French	Korean	Chinese

Alpha cameo:

Trivia[]

The Kirov airship was likely named after Soviet politician Sergei Kirov.
While the opening of Red Alert 2 depicts massive groups of Kirovs attacking the United States, none are encountered in the Allied campaign until Chrono Storm. In the Soviet campaign, the player does not get to use them until Red Revolution, which is also set in Moscow. In Yuri's Revenge, one can be seen in Time Lapse, if playing on medium or hard difficulty.
The painted shark face on the front is not seen on all Kirov airships the opening of Red Alert 2.
A single bomb from a Kirov can destroy any structure except naval yards, base defenses and superweapons if the bombs are dropped right in the middle of the building, making a Kirov capable of destroying even a construction yard in one hit.
- This is because of how CellSpread/splash damage works. The more cells a building occupies, the more times it can be "hit" by such weapons; this is why the Kirov struggles against all units and defenses except the Grand Cannon (which are all 1x1 cell; in case of infantry it's sub-cells) but excels at multi-cell buildings (ConYards, Naval Yards are 4x4). All damages done to the cells the building sits on are inflicted on it.
  - The Kirov's regular BlimpBomb and Elite BlimpBombE have CellSpread=2 on its Warhead; they effectively damage everything in a 5x5 square without the edge cells. The damage is reduced to 50% at the edge with PercentAtMax=.5.

Interestingly, if a War Factory is sold before the Kirov Airship ascends, it will stay on the ground if done fast enough, which can also be done with Floating Discs and Siege Choppers.
- Kirov Airships can be mind-controlled when grounded as it is not coded to resist mind-control. It can not be mind-controlled when airborne unless modifying the PsychicControl projectile by adding AA elements to it.