The Admiral Gorshkov was designed as an intermediate step between the air capable, anti-submarine ships of the Kiev Class and the true carrier. The Soviet Navy had a record of fitting new systems on units already in serial production, instead of waiting for the introduction of a new class. Baku was the forth member of the Kiev Class, later named Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Gorshkov and finally Admiral Gorshkov. However, the extensive modifications made to this ship place her as a midway point between the Kiev and the Admiral Kuznetsov, ex-Tbilisi. John Jordan in Soviet Warships 1945 to Present, 1992, stated that the Admiral Gorshkov was a combination of the hull, air wing and surface to surface missiles of the Kiev and the new combat systems of the Tbilisi. The foc’sle and island were completely reworked and new sensors, including a planar array radar (Sky Watch) fitted. The Admiral Gorshkov also featured other new sensor systems, new ASW weapons (RBU-12000) and AA missile systems (SA-N-9 VLS). Aircraft parking space was significantly increased by eliminating flight deck weapon systems aft of the island, except for some SA-N-9 silo panels. .

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