Udaloys are really REALLY good missile defense ships from what I've seen on here

[Enrico Pallazzo]

Not sure if its just me or not but it feels like those boats are performing much better in that role than the ships meant for that. I seem to be able to hit Kirovs and Sovs more frequently. Anyone else noticing this as well?

[Enderminion]

The Udaloy is the only Soviet ship armed with the SA-N-9 Gauntlet surface to air missile, this is an exemplary point defense missile relative to other Soviet surface to air missiles easily capable of engaging the hardest targets; low altitude cruise missiles.

The Slava and Kirov are both equipped with a combo of SA-N-4 Gekko and SA-N-6 Grumble for point defense and area defense. The SA-N-6 is a really good area air defense missile, especially in combination with the fairly decent fire control that Slava and Kirov class cruisers employ. However area air defense missiles have a long minimum range and will struggle to deal with targets that are close to reaching minimum range, like low altitude cruise missiles.

The 'dedicated' air defense ships like the Sovernmeny, Slava, and Kirov will perform better than the Udaloy at engaging aircraft and high altitude targets. The Udaloy will out preform all three at terminal defense against missiles which is the only means that stuff like Harpoon is engaged.