Russia : revealing the date of the start of tests on an ice-breaking missile ship

An informed source in the field of Russian shipbuilding revealed the date for the start of sea tests on the first Russian military icebreaker ship developed within the framework of project “23550”.

According to the information provided by the source to the Russian “TASS” agency, “Ivan Papanin’s ship left the aquarium a few days ago, where it was undergoing repainting operations for its hull, and it is currently located on the water dock of the Russian Admiralty Shipyards, and next June the ship is supposed to begin the stage of repainting of its hull. Factory marine tested.

Russia began developing this ship within the framework of the government project “23550” in April 2017, and put it into the water for the first time in October 2019. Last April, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the ship’s crew had moved to it to become familiar with its sections and equipment, and to begin preparing for the factory’s marine testing operations that It will be subject to it this year.

Russia is developing ships within the framework of Project “23550” to function as mechanisms to protect borders and maritime facilities in Arctic waters, and to protect and tow ships and accompany them to ports. They can also be used as military supply ships. What is distinctive about them is the solidity of their hulls, enabling them to operate in waters covered with ice. Its thickness reaches 1.7 m.

The length of each of these ships is 114 meters, its width is 18 meters, and its water displacement is equivalent to 9,000 tons. It can move at a speed of 18 nautical knots and travel 10,000 nautical miles on each mission. Its armament system includes 76.2 mm automatic cannons and missiles. The winged Kalibr-K and Uran anti-naval missiles are also equipped with platforms for carrying helicopters and platforms for carrying drones.