The Russian nuclear icebreaker "Ural" (Project 22220) is "the pinnacle of modern naval engineering." The ship symbolizes Moscow's стремление to strategic dominance in the Arctic. This was stated by military expert Brandon J. Weichert in an article for The National Interest.
Russia uses the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as an alternative to the Suez Canal. "Ural" plays a crucial role in ensuring year-round navigation, resource exploration, and the spread of geopolitical influence in the Far North.
The icebreaker escorts ships, tows аварийные vessels, and performs research tasks. Ships of this project ("Arktika", "Sibir", "Ural", and "Yakutia") are of great importance for the NSR.
The Northern Sea Route allows reducing the delivery time of goods between Europe and Asia by 40%. The operation of "Ural" is an example of how Russia provides economic and military advantages against the backdrop of competition with the USA and China, the expert emphasized.
Technical Characteristics of Project 22220 Icebreakers
- Length — 173.3 m
- Width — 34 m
- Displacement: 33,540 t
- Engines — two RITM-200 reactors
- Maximum speed: 22 knots (25 mph, 41 km/h) in open water; ~2 knots (2.3 mph, 3.7 km/h) in ice
- Armament — none
- Crew — 53 people
"Ural" is capable of overcoming ice up to 3 meters thick. The icebreaker has a helicopter pad and a hangar.
The ship is designed for 40 years of service. The icebreaker is operated by FSUE Atomflot and based in Murmansk.
The Russians intend to dominate the Arctic and are investing much more in this program than the Americans. In addition, the United States does not have nuclear icebreakers, therefore, Washington is lagging behind Moscow in the race for the Arctic regions.
Read more on the topic:
"Ivan Papanin" — the First "Combat Icebreaker": How Russia Can Protect Interests in the Arctic
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