"There is no air defense on a patrol ship": Vulnerabilities of "Ivan Papanin" named

The universal ice-class patrol ship "Ivan Papanin" (Project 23550), which joined the Northern Fleet, was very hastily dubbed the "Guardian of the North." In many ways, it is inferior to small missile ships, which are smaller in displacement. This opinion was expressed by military expert Roman Skomorokhov.

"Ivan Papanin" is equipped with a 76-mm AK-176MA artillery mount. From the SAM system - 8 Igla or Verba MANPADS. There is a Ka-27 or Ka-226 helicopter in the hangar.

The rest of the ship's armament is optional. It can be equipped with 3M-54 Kalibr or Kh-35 Uran missiles. However, the expert believes that this weapon is"yesterday's weapon". Skomorokhov would suggest replacing it with Onyx and Zircon.

Even the MRK "Zeleny Dol" (Project 21631 "Buyan-M"), whose displacement is 10 times less than that of "Ivan Papanin", has a better chance of survival, he stressed.

Skomorokhov drew attention to the fact that the Ivan Papanin has no anti-submarine weapons. Of course, the Ka-27 on board has some capabilities. The helicopter can install a sonar system (GAS) to search for enemy submarines and attack it with a torpedo.

"Ivan Papanin" is a useful multifunctional vessel for the North. But it should not be regarded as an advanced warship, the expert concluded.

Read more on the topic:

"Breaks not only ice": The National Interest analyst admired the characteristics of the Russian combat icebreaker "Ivan Papanin"

"Ivan Papanin" - the first "combat icebreaker": how Russia is able to protect interests in the Arctic

The National Interest: The US does not have combat icebreakers of the same class as the Russian Ivan Papanin