The ice-class patrol ship "Ivan Papanin" of Project 23550, code "Arktika," will become a key element in ensuring Russia's security in the Arctic zone. The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, has announced plans to transfer the multipurpose ice patrol ship "Ivan Papanin" to the Russian Navy by the end of this year. The construction contract between the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and "Admiralty Shipyards" was concluded in 2016. Initially, the Russian Navy planned to receive the first of these ships back in 2020. The former CEO of "Admiralty Shipyards," Alexander Buzakov, attributed the delay in the transfer of the ships to "funding problems." In October 2019, the vessel was launched, completing the slipway period.
Currently, according to Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov's statement, the ship is in the final stages of mooring trials, and sea trials are scheduled for April. The crew is actively being trained at the Navy's joint training center, and will take their places on board the "Ivan Papanin" in March.
The "Ivan Papanin" is a multipurpose patrol ship designed for effective task performance in the Arctic. However, thanks to its unlimited seaworthiness, it can serve in any waters.
Standard armament of Project 23550 ships, code "Arktika":
- One 76.2-mm AK-176MA artillery mount.
- 8 Igla or Verba man-portable air defense systems.
- Optionally, the ships of the Russian Navy can be rearmed with 2-4 6P59 "Kord" 12.7 mm machine gun mounts and a pair of container launchers of the "Kalibr-K" type, which should accommodate up to four 3M-14 or 3M-54 "Kalibr" cruise missiles, or the same number of Kh-35 "Uran" anti-ship missiles.
The unique hull design and Arc-7 ice class allow the ship to navigate through ice up to 1.7 meters thick without icebreaker support. The ship can also perform functions such as transporting special cargo, rescue operations including towing vessels, firefighting, guarding and monitoring waters, escorting violating vessels, scientific research functions, etc.
The ship is equipped with a helicopter pad and a helicopter hangar for basing a Ka-27 helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles, and has two high-speed Raptor-type combat boats as part of its naval group.
With a displacement of 9,000 tons, the "Ivan Papanin" has a long cruising range of 10,000 miles at a speed of 10 knots. The crew of 60 provides autonomy at sea for up to 70 days.
At the end of 2023, the fourth ship of Project 23550, "Dzerzhinsky," was officially laid down. The ship, code "Ermak," is being built at the Vyborg Shipyard.
