Russia’s new combat icebreaker, Ivan Papanin, begins trials to bolster Arctic presence. Armed and ice-capable, it signals a growing military focus in the region.

As Russia has focused more on the Arctic region, it has changed course in the types of vessels it might need for a potential conflict with the West. 

Even as the flagship aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov continues to languish in port undergoing a seemingly never-ending refit, the final tests have been completed for what could be a far more capable warship in the far north.

The Russian Navy has begun testing the newly delivered and fittingly named Ivan Papanin, the first of two Project 23550 “combat icebreakers.” The vessel, named after the Soviet polar explorer and two-time hero of the Soviet Union, was handed over last year, and sea trials began. It is now on track to officially join the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet this summer, increasing the Kremlin’s regional capabilities. It is the first class of warships explicitly designed for Arctic operations.

“With Russia increasingly focused on the Arctic and laying claim to large swathes of it, the Papanin-class was designed to enable the Russian Navy to project power more widely in the region than would be possible with conventional, non-ice-strengthened warships,” explained international military analyst firm Janes.

Ivan Papanin will likely patrol and clear ice in the Northern Sea Route from Novaya Zemlya in Western Russia to the Bering Strait in the east. A second Project 23550 vessel, Nikolai Zubov, will join the fleet next year.

The Lead Vehicle for Project 23550: Ivan Papanin

The Project 23550 class combat icebreakers were developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau and constructed by the United Shipbuilding Company (USC) at the Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg. The keel for the lead vessel, Ivan Papanin, was laid down in April 2017, and the ship was launched in October 2019.

Though far smaller than the aircraft carrier, it shared one notable trait. It was overdue and likely over budget, a common problem with Russia’s naval programs.

While delivery was initially scheduled for the end of 2019, the delay “was attributed to industrial constraints and financial issues,” according to a report from Army Recognition. 

“Revised timelines set the transfer to the Navy for 2023, though this was again delayed. Factory sea trials began in June 2024, and current expectations set its delivery to the Northern Fleet by mid-2025.“

Displacing approximately 8,500 tons, the warship was designed to patrol and protect Russia’s claims in the Arctic. It is rated Arc7, meaning it can navigate through ice up to 1.7 meters (roughly 5.5 feet) thick year-round. 

As Marine Insight reported, that is “the same ice classification used by Novatek’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) icebreaking carriers, enabling year-round navigation in many parts of the Arctic.”

The diesel-electric powered Ivan Papanin doesn’t just break ice. It is also a true warship, armed with a 76.2mm AK-176MA main naval gun on the foredeck and multiple 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns. It can also be armed with eight Kalibr or Uran cruise and anti-ship missiles, carried in modular or containerized launchers.

The combat icebreakers are equipped with an MR-352 Pozitiv (Cross Dome) air and surface search radar and a helipad and hangar, which could allow them to carry a Kamov Ka-27 and serve in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role in a pinch.

“Few countries operate military ships with both icebreaking capability and heavy armament. While Norway, Canada, and Denmark have ice-class patrol vessels for Arctic missions, none are configured with long-range missiles like the Papanin,” Marine Insight added. 

“If armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, it would be the only icebreaker in the world able to strike targets hundreds of miles away.”

The United States Navy has no ice-capable Arctic patrol ships in service, while the United States Coast Guard operates just two heavy icebreakers, USCGC Polar Star and USCGC Healy. Though both are armed for self-defense, neither has the capabilities of the new Russian combat icebreakers, suggesting Moscow may be ready for a new kind of Cold War.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Bestalex.

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