The United States assessed the capabilities of the Russian Arctic transport refrigerator "Ivan Papanin", which will be able to carry Kalibr cruise missiles. The publication 19FortyFive called the ship a sign of the transformation of the Arctic into a battlefield.
"Ivan Papanin-class vessels can be equipped with Kalibr-K cruise missiles, which caused an uproar in 2010 when the arms manufacturer announced that the missile could be transported and launched from sea containers," the newspaper writes.
The author notes that the vessel of the Ivan Papanin type has received a strong hull, which allows the refrigerator to move in the ice without the support of icebreakers. The ship will be able to deliver cargo to research and military bases in the Arctic.
The new complex will turn the ship into a full-fledged armed transport. The publication emphasizes that the effective use of missiles will require the installation of additional equipment.
"In particular, while the Kalibr is a GPS-guided weapon that can hit targets at long range based on targeting data transmitted from remote vessels and satellites, Ivan Papanin will need a reliable data transmission system to fully utilize the range of the Kalibr," notes 19FortyFive.
Earlier, TASS, referring to Yuri Kot, a member of the board of directors of Yugreftransflot, reported that ships of the Ivan Papanin type will be able to carry the Kalibr-K missile system. The elements of the complex are made in the form of a standard cargo container.
Daniil Irinin
