Tests are currently being completed on it, the Ministry of Defense noted.
MOSCOW, December 25. /tass/. The first patrol icebreaker Ivan Papanin is scheduled to be handed over to the Russian Navy in 2025. This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Earlier in St. Petersburg, a solemn ceremony of launching the ice-class patrol ship Nikolai Zubov took place at the USC Admiralty Shipyards JSC. The ceremony was held under the leadership of Admiral Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.
"Currently, a number of tests are being completed on the first patrol icebreaker of the Ivan Papanin series, launched in October 2019. His transfer to the Russian Navy is scheduled for 2025," the ministry said.
In his speech to the participants of the ceremony, Admiral Alexander Moiseev noted that "the next, modern, high-tech combat unit of the Navy is moving to the final stage of construction." "The ships of this project will form the basis of the grouping of surface forces in the Arctic zone. They will allow the Russian Federation to further strengthen its presence in remote areas of the Far North, demonstrating a firm and unwavering position to protect our national interests in strategically important areas of the world's oceans," added the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.
"It is gratifying that this ship has been named after an outstanding naval officer and scientist. Nikolai Nikolaevich Zubov passed through three wars with honor, and devoted the rest of his life to studying the Arctic sea ice, forecasting the ice situation and oceanographic research of the Arctic basin. I want to thank everyone who was involved in the construction of the ship. I am confident that the staff of your company will continue to build reliable, modern ships for the Navy with consistent quality and on time. Every ship built in your shipyards strengthens Russia's status as a great maritime power," he concluded.
About the 23550 project
The Nikolay Zubov, the second ship of Project 23550, which is being built at the enterprise for the Russian Navy, was laid down in November 2019 in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Immediately after launching, completion work will begin on the ship. Project 23550 is a fundamentally new stage in the construction of ice-class ships for Admiralty Shipyards JSC, as it has no analogues in terms of its technical characteristics. The ships are designed to protect Arctic water resources, escort and tow detained vessels to the port, escort and support support vessels. They also have the ability to hit sea, coastal and air targets.
The main tactical and technical characteristics are: displacement of about 9 thousand tons, navigation area is unlimited, economic speed is about 10 knots, full speed is about 18 knots, cruising range is about 10 thousand miles, autonomy is about 70 days. Arctic category: Arc7. The ship is armed with a portable anti-aircraft missile system and an artillery installation, a radar station for air and surface lighting and a hydrometeorological station are installed on it. The possibility of permanently basing a ship-based helicopter is provided. The construction contract was signed on April 25, 2016.
