ARKTIKA class (Project 22220) AGBN

 3 (+4) ARKTIKA-class NUCLEAR-PROPELLED ICEBREAKERS (AGBN)   
Name              Launched         Commissioned    Status  
ARKTIKA           June 16, 2016    Oct. 21, 2020   Active              
SIBIR             Sept. 22, 2017   Dec. 24, 2021   Active  
URAL              May 25, 2019     Nov. 22, 2022   Active 
YAKUTIYA          Nov. 22, 2022    ...             Building  
CHUKOTKA          Nov. 6, 2024     ...             Building
LENINGRAD         ...              ...             Building
   (ex-SAKHALIN)
STALINGRAD        ...              ...             Ordered
   (ex-KAMCHATKA)

The ARKTIKA class are a series of incoming Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers. The vessels are operated by the state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom's subsidiary, Rosatomflot. These are the largest nuclear icebreakers in the world, as of 2024. The ships are intended to contribute to Russian plans to develop infrastructure and commercial trade routes in the Arctic region, through clearing ice year-round for commercial vessels, particularly liquified natural gas (LNG) container ships.
Russia intends to field eight ARKTIKA-class icebreakers by 2030 (not to be confused with the older ARKTIKA class).

HULL: The large forward superstructure features an angular design optimized for arctic weather conditions, with the bridge located above the uppermost level. A sloped bow allows it to break ice from above while hot steam is piped into the water below to clear Arctic ice efficiently. The vessels measure 568 ft 7 in (173.3 m) long with beams of 111 ft 7 in (34.0 m). The ARTIKA class is designed with a unique dual-draft ballast system which enables the ship to modify its draft from a 27-ft 11-in (8.5-m) minimum to a 34-ft 5-in (10.5-m) maximum in four hours, allowing near-seamless operation in deeper and more shallow waters like coasts and rivers. The ships have a standard displacement of 28,153 tons with a full load displacement of 36,960 tons.
A helicopter deck and hangar are positioned aft. Rear cranes are fitted port and starboard for the deployment and recovery of small boats.
The crew complement is 53.

ENGINEERING: The nuclear propulsion system features two RITM-200 reactors with 175 MW of thermal capacity each. Each reactor can provide up to 60 MW of electric power (79,361 bhp), driving three electric motors connected to the three fixed-pitch propellers. The reactors use uranium fuel enriched to 20 percent uranium-235, which allows for approximately 7 years of operation before refueling is required. Crew provisions can last six months.
When icebreaking the ARKTIKA class can operate at a speed of 2 knots. In clear water, the ships can reach speeds of 22 knots. These ships are capable of cracking 10-ft (3.0-m) thick ice.

ARMAMENT: A single helicopter can be carried in the aft hangar.

Three in service, four either under construction or on order.
Operated by Rosatomflot. Based at Murmansk.

The ARKTIKA class was ordered by the state-owned energy firm Rosatom from Baltic Shipyard on Aug. 23, 2012, with an announcement being made on June 29, 2012. Technical design specifications for the vessels were developed by the United Shipbuilding Corporation's Central Design Bureau Iceberg JSC in 2009.

The lead ship, ARKTIKA began construction on Nov. 5, 2013, and was launched on June 16, 2016. Sputnik reported her nuclear reactors were launched for the first time on Oct. 4, 2019. The ship underwent sea trials in Winter 2020. She entered service on Oct. 21, 2020.

SIBIR was laid down on May 26, 2015, and launched on Sept. 22, 2017. The ship was commissioned on Dec. 24, 2021.

URAL began construction on July 25, 2016, and was floated out on May 25, 2019. The vessel began sea trials in October 2022 and commissioning took place on Nov. 22, 2022.

Two more ARKTIKA-class icebreakers were ordered by Rosatom in 2019.

YAKUTIYA was laid down on May 26, 2020, and touched water on Nov. 22, 2022. The vessel began mooring tests in May 2024.

CHUKOTKA began construction on Dec. 16, 2020. The ship was launched on Nov. 6, 2024. CHUKOTKA is planned to enter service in 2026.

State-owned news outlet TASS reported on Jan. 3, 2023, that the Russian cabinet had allocated 58.9 billion rubles ($800 million) for two further ARKTIKA-class icebreakers, planned for completion in 2028 and 2030.

Originally planned to be named SAKHALIN, the sixth unit of the class was renamed LENINGRAD in November 2023 to commemorate the historic Siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Commissioning is planned for December 2028.

Originally named KAMCHATKA, the seventh unit was renamed STALINGRAD in November 2023 to commemorate the historic Battle of Stalingrad (now Volgograd). Construction is expected to begin in Autumn 2025, while commissioning is planned or December 2030.

OJSC Baltic Shipyard, St. Petersburg, Russia

 CREW
   Total                   53

 DISPLACEMENT
   Standard                28,153 tons
   Full load               36,960 tons

 DIMENSIONS
   Length                  568 ft  7 in ( 173.3 m)
   Beam                    111 ft  7 in (  34.0 m)
   Draft
      minimum               27 ft 11 in (   8.5 m)
      maximum               34 ft  5 in (  10.5 m)

 PROPULSION
   Main                    2 x RITM-200 nuclear reactors
                           3 x electric motors
      power                158,722 total bhp; 3 electric propellers; turbogenerators
   Fuel                    20 percent enriched uranium

 PERFORMANCE
   Speed 
      maximum              22 knots
      icebreaking           2 knots
   Endurance
      reactor fuel         7 years
      provisions           6 months

 COMBAT SYSTEMS   
   Helicopter              1 x helicopter        

The class faced delays in entry to service due to several factors. As a consequence of Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, turbines necessary for the ships' construction could no longer be imported from Ukraine's Kharkiv Turbogenerator Plant. Sanctions from the United States also prevented the procurement of key components from General Electric. ARKTIKA was originally scheduled to be completed in June 2019, then April 2020, and she was finally commissioned in October 2020. Year-long delays similarly affected SIBIR and URAL.

During sea trials in February 2020, ARKTIKA experienced a serious short circuit which damaged the winding of one of the ship's three electric engines significantly.

In 2020, Rosatom filed several lawsuits against Baltic Shipyard seeking financial recompense for delays in the ARTIKA class' construction and technical issues on the ships.

Russian newspaper Delovoy Peterburg reported in 2024 that Baltic Shipyard had sustained significant financial losses associated with the construction of SIBIR and URAL. Delays to the production process and poor economic conditions in Russia reportedly contributed to the shipyard taking a 19 ruble ($212.8 million) overall loss in 2023.

These ships operate as icebreaking escorts for commercial ships, particularly liquified natural gas (LNG) delivery vessels, traversing the Northern Sea Route in the Arctic Circle. The ARKTIKA class clears ice to enable year-round use of the waterway.

On Sept. 22, 2020 the ARKTIKA set off on a maiden voyage to the North Pole, sailing through the Barents Sea and eventually to the Russian island of Franz Josef Land. The ship reached the pole on Oct. 3, after 12 days of travel.

The ARKTIKA set off from Murmansk on Nov. 14, 2020, for a three-week deployment to the Northern Sea Route, however midway through its voyage it was forced to turn around and return to port. Reasons for the aborted deployment were not publicly disclosed, though analysts speculated mechanical issues were to blame.

The first three vessels of the class cost 122 billion rubles ($2.2 billion) in 2017. In 2023, the Russian cabinet approved the funding of the sixth and seventh units at a cost of 58.9 billion rubles ($800 million).

Russian designation is Project 22220. Also referred to as Type LK-60Ya.