The construction of a powerful military grouping in the northern direction requires not only the deployment of new bases, but also the construction of appropriate ships. In the foreseeable future, the ship group responsible for protecting the northern borders of the country will have to be replenished with two universal patrol ships of the Arctic zone of the ice class of project 23550. Recently, a contract was signed for the construction of these ships.
On May 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Admiralty Shipyard (St. Petersburg) signed an agreement under which two new patrol ships will be built. The construction contract implies the completion of the work and the delivery of the ships by the end of 2020. Thus, at the beginning of the next decade, the navy will receive special ships designed to operate in the northern seas.
About a year ago, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, spoke about the plans for the development of the Arctic ship group, which are currently being implemented. In the spring of 2015, it was decided to build a multipurpose vessel capable of solving a wide range of tasks. It was planned to develop and build a ship capable of performing the functions of an icebreaker and a tug, as well as capable of patrolling and destroying various targets. In the near future, it was planned to determine the appearance of such a ship, and then develop a new project, in accordance with which construction should be carried out.
The appearance of the new universal ship. Figure Rg.ru
Already at the end of May, representatives of the fleet spoke about the imminent completion of design work and plans to build new ships. At that time, it was planned to build two universal ice-class ships. In the near future, it was planned to start building promising ships, but the timing of its launch was not specified until a certain time. Also, the technical details of the new project were not disclosed.
At the International Maritime Defense Show IMDS-2015, for the first time, a mock-up of a promising universal ship for the Arctic, developed by the Krylov State Scientific Center, was shown. The construction of such ships was planned to be launched at the Pella plant in St. Petersburg. At the same time, some details of the new project became known, in particular, information about the equipment and armament of the universal ship was published.
A few days ago, a contract was signed for the construction of two new universal patrol ships under Project 23550. The Ministry of Defense reports that these will be fundamentally new ships that combine several functions. The possibility of fulfilling the assigned tasks in different regions, from the tropics to the Arctic, is declared. In the latter case, the ships will be able to overcome ice up to 1.5 m thick. According to the totality of characteristics and capabilities, it is said, promising ships have no foreign analogues.
From the published information about the contract and project 23550, it follows that the military ordered the construction of ships previously announced at last year's exhibitions. At the same time, however, the construction contract was awarded not to the Pella plant, which was mentioned as a potential contractor, but to the Admiralty Shipyards. Previously published information, as well as images of a promising ship, allow us to determine its main features, as well as draw some conclusions.
The ships of the project 23550 are designed to perform various tasks in northern latitudes, including in ice-covered waters. This feature of the application had a significant impact on the characteristics and appearance of ships. So, the most noticeable feature of the design is the characteristic shape of the hull, which is necessary to overcome ice fields. At the same time, in the design of the hull and superstructure, some practices for stealth were applied: the side of the hull should smoothly transition into the side of the superstructure, and in addition, it is envisaged to reduce the number of components and assemblies protruding above flat surfaces.
Outside the hull, it is proposed to mount a relatively large superstructure, as well as part of the weapons. The tank provides for the installation of a large-caliber artillery system, behind which is the main superstructure with a bridge and a mast for electronic equipment. In the aft part of the superstructure there is a hangar for helicopters, for which there is a relatively large take-off area. In one of the variants of the project, presented at last year's exhibition, a small area with missile launchers was envisaged in the stern of the ship.
It is known that the universal patrol ships of Project 23550 will have a total displacement of 6,800 tons. The length is determined at 114 m, the width is 18 m and the draft is 6 m. The crew is planned to include 49 people. In addition, it is possible to take on board another 47 people.
The main power plant with a total capacity of up to 15,000 kW should be located in the central part of the building. The ships will receive two full-revolving rudder propellers with a capacity of 6000 kW each as the main means of propulsion. In order to increase maneuverability, the columns should be supplemented with a double tunnel-type thruster placed in the bow of the hull. The power of such a system should be up to 500 kW. Unfortunately, the exact types of the main elements of the power plant have not yet been named.
The ship will be able to reach speeds of up to 18 knots, and the cruising range will reach 6,000 nautical miles. The design of the hull will allow it to overcome ice up to 1.5 m thick. With constant movement, the thickness of the ice to be overcome should not exceed 1 m.
To combat surface and air targets, Project 23550 ships must have a complex of artillery and missile weapons. On the tank, in front of the superstructure, an A-190 artillery mount with a 100 mm caliber gun should be mounted. It is also possible to use existing types of anti-aircraft guns. Several mock-ups and images also show that it is planned to install lifting devices for a strike missile system in the aft part of the ship's hull. In this case, the ship can carry two launchers with four missiles each. Probably the use of the Kalibr missile system or a similar system. At the same time, the characteristic appearance of the units shown in some of the figures reminds us of the Club-K complex in a container design.
The solution to some problems may be associated with the use of helicopters or boats. It is known that a promising ship can actually carry additional light equipment. The patrol ship's aviation group consists of one Ka-27 helicopter or similar. For the transportation of the helicopter and the means necessary for it, a hangar is provided in the aft part of the superstructure. With the help of a helicopter, it is possible to increase the detection range of various objects. In addition, the helicopter can carry out ice reconnaissance, transport cargo and people, and also be used for other purposes.
On the sides of the helicopter hangar, in the superstructure, there are hatches designed for storing boats and life rafts. There are also two large hangars under the helicopter deck, in which a patrol ship must transport boats with weapons. According to reports, the size of the hangars allows the ship of the project 23550 to carry two high-speed boats of the project 03160 "Raptor". The latter, with a displacement of up to 23 tons, are capable of carrying machine-gun armament of various types and transporting 20 paratroopers. The most important feature of the Raptor boats is the ability to move at a speed of 48 knots, which allows it to quickly deliver troops to the operation site or catch up with other vessels.
One of the mockups shown last year. Photo Nevskii-bastion.ru
The versatile ships of the new project, among other things, will have to perform tasks typical of tugs. For this, according to the available data, they will receive towing devices with a pulling force of at least 80 tf. In addition, it is proposed to use two cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 28 tons each.
Due to the installation of a variety of equipment and weapons, promising patrol ships will be able to solve a wide range of tasks of combat, transport, etc. character. Artillery and missile weapons will allow you to attack surface or coastal targets, as well as defend against air attacks. Such capabilities will provide patrolling of the indicated water areas and escort of various vessels, including with their protection from possible threats.
The presence of high-speed boats and a helicopter allows the patrol ship to carry out the arrest of violators and all the necessary follow-up procedures. Taking into account the characteristics of aircraft and boats of project 03160, it can be assumed that it will be extremely difficult for an intruder to hide from pursuit.
Using an appropriately designed hull and working as icebreakers, Project 23550 ships will be able to navigate caravans through the ice. Towing equipment and cranes will enable patrol ships to participate in rescue operations, tow damaged ships and assist other ships in other ways. Also, the flight deck can be used to accommodate certain cargo in standard containers.
Within the framework of Project 23550, for the first time in domestic and world practice, a ship was developed, originally intended to solve a wide range of various tasks inherent in ships of other classes. Thus, Russian shipbuilders made a technical breakthrough in their industry, and also provided important assistance to the Navy in the formation of a ship group for the Arctic. The emergence of universal ships will, to a certain extent, simplify the creation of a grouping by combining several functions in one ship and the absence of the need to build several ships for different purposes.
In accordance with the terms of the signed contract, the shipyard "Admiralty Shipyards" will have to build, test and transfer two new ships to the customer by the end of 2020. Information about the possible continuation of the construction of ships of the project 23550 is not yet available.
