According to information published by the Russian press agency TASS on October 15, 2021, the Ivan Papanin-class multirole Arctic dual-purpose reefer ship being developed by the St. Petersburg-based company Yugreftransflot can be armed with a Kalibr-K container-type cruise missile system.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
The lead ship of Project 23550 icebreaking patrol ship, Ivan Papanin, is under construction at Admiralty Shipyard in Saint Petersburg for the Russian Navy and is expected to enter service in 2023. (Picture source Twitter account Aker arctic)
According to the Russian shipyard Yugreftransflot, the Ivan Papanin-class Arctic reefer vessel can carry a mobile Kalibr-K missile system. This will require three standard cargo containers that can be delivered to the ship and unloaded ashore by 40-tonne shipboard cranes.
Given the need to unload the mobile missile system onto the shore, the fourth container can be installed aboard the reefer ship to accommodate the Kalibr-K combat squad, the project supervisor specified.
The Ivan Papanin-class or Project 23550 is a fleet of two multipurpose patrol icebreakers built for the Russian Navy. The ship will be capable of traveling along the Northern Sea Route without icebreaker support thanks to its ice-reinforced hull, the Azipod electric propulsion system, and an ice-type radar station. The vessel will be able to promptly deliver modules with repair shops, medical and housing blocks, and also groups of specialists to research and military bases in the Arctic. £
The Ivan Papanin-class has a length of approximately 114 m, a beam of 18 m, a draught of 6m, and a full load displacement of 8,500 tons. The vessels is able to accommodate up to 60 crew members with an option to carry additional 50 members. She can carry two Project 03160 Raptor type military boats, a Ka-32 helicopter, and small hovercraft.
According to Russian naval sources, the Kalibr missile system consists of a standard container-type versatile launching module as its basic unit. Its configuration includes an inclined or vertical launcher, a fire control system, combat control, navigation and communications equipment and also life-support, power supply and fire extinguishing systems. The missile system consists of four launching modules placed into 12-meter cargo containers.
The Kalibr is a family of Russian-made surface to ship, submarine-launched and airborne anti-ship and coastal anti-ship (AShM), land-attack cruise missiles (LACM) and anti-submarine missiles developed by the Novator Design Bureau. According to Russian military sources, the missile has an estimated range of around 1,500 to 2,500 km.
