OREANDA-NEWS The decision to resume the construction of a series of combat icebreakers of the 21180/21180M project has already been made, sources in the military department told Izvestia. An updated project is being developed, according to which the third ship of the series will be built.

The deadlines for the start of work and the transfer of a new unit of the Russian Navy are also being agreed. It is expected that she will join the Northern Fleet by the end of 2027. But, as the interlocutors of the editorial board noted, it is possible that this period may "go to the right."

The plans to continue the construction of icebreakers of the Ilya Muromets project were previously announced by the Commander-in-chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov. The commissioning of diesel-electric icebreakers is aimed at strengthening the Russian presence in high latitudes, he noted.


Two icebreakers of the 21180/21180M project were built for the Navy. "Ilya Muromets" is serving in the Northern Fleet. "Yevpatiy Kolovrat" is currently undergoing tests, after being accepted into the fleet, it should serve in the Pacific Ocean.

The lead ship of project 21180 "Ilya Muromets" with a displacement of 6 thousand tons became the first icebreaker built for the needs of the Russian Navy in 45 years. It was laid down in 2015, and at the end of 2017 it was transferred to the Northern Fleet.

"Yevpatiy Kolovrat" has already been built according to the modernized 21180M project. In particular, the developers have reduced the dimensions and draft. The displacement of the ship is 4 thousand tons, the draft is 4.6 m against 6.8 for Ilya Muromets. The developer explained that the reduced draft of the Kolovrat would allow him to enter the ports of Tiksi in Yakutia and Dixon in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They are operated by the Russian Navy.

One of the main tasks of military icebreakers is to ensure the basing and deployment of fleet forces in the Arctic, including the ice wiring of warships and auxiliary vessels.