Project 10510 icebreaker
{{short description|Planned series of Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = | display title = none }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Макет ледокола "Лидер".png | Ship image size = | Ship caption = Scale model presented by Rosatom }} |+ {{Infobox ship class overview |Builders=Zvezda shipyard |Operators=FSUE Atomflot (planned) |Class before=Project 22220 |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost=RUB 125.57 billion |In service range=* 2027 (original plan) |Total ships completed= |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Ship class = | Ship type = Icebreaker | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = {{convert|69700|t|LT}} | Ship length = {{convert|209|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|47.7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draft = {{convert|13|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = {{convert|20.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship ice class = | Ship power = * Two RITM-400 nuclear reactors (2{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}315{{nbsp}}{{abbr|MWt|megawatts thermal}})
| Ship propulsion = * Nuclear-turbo-electric | Ship speed = {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = | Ship endurance = 8 months | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = 127 | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
Project 10510, also known through the Russian type size series designations LK-110Ya and LK-120YaThe type size series designation "LK-110Ya" ({{langx|ru|ЛК-110Я}}) and "LK-120Ya" ({{langx|ru|ЛК-120Я}}) comes from the Russian language word for "icebreaker" ({{langx|ru|text=ледокол|translit=ledokol}}), propulsion power (110 or 120 megawatts), and the first letter of the Russian word for "nuclear" ({{langx|ru|text=ядерное|translit=yadernoye}}). or the project name Leader ({{langx|ru|Лидер|Lider}}), is a planned series of Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers. Designed in the 2010s, when built in the 2020s, it would supersede Project 22220 icebreakers as the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world.
{{as of|2024}}, the lead ship of the series is under construction and expected to be commissioned by 2030, three years after the original planned delivery in 2027. Initially there were plans to build two additional sister ships by 2033,{{cite web|url=https://tvzvezda.ru/news/opk/content/201912231441-Zrgo3.html|title=Три ледокола "Лидер" введут в эксплуатацию до 2033 года|publisher=Zvezda|date=23 December 2019|access-date=18 January 2020}} but in February 2023 it was reported that only one Project 10510 ship would be built before 2035.
Background and development
In the late 1980s, Central Marine Research and Design Institute (CNIIMF) and the Central Design Bureau "Iceberg" developed a number of "icebreaker type size series" for a long-term fleet renewal program initiated shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In addition to smaller diesel-electric icebreakers, the proposed icebreaking ships included two distinct nuclear-powered icebreaker designs: a 60-megawatt dual-draft line icebreaker and a 110-megawatt "leader-icebreaker". The latter's primary mission would be to ensure reliable year-round shipping in the Russian Arctic, including transit cargo along the Northern Sea Route as well as transportation of raw materials and natural resources produced from the continental shelf. As traditional icebreaker-led convoys were seen preferable over independently-operating ships, the principal characteristics such as a beam of {{convert|40|-|42|m|ft}} and capability of breaking up to {{convert|3.5|m|ft|0}} thick ice were specified with escorting of large-tonnage ships in mind.{{Citation|last1=Tsoy|first1=L.G.|last2=Stoyanov|first2=I.A.|last3=Mikhailichenko|first3=V.V.|last4=Livshits|first4=S.G.|contribution=Perspective types of Arctic icebreakers and their principal characteristics|year=1995|title=Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions, 1995 (POAC'95)|volume=1|pages=13–26|contribution-url=http://www.poac.com/Papers/POAC95_V1_all.pdf|access-date=2020-01-18|archive-date=2021-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730094029/https://www.poac.com/Papers/POAC95_V1_all.pdf|url-status=dead}}
In the late 2000s, increasing shipping activity in the Russian Arctic and the prospect of turning the Northern Sea Route into a year-round shortcut between Western Europe and Asia called for the development of more powerful icebreakers. The 110-megawatt icebreaker, now referred to simply as "Leader" (or "Lider" as romanized from the Russian word Лидер), was seen as the key for ensuring that large container ships could transit the northern passage in just ten days.{{cite web|url=http://avtonews.net/007/atomnye-ledokoly-po-proektam-aisberga|title=Атомные ледоколы по проектам "айсберга"|language=ru|date=3 October 2008|access-date=18 January 2020|publisher=Avtonews|url-status=}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://versia.ru/strana-lishitsya-atomnogo-flota-i-kolossalnyx-bogatstv-severa|title=Ледокома|language=ru|date=14 May 2009|work=Общероссийская газета независимых журналистских расследований «Наша версия»|publisher=ООО «Диалан»|access-date=18 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.proatom.ru/files/as47.pdf|title=Экспериментальный высоко коширотный транзитный рейс 1978 г.|date=7 August 2010|language=ru|work=Атомная стратегия|publisher=ЗАО «ОВИЗО»|access-date=18 January 2020}}
In September 2011, then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin mentioned the construction of 110-megawatt nuclear-powered icebreakers "here in the northwestern shipyards in Russia" in his speech at the interregional conference of United Russia in Cherepovets.{{cite web|url=http://archive.premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/16366/|title=Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends a United Russia party interregional conference, Strategy of Social and Economic Development for Russia's Northwestern Regions to 2020. The Programme for 2011-2012, in Cherepovets|publisher=Government of Russia|date=5 September 2011|access-date=18 January 2020}} Shortly afterwards, Krylov State Research Center began developing the ship concept in co-operation with Central Design Bureau "Iceberg".{{cite web|url=http://portnews.ru/news/69610/|title=ЦНИИ им. Крылова начал работу по созданию ледокола "Лидер" мощностью 110 Мвт|language=ru|publisher=PortNews|date=13 September 2011|access-date=18 January 2020}} The result, Project 10510, was a nuclear-powered icebreaker design intended for escorting cargo ships and tankers with a beam of {{convert|50|m|ft}} and deadweight tonnage of 100,000{{nbsp}}tonnes year-round along the entire Northern Sea Route. With a propulsion power of 120 megawatts, the icebreaker would be capable of maintaining an average escort speed of {{convert|10|-|11|kn}} in {{convert|2|m|ft|adj=on}} ice.{{cite web|url=http://en.portnews.ru/news/210588/|title=Atomflot is interested in prompt construction of new 120 MW Leader-class icebreaker (graphics)|publisher=PortNews|date=27 November 2015|access-date=18 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2015-news/december-2015-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/3342-russias-iceberg-design-bureau-developing-several-nuclear-powered-icebreakers.html|title=Russia's Iceberg Design Bureau Developing Several Nuclear-Powered Icebreakers - TASS|publisher=Navy Recognition|date=11 December 2015|access-date=18 January 2020}}
While the Saint Petersburg-based Baltic Shipyard, builder of the preceding Arktika class and the Project 22220 icebreakers, declared itself as the only Russian shipyard with the necessary competence to construct nuclear-powered icebreakers,{{cite web|url=http://en.portnews.ru/news/211270/|title=Baltiysky Zavod claims to be the only shipyard able to build Leader-class icebreaker|publisher=PortNews|date=9 December 2015|access-date=18 January 2020}} the newly constructed shipbuilding complex "Zvezda" in Bolshoy Kamen in the Russian Far East was also seen as a serious contender. However, proposals to build the ship at Zaliv Shipbuilding Yard in Kerch in the Russian-annexed Crimea were largely dismissed.{{cite web|url=https://crimeapress.info/v-kerchi-sobirayutsya-postroit-ledokol-novogo-pokoleniya/|title=В Керчи собираются построить ледокол нового поколения|language=ru|publisher=КрымPRESS|date=26 April 2017|access-date=18 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://en.portnews.ru/opinions/1970/|title=On construction of Leader type icebreaker of Project 10510|publisher=PortNews|date=14 March 2018|access-date=18 January 2020}} In September 2018, Zvezda was officially selected as the sole builder of the Project 10510 icebreakers.{{cite web|url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/september-2018-navy-naval-defense-news/6498-zvezda-shipyard-selected-as-sole-builder-of-project-10510-leader-nuclear-icebreakers.html|title=Zvezda Shipyard Selected as Sole Builder of Project 10510 Leader Nuclear Icebreakers|date=18 September 2018|access-date=18 January 2020|publisher=Navy Recognition}} In February 2019, CEO of Zvezda, Sergei Tseluyko, confirmed during an interview with TASS that the plan is to build three Project 10510 icebreakers at the shipyard.{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/interviews/6120593|title=Гендиректор "Звезды": начнем строить новый атомный ледокол "Лидер" в 2020 году|publisher=TASS|date=18 February 2019|access-date=18 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/september-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5551-russia-to-build-three-nuclear-powered-project-10510-leader-icebreakers-by-2024-2025.html|title=Russia to Build Three Nuclear-Powered Project 10510 Leader Icebreakers by 2024-2025|publisher=Navy Recognition|date=6 September 2017|access-date=18 January 2020}}
On 15 January 2020, shortly before resigning, then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a governmental order allocating 125.57 billion rublesAbout US$2 billion or 1.85 billion euro. of federal money for financing the construction of the first Project 10510 icebreaker for Rosatom from 2020 onwards and commissioning it by 2027.{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202001160008?index=0&rangeSize=1|title=Постановление Правительства Российской Федерации от 15.01.2020 № 11 "Об осуществлении бюджетных инвестиций в строительство головного атомного ледокола проекта 10510 "Лидер"|language=ru|publisher=Government of Russia|date=15 January 2020|access-date=18 January 2020|archive-date=21 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321031911/http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202001160008?index=0&rangeSize=1|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://en.portnews.ru/news/289989/|title=RUB 127.57 billion of federal budget allocations approved for construction of Leader-class icebreaker|date=17 January 2020|access-date=18 January 2020|publisher=PortNews}} Previously, the funding for the construction of the icebreaker had been excluded from the 2017–2025 state program for the development of the Arctic as funding had been cut from 209.7 billion to 50.9 billion rubles.{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/business/11/05/2017/59144c8d9a79474677465e80|title=Госпрограмму по развитию Арктики предложили сократить вчетверо|language=ru|publisher=RBC|date=11 March 2017|access-date=18 January 2020}}
On 23 April 2020, Atomflot and Zvezda signed the shipbuilding contract for the construction of the first Project 10510 icebreaker.{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2020/04/contract-worlds-largest-icebreaker-signed-cross-arctic-video-meeting|title=Contract for world's largest icebreaker signed in Murmansk-Vladivostok video meeting|publisher=The Barents Observer|date=23 April 2020|access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rosatom.ru/en/press-centre/news/leader-project-atomflot-and-shipbuilder-zvezda-sign-nuclear-icebreaker-construction-contract/|title=Leader project: Аtomflot and shipbuilder Zvezda sign nuclear icebreaker construction contract|publisher=Rosatom|access-date=26 April 2020|date=23 April 2020}}
In February 2023 it was reported that an update of Russia's arctic strategy provided for only one Project 10510 ship to be built before 2035. The emphasis will instead shift to two additional Project 22220 icebreakers.{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2023/03/moscow-lowers-ambitions-nuclear-icebreaker-program-will-not-build-fleet-new-super-powerful|title=Moscow lowers ambitions in nuclear icebreaker program, will not build fleet of new super-powerful ships after all |publisher=The Barents Observer |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=1 March 2023}}
Construction
The steel cutting for the first Project 10510 icebreaker began at Zvezda on 6 July 2020. The ship will be named Rossiya, a name previously given to the third Arktika-class icebreaker that was in service in 1985–2013.{{cite web|url=http://sudostroenie.info/novosti/30679.html|title=Началось строительство головного ледокола "Лидер"|language=ru|publisher=Sudostroenie.info|date=6 July 2020|access-date=6 July 2020}} It was laid down on 5 July 2021.[https://ria.ru/20210705/ledokol-1739897816.html На Дальнем Востоке заложили головной атомный ледокол "Лидер"] // РИА Новости, 05.07.2021
In March 2023, Kommersant reported that the construction of Rossiya{{'}}s hull had progressed only by 5{{nbsp}}% instead of the planned 15{{nbsp}}% and the large steel castings such as rudder horns and propeller shaft brackets, originally ordered from the Ukrainian company Energomashspetsstal whose production facilities in Kramatorsk were damaged during the Russian invasion of Ukraine,{{cite web|url=https://emss.ua/en/the-emss-will-recover-and-return-to-full-fledged-work/|title=The EMSS will recover and return to full-fledged work|website=Energomashspetsstal|date=18 January 2023|access-date=28 March 2023}} had to be re-contracted to a domestic supplier who cannot deliver them to the shipyard before August 2025. As a result of various delays and challenges, the cost of the first Project 10510 icebreaker is expected to increase by 40–60% and the delivery of the ship will slip beyond the December 2027 deadline.{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5900679|title="Россия" не сдается|language=ru|publisher=Kommersant|date=28 March 2023|access-date=28 March 2023}} In May 2024, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, confirmed that the delivery has been postponed to 2030.
In December 2024, the Russian cargo ship {{MV|Ursa Major||2}}, transporting two 45-ton hatches for the nuclear reactors of Rossiya sank in the western Mediterranean.{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Oliver |date=24 December 2024 |title=Oliver Alexander, sitting CEO of Cambridge Analytica, on X: "In the same image you can see the two 45-ton hatches at the rear of the vessel covered in a blue tarp" |url=https://x.com/OAlexanderDK/status/1871364811814064486 |url-status=live |access-date=24 December 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Mármol |first=Gregorio |date=2024-12-23 |title=Trasladan a Cartagena a 14 tripulantes de un mercante ruso tras un naufragio |url=https://www.laverdad.es/murcia/amplio-despliegue-rescatar-pesquero-ruso-naufrago-aguas-20241223213044-nt.html |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=La Verdad |language=es}}
In May 2025 the first RITM-400 was manufactured.{{cite news |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/first-ritm-400-reactor-unit-manufactured-for-new-generation-icebreaker |title=First RITM-400 reactor unit manufactured for new generation icebreaker |work=World Nuclear News |date=21 May 2025 |access-date=21 May 2025}}
Design
=General characteristics=
Project 10510 icebreakers are {{convert|209|m|ft}} long and have a beam of {{convert|47.7|m|ft}}. They draw {{convert|13|m|ft}} of water and have a displacement of about {{convert|69700|t|LT}}.
In 2015, students from the Saint Petersburg Art and Industry Academy collaborated with Central Design Bureau "Iceberg" to develop futuristic visions on what the next-generation nuclear-powered icebreaker could look like.{{cite web|url=https://www.cardesign.ru/articles/degree_show/2015/07/29/6519/|title=Курсовые проекты "мухинцев": ледоколы от Павла Томашевского и Руслана Штепина|language=ru|publisher=cardesign.ru|date=29 July 2015|access-date=18 January 2020}} While these sleek yacht-like design studies have been sometimes incorrectly thought to represent the actual Project 10510 icebreaker design,{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2015/12/monster-icebreaker-transpolar-shipping|title=Monster icebreaker for transpolar shipping|publisher=The Barents Observer|date=31 December 2015|access-date=18 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/russia-announces-plans-for-space-age-icebreakers|title=Russia Announces Plans for Space-Age Icebreakers|date=1 March 2018|access-date=18 January 2020|publisher=Maritime Executive}} the actual design is a departure from the more angular previous nuclear icebreakers.
=Power and propulsion=
The icebreakers are powered by two RITM-400 nuclear reactors with a thermal output of 315 megawatts each. Four electrically driven shafts with a combined capacity of {{convert|120|MW|hp|-3}} allow the ship to break up to {{convert|4|m|ft|adj=mid|-thick}} ice.
Ships in class
| class="wikitable" |
| Name
! align="center" | Yard number ! align="center" | IMO number ! align="center" | Laid down ! align="center" | Launched ! align="center" | Commissioned ! align="center" | Status |
|---|
| Rossiya
| align="center" | 056 | align="center" | 9911238 | align="center" | 5 July 2021 | align="center" | | align="center" | 2027 (original plan){{br}}2030 (current estimate) |
| | align="center" |
| align="center" | 9945930 | align="center" | | align="center" | | align="center" | |
| | align="center" |
| align="center" | 9945942 | align="center" | | align="center" | | align="center" | |
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}