Russia's Nuclear Icebreaker Fleet

Abstract

Nuclear icebreakers remain important for the economic survival of Russia's Arctic regions and are a central element of the Northern Sea Route development strategy. Reactor life extension activities are critical to sustaining the nuclear fleet, as several of the currently operated nuclear icebreakers are reaching the end of design service life. Russia is also finishing a new icebreaker and is planning to build additional nuclear ships within the next 10–15 years. Nuclear icebreaker reactors are fueled with highly-enriched uranium (HEU), which has to be reliably protected against theft and diversion.