Russia defence ministry to create formation of ice-class patrol ships

The Russian Defense Ministry will create a formation of ice-class patrol ships, Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu said at a telecom conference at the situation centre of the Russian Defense Ministry here on Wednesday. “We are considering the creation of a formation of ice-class patrol ships, new military hardware for the Ground Troops,” he said. “I hope that by 2014 we will find additional opportunities to ship the cargoes in the Arctic, including the aid and support to the ships in the sailing on the Arctic route,” he noted. “I believe that it is not needed to recall that this region is a very important resource base for Russia and is of strategic importance,” the minister noted. “The fulfilment of long-term tasks of country’s economic development is directly linked with the exploration of the Arctic, energy security and competitiveness on the world market,” he said, pledging that “according to the guidelines of the state policy in the Arctic we are doing consistent work to build up the formation of forces for the protection of Russian national interests in this region.” “In particular, the network of airfields and port infrastructure is planned to improve,” Shoigu said, noting that “the airfields and the moorings on the archipelagos in the Arctic Ocean are planned to restore on the Frantz-Josef Land and New Siberian Islands.” He recalled to the participants in the meeting that “on the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief the airfield Temp, which is situated on Kotelny Island, New Siberian Islands, resumed operations in October.”