Arctic exploration: the Northern Sea Route returns
The Soviet Union was actively developing the Arctic, building airfields and military camps in the northern possessions, but that era had long gone. In view of the end of the Cold War, most of the infrastructure was abandoned, leaving only environmental pollution in the form of, for example, the notorious drums from under the diesel fuel. Nowadays, it is understood that the Arctic region has too much strategic importance for Russia to afford to save on its military presence.
War shamrock
The northernmost outpost of Russia has a very futuristic look. The Arctic Shamrock military base is run by the Northern fleet and is an object of a closed loop. Here, 150 troops will be able to spend two years in a fully autonomous mode.
The northernmost outpost of Russia has a very futuristic look. The Arctic Shamrock military base is run by the Northern fleet and is an object of a closed loop. Here, 150 troops will be able to spend two years in a fully autonomous mode.
Border guards in the winter garden
In 2005, work began on the modernization of the Nagurskoye frontier post located on Alexandra Land (part of the Franz Josef Land archipelago) not far from Svalbard. By 2008, a new closed-loop town appeared here. In this case, the “closed cycle” means the formation of a complex in such a way that the transition between all its facilities - residential, social, service, infrastructure - can be made through heated galleries, without going outside. Thus, border guards have to get out into the arctic frost and into the arms of a blizzard of high latitudes only during patrols. Perhaps, for the first time, a level of comfort was created at the Arctic facility, which USSR border guards could not even dream of in the sweetest dreams: spacious heated rooms, comfortable homes, a gym, a winter garden. Other similar projects developed in the same vein: maximum comfort and comfort should have compensated for the physiological and psychological burden of serving in conditions where polar bears feel themselves at home.
Defense in the snow
Here, on Alexandra Land, the air defense facilities of the Northern Fleet are located. Locator antennas look towards the pole. The task of restoring a continuous radar field along the northern borders of the country is one of the first.
Here, on Alexandra Land, the air defense facilities of the Northern Fleet are located. Locator antennas look towards the pole. The task of restoring a continuous radar field along the northern borders of the country is one of the first.
Arctic shield
In February 2013, the President of Russia approved the Strategy for the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and ensuring national security for the period until 2020. A substantial part of this document is plans to expand Russia's military presence in the Arctic. From Alexandra Land in the western Arctic possessions of Russia to Cape Schmidt and Wrangel Island in the east, it is planned to restore and expand the network of military strongholds, whose tasks will include protecting the state border, reconnaissance measures, providing air defense and missile defense with the creation of a continuous radar field, maintaining the airfield infrastructure for military transport and combat aviation, support for the actions of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy. Since the adoption of the strategy, defense work in the Arctic has intensified dramatically, especially in the field of construction. Today, on the island of Kotelniy (Novosibirsk Islands), a closed-cycle residential town “Northern Clover” was built, designed to accommodate more than 250 military personnel. On the land of Alexandra, the administrative treasury complex “Arctic Shamrock” is being built with an area of more than 14 m000 for 2 people. This facility will operate in the interests of the Northern Fleet. Similar construction is underway at Cape Schmidt and Wrangel Island. By 150–2016, the reconstruction of six Arctic airfields should be completed.
We talked about construction technology in high latitudes with Chief Engineer of the General Directorate of Engineering Works No. 2 at Spetsstroy of Russia Islam Pirakhmayev. “If you do not take into account the presence of air and water, the rest of the Arctic construction is not much different from the construction on Mars,” said Islam Pirahmayev. “That is why, before we start building something, we need to think about building brigades in the icy wilderness and ensuring the delivery of practically everything that is needed for construction.”
Thoughts about the future
While some Arctic objects are being built, others are at the design stage. Here is a project of a promising military campus of octagon blocks, then - a block in section.
While some Arctic objects are being built, others are at the design stage. Here is a project of a promising military campus of octagon blocks, then - a block in section.
We carry everything with us
The most important thing is transport, in which sea vessels play a decisive role, but also air and automobile transport is of great importance.
Large-tonnage cargoes are delivered to the Arctic islands during the period of open and ice navigation - in the latter case icebreaking escort is required. Since the main production facilities in Russia are concentrated in the western part of the country, it is advisable to use the deepwater ports of northern European Russia. There are three of them, however, taking into account the fact that Murmansk is working mainly for western destinations, the main cargo for construction is delivered by road to two other ports - Arkhangelsk and Kandalaksha. Ships set off in July, when water in the Arctic Ocean is freed to the maximum from ice and is available for navigation, for example, the Vilkitsky Strait, giving access from the Kara Sea to the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea washing the northern coast of Chukotka.
Ships arriving on islands and inaccessible mainland territories first unload cranes and other construction equipment onto the shore. All liquids and fillers contained in the mechanisms of these machines correspond to the Arctic class and remain operable at temperatures up to -60 ° C. Further, elements from which buildings for the military camp will be assembled are transferred from ship to land. Next is the line for metal structures, pipes and other elements of engineering communications. Now, many infrastructure elements are delivered to the construction site as a collection, in a high degree of prefabrication, which allows you to spend a minimum of time for installation. A very important point - the organization of accommodation builders. Previously, wagons were the standard temporary shelter in the Arctic, but in our time it was considered that it makes no sense to carry empty cubic meters of expensive polar flights. Construction shelters are assembled from panel structures, which also arrive by ship. Since the assembly of these homes is carried out in the warm season, a team of collectors live in tents or in ship's premises. The town of builders with an area of 800 m2 is erected in 10 − 12 days.
When the main team of builders arrives on the site, its task is to build and close the warm contours of the complex under construction from the elements before the onset of a harsh polar winter with winds and snowfall. Further, the construction is either preserved until the next season, or during the winter period, finishing works and installation of communications continue, but already inside, in the heat.
Energy supply and heating of the Arctic towns is carried out by diesel generators. “We have been experimenting with“ green ”generation,” Islam Pirahmayev said, “but alternative sources of energy like the sun or wind cost too much. But now we do not have any drums with diesel fuel. The complexes include tanks for permanent storage of fuel, and they are periodically replenished with the help of tankers. "
City on the lens
Construction in the Arctic has many engineering features. Structures have to be erected on an unstable relief, under which - permafrost or even a “lens”, that is, a layer of ice mixed with the ground. This foundation cannot be destroyed, otherwise the structures themselves will not stand. All structures are built on pile foundations. Piles - bored. In the drilled well down the pipe, the cavity of which is poured concrete. The piles are long - they can reach 25 m. From above on the piles of metal beams a grillage is assembled, and a building is being erected on it. All the buildings on the permafrost are raised above the ground. “In the tundra everything should be purged,” Islam Pirahmayev explains. “Houses rise above the ground, not only in order not to warm the permafrost, but also so that the wind blows snow from under the buildings and prevents it from sticking in the form of clods.”
A building that grows on a grillage can be of several types. For example, block-modular of the finished elements with decoration. If a span building is being built (large area, such as a hangar), metal frames and sandwich panels are used. Finally, one of the most advanced technologies is the assembly of structures from light galvanized steel profiles. Of these, the building can be literally mounted by hand.
Snow tiger
The Russian defense industry is working on the creation of military equipment, designed for the conditions of the Arctic. In the photo: the arctic version of the Tigr armored vehicle. Also developed, for example, the polar version of the transport assault helicopter Mi-8 AMTSH-VA.
The Russian defense industry is working on the creation of military equipment, designed for the conditions of the Arctic. In the photo: the arctic version of the Tigr armored vehicle. Also developed, for example, the polar version of the transport assault helicopter Mi-8 AMTSH-VA.
Water supply of the Arctic towns comes from three sources. You can take water from open freshwater reservoirs (in the warm season), you can melt the snow, then passing this distilled water through the mineralizer, and, finally, the third method - the desalination of sea water. Sewage drains are sent to wastewater treatment plants, which at the outlet provide drinking water standard. It can be drained into the sea without any damage to the environment.
A separate problem - pipes for water and sewage. To use metal is a big risk, as in severe frosts such a pipe can break. On polar objects, polypropylene pipes with a heating cable acting as a heating element are preferred. A channel with such a cable goes along the pipe, and the whole structure is wrapped up with a layer of polyurethane foam. Such a pipe can let the liquid through in the worst frost, but even if the cable temporarily stops heating, the pipe will not break with frozen water, but simply swell slightly. When the heat recovers and the ice melts, the pipe will return to its normal cross section. Another important advantage of such pipes is that they can be transported in drums, in coiled form, which saves space on the ship or in the hold of a cargo plane.
Town of anti-aircraft gunners
Here: a draft design for deploying a new-look anti-aircraft missile battalion. Next: a project for the Arctic complex to accommodate 300 troops.
Here: a draft design for deploying a new-look anti-aircraft missile battalion. Next: a project for the Arctic complex to accommodate 300 troops.
Barrels - down!
The program for the military development of the Arctic is closely linked to the tasks of maintaining the ecological purity of this unique region. The construction of new towns and bases is accompanied by the cleaning of territories from the remains of old buildings, non-working equipment, as well as from fuel barrels and other debris. In the newly built towns, the garbage is sorted by type (paper, organic waste, plastic), and then transported by ships to the mainland for recycling. The least dangerous types of garbage are incinerated on site in incinerators. Thus, one can hope that the new facilities in the polar territories will not only give the military unprecedented technical capabilities and comfort, but also allow us to avoid in the future the environmental problems that have created the previous stages of its development in our North.
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