Trump wants costly armed nuclear ice-breakers – where will the money come from ?

U.S. Seeks Armed Nuclear Icebreakers For Arctic Show Of Force, David Hambling
Aerospace & Defense, 14 June 20,
President Trump has called for a ‘ready, capable, and available fleet of polar security icebreakers’ to give America a ‘strong presence’ in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The call comes in a White House memorandum dated June 9 and envisages armed, nuclear-powered icebreakers engaging in operations for both national security and commercial interests. This is hugely ambitious considering that the U.S. currently has a single, ageing, non-nuclear icebreaker, while Russia is rapidly expanding its huge nuclear icebreaker fleet.

Russia has long seen the waters off their northern coast as a key economic asset, both for oil and gas exploration and as a shipping route, anticipating that the emerging Northern Sea Route will attract trade away from the Suez Canal by trimming 40% off the journey from Europe to Asia. Russia has ramped up its Arctic military presence in recent years with new air bases, ships and land forces to support these interests.

Icebreakers are key to operating in these waters. Russia has four nuclear-powered icebreakers, the largest of which, Yamal and 50 Let Pobody, displace 25,000 tons and can smash a channel through ice nine feet thick – there’s an impressive video of it doing just that here. More, even bigger ships are on the way,……….

The memorandum suggest a slant towards military and economic activity and away from science, with the icebreaker fleet able to provide ‘a persistent United States presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions …… In particular, the Memorandum seeks new features such as ‘defensive armament adequate to defend against threats by near-peer competitors.’

….. The Memorandum also wants icebreakers to deploy ‘unmanned aviation, surface, and undersea systems.’ They would also as be spy ships with ‘intelligence-collection systems,’ ‘secure communications and data transfer,’ and ‘sensors and other systems to achieve and maintain maritime domain awareness.’

……. Biggest of all, it suggests exploring ‘potential for nuclear-powered propulsion,’ suggesting a new generation of much larger U.S. icebreakers. This is a massive expansion of the icebreaker mission from running the annual resupply to McMurdo station.

…….. Good intentions are one thing, but when the agencies report back as requested in 60 days, one conclusion is certain. A new icebreaker fleet will not come cheap, and nobody knows yet where the money will come from……. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2020/06/12/us-seeks-armed-nuclear-icebreakers-for-arctic-show-of-force/#6f4e6d3d75ff

—