Machinery Manufacturing Plant, Joint-Stock Company (MSZ
JSC, a company of Rosatom’s Fuel division, based in Electrostal) has manufactured
and commissioned the reactor core for the lead nuclear icebreaker Rossiya of “Leader”
project 10510. This is the first batch of nuclear fuel ever manufactured for the
new high-capacity propulsion units of RITM-400 type.
The icebreaker belonging to the next-generation “Leader”
will be powered by two RITMs-400, which are 1.8 times more powerful than RITMs-200
designed for project 22220's universal nuclear icebreakers (the lead ship in the series is Arktika). This core was specifically designed for the first of the two RITM-400
reactors.
From the universal nuclear icebreakers, which are capable of operating not only in deep water, but also in shallow water like estuaries and polar river mouths, this “Leader” will be distinguished by its power. With a total shaft power of 120 megawatts (MW), the icebreaker will be capable of breaking through ice over four meters thick. The world’s most powerful nuclear icebreaker will create channels approximately 50 meters wide, ensuring smooth passage for ships on the eastern section of the Northern Sea Route. The nuclear vessel can escort transport ships at speeds of up to 12 knots through ice two meters thick.
The Northern Sea Route
(NSR) is the shortest shipping route that connects the western part of Eurasia
with the Asia-Pacific region. Administratively, it begins at the border between the Barents
Sea and the Kara Sea (Kara Gate Strait)
and ends at the Bering Strait (Cape
Dezhnev). The route passes through several
seas of the Arctic Ocean, including the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East
Siberian Sea, and Chukchi Sea, covering a distance of 5,600 kilometers. The NSR provides access to ports in the Arctic,
as well as to major river ports in Siberia. At present, there are
six large seaports in the NSR waters in the Russian Arctic including Sabetta,
Dikson, Dudinka, Khatanga, Tiksi, and
Pevek.
The icebreaking assistance is provided to ensure the safe navigation of ships along the Northern
Sea Route.
Russia is the only country in
the world that possesses a fleet of nuclear icebreakers. Today, the fleet consists of eight nuclear icebreakers,
including the 50 Let Pobedy, Vaygach, Yamal, Taimyr, and four nuclear icebreaker of project
22220 including Arktika (commissioned in 2020), Sibir (2021), Ural (2022), and Yakutia (2024). There are
three more icebreakers of project 22220
and the world’s most powerful nuclear icebreaker Rossiya currently under
construction.
In 2025, Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering division assembled the RITM-400 reactor units for the
project 10510 icebreaker Rossiya. These super-powerful RITMs-400 were named
after the Russian heroes Ilya Muromets
and Dobrynya Nikitich.
Rosatom’s
Fuel divisionincludes nuclear fuel
fabrication facilities, uranium conversion and enrichment companies, gas centrifuge manufacturers, and R&D facilities.
As the sole supplier of nuclear fuel for Russian NPPs, the division provides fuel for more than 70 power reactors in 15
countries and research reactors in 9 countries around the world. It also
supplies fuel for propulsion reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet. Every sixth reactor in the world runs on the fuel manufactured
by Rosatom’s Fuel division. It is also
the largest producer of enriched uranium and the leading player on the global
market for stable isotopes. The division is actively
expanding its business into new areas
such as chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage technologies, 3D printing, and
digital products, as well as decommissioning of
nuclear facilities. Rosatom’s Fuel division also includes industry
integrators for additive manufacturing and energy storage systems.
Machinery Manufacturing Plant, Joint-Stock Company (MSZ JSC based in Elektrostal) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of NPP
fuel. The plant manufactures fuel assemblies for VVER-440, VVER-1000,
RBMK-1000, BN-600, and BN-800, VK-50, as well as fuel powders and pellets for
export to foreign customers. It also
manufactures nuclear fuel for research reactors. MSZ JSC is a part of TVEL,
Rosatom’s Fuel company.
The comprehensive development of the Russian Arctic is a national strategic priority. Increasing the NSR traffic is crucial for the successful performance of transportation and cargo shipping tasks. This logistics corridor is being developed due to regular cargo shipments, the construction of new nuclear icebreakers and modernization of the relevant infrastructure. Rosatom actively takes part in these efforts.
