"Sea ice is treacherous, and you have no right to make mistakes"

A powerful tractor can fall through the ice, the rubber on the tracks shatters due to frost, and the oil in the engines thickens so that it has to be diluted with diesel fuel - all this is about working in the Arctic and Antarctic. But despite the numerous challenges, the Russian North is actively developing — the development of the country's economy largely depends on mineral deposits and the Northern Sea Route. The presence of the military on the northern borders is also increasing — bases have been built in the Arctic Circle, and Arctic units have been formed. On the eve of the opening of the XV International Forum "The Arctic: Present and Future", a test engineer of the Vityaz machine-building company (part of the Uralvagonzavod concern of Rostec State Corporation) told Izvestia about the tests of all-terrain vehicles, which are used not only in the national economy, but also in the Russian Army Fyodor Biganov.

"The most difficult areas are ropaks"

— You participated in the Tiksi – Kotelny Island expedition, having traveled more than a thousand kilometers on the Laptev Sea ice. What tasks did you have?

— We had to check whether it was possible to supply the island with all-terrain vehicles in winter, when there is no sea navigation. We set off after the establishment of the ice route. The equipment there was diverse. Including three of our two—link all-terrain vehicles - the 30-ton DT-30PM and two 10-ton DT-10PM. These are floating modifications, and they can move through the water with a full load.

On the way to Kotelnoye, we stopped at the Lyakhovsky Islands. We returned without intermediate stops, went deeper into the sea.

— What difficulties did you have to face?

— In the first days of the campaign, we had an emergency. One fully loaded car with a trailer fell through the ice. The DT itself is a two—link, and our all-terrain vehicle also had a trailer. I was driving, I managed to keep the first link on the ice, it solved a lot.

— How was the equipment saved?

— I've already had a similar experience — I fell through the ice on the Ob River in winter. I knew that an all-terrain vehicle, if loaded, would not get out on its own. But we had two more light DTS — they helped. We hooked a 30-ton truck and began to pull it slowly. We struggled for a day, but we got out anyway, pulled out the car and continued driving.

— Did you manage to save the cargo?

— Almost all of it. Only a few barrels of fuel sank.

— How dangerous are such emergencies?

— Sea ice is treacherous, and you have no right to make mistakes. You can feel the danger, but our car is floating, like an axe it won't go under water. There is some kind of time reserve even in the worst case scenario.

Although there were enough difficulties. The unexplored road kept me in constant suspense. We had a locator that measured the thickness of the ice, but it was still incomplete at the time. His readings were duplicated manually — they went out onto the ice and drilled through it to check the thickness.

But we have overcome all the difficulties. We completed the entire route with maximum cargo, proving that it is possible to supply people on the ice at the Boiler House.

— How did the DT-10PM and DT-30PM perform in this campaign?

—That's fine. They withstood severe frosts and did not fail after the emergency. There were areas with very deep snow, but they passed. And the most difficult areas are the ropaks, the ice hills that arise from the movement of the ice. It's hard to find passages between them, but they didn't stop us either. Our equipment is autonomous, designed for severe frosts, off-road. Of the competitors in terms of cross-country ability, she probably only has a helicopter, which also does not need roads, but it will not lift so much cargo, and the weather should be flying.

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"The rubber bands on the tracks split like glass"

— You have been working in Antarctica for many years. Where was it more difficult — there or in the Arctic?

— We used to deliver goods to the Vostok station. It is located 1,410 km from the coast. The cargo was brought by ships to the Mirny coastal station, and then we worked. The journey took from one to two and a half months in one direction, depending on the weather conditions and the state of the equipment.

The main difference is probably in the condition of the path. In Antarctica, if you move 40-50 kilometers away from the coast, you can move safely. The thickness of the ice there reaches 200-300 m. And in the Arctic, there may be frost-free windows in the same swamps, they are dangerous, you can fall through there.

But the cold is much worse in Antarctica. Once we were on a winter hike, the temperature dropped to -73 °C. The equipment held up. We added diesel fuel to the grease so that it would not thicken so much in severe frosts. The main danger was that the rubber bands on the tracks split like glass. I had to warm up for a long time and move very carefully. We coped, the goods were delivered and returned back.

"There is no better car yet"

— In the army, anti-aircraft missile systems "Tor" and "Pantsir" are being installed on the DT, and personnel are being transported. Why was such a choice made?

— There is no better car for the Arctic yet. It can walk through swampy terrain, snow-covered terrain, and sea. She can withstand the excitement up to three points. With the help of DT, it is even possible to unload barges where there are no other suitable means. The process is simple. The DT must be brought to the side and the cargo transferred to it. The ROVER will take everything to the shore. This was often done in Yamal.

— How else can the machines be used?

— To supply remote garrisons. They are already working there today as emergency and rescue vehicles. In winter, when there is snow, or during the muddy weather, there is simply no other transport.

A variety of equipment is installed on the DT. Therefore, they can also be used as lifting machines, excavators, fire trucks, rescue vehicles or mobile medical centers. We also have experience in manufacturing passenger transport for the North — such all-terrain vehicles are used as buses.

— How comfortable are DTS?

— All-terrain vehicles have three overlapping heating systems in the cabin. Special residential beams (mobile house) are made on the basis of the DT. — Ed.), of course, additionally insulated, with a separate autonomous heating system. The temperature in the car can be set, and it will be maintained automatically — this is how climate control works in a regular car. It may be -35 degrees outside, but you don't feel it, and you can sit in a T-shirt.

In the army versions, everything is done in accordance with the most modern requirements. Our military personnel will be comfortable on campaigns.

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"There are many things to do in the Arctic"

— Are there analogues of the DT-10PM and DT-30PM in other countries of the world?

— In the West, there are small two-link trucks and very large cars, but ours are better and more reliable. We worked in Kazakhstan, transporting industrial equipment to the islands in the sea. And there the sea is very shallow, of course, mud. We calmly walked back and forth through this mud, and on the way we pulled out Western all-terrain vehicles.

— How long do you think your all-terrain vehicles will last?

— There is always a place in our vast expanses where no human has ever set foot before. Reliable passable equipment will always be needed to explore these territories. I am sure that our machines will definitely be in demand in the coming decades.

We have our own design bureau, which is constantly working to improve the technology. Based on the results of our expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic, an analysis is being carried out, aggregates are being improved, new materials are appearing, which, of course, are used by us. As a result, all-terrain vehicles become better and more reliable.

There are many things to do in the Arctic. Geological surveys have shown that these are the richest areas. It's getting warmer now, and processes are taking place there that will facilitate access to underground resources.

Do not forget about the Northern Sea Route. Now, for most of the year, ships move along it accompanied by icebreakers. But we see a significant lengthening of the navigation period, which is a significant reduction in the global path from south to north.