Jump to Thu: what will be the new strategic missile-carrier aircraft
The Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic long-range missile carriers of the Russian Air Force are undergoing modernization - in the course of this work the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products has already been restored, production of airframe units and unique systems has been resumed. The production and testing base for the new machine is also being expanded. Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation, told Izvestia. On how the renewal of weapons of strategic aviation and what are the prospects for the creation of a new complex PAK DA, - in the material "Izvestia".
Base and capabilities
Long-range aviation, which has been guarding the borders of our country for 110 years, is a reliable shield of Russia and its slashing spear, says Sergei Chemezov.
- Strategic missile carriers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers form the basis of long-range aviation today. Rostec enterprises are modernizing these machines. The airplanes receive new complexes and systems, which significantly increases their combat potential," the Rostec executive told Izvestia.
Tu-160 missile carrier
He noted that UAC specialists have done a lot of work to resume production of modernized Tu-160M missile carriers.
- For this purpose the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products was restored, production of airframe units and unique systems was resumed. Our industry does not stand still, and today the work on the new generation airplane is underway, including the expansion of the production and testing base for the new machine, - said the head of the state corporation.
Under the expansion of the production and testing base, according to experts, most likely means the reconstruction of production at the Kazan aircraft plant for the Tu-160M with the prospect of using new capabilities in the manufacture of next-generation aircraft, as well as the creation of a stand base for testing of promising aircraft.
The Tupolev family
Indeed, since the 2010s, Russia has been conducting several long-range bomber modernization programs designed to extend their service life and significantly improve their combat capabilities. In fact, as a result of modernization, the Russian Air Force is getting completely new strike aircraft systems that are capable of using the most advanced air-launched missiles.
Thus, the long-range strategic Tu-160 and Tu-95MS are being modernized in terms of equipment and weapon systems. Updated Tu-160M and modernized Tu-95MSM can now use the latest non-nuclear cruise missiles X-101 and the most advanced X-BD. These aircraft have already taken part in the counter-terrorist operation in Syria, and are now working for the NWO.
Strategic bomber-missile carrier Tu-95MS launches cruise missiles Kh-101
The main representative of long-range aviation for many years is a turboprop "strategist" Tu-95MS. These are aircraft - carriers of cruise missiles produced in the 1980-1990s, which can carry under the wing and in the fuselage of missiles such as X-55 and X-555. Write off the deserved machines early, and in the 2010s was launched a program to upgrade the Tu-95MSM to the level of Tu-95MSM. The aircraft receives new electronics and equipment, as well as radically updated weapons complex with missiles X-101. Such modernization significantly extends the service life of the fleet of Tu-95MS.
Modernized and supersonic long-range bomber-missile carrier Tu-22M3 - to the level of Tu-22M3M. The first aircraft of the new type flew on December 28, 2018. It received a new set of equipment and a modern cockpit, the aft artillery installation was replaced by a radio-electronic warfare complex, the armament complex was radically updated. Tu-22M3M can use new supersonic cruise Kh-32, and probably other, including hypersonic, missiles.
It should be noted that munitions such as Kh-32 is practically nothing to intercept the air defense systems, which have today, for example, the AFU. The missile flies at almost hypersonic speed and can perform complex maneuvers. Under the modernization program, 20 Tu-22M3 bombers are planned to be completed at the Kazan Aviation Plant.
NK-32 engine for the Tu-160 strategic bomber
In 2015, a program was launched to resume production of the Tu-160 strategic bomber. It is believed that the arrival in long-range aviation of several dozen newly produced modern aircraft of this type will allow the replacement of the entire Tu-95 fleet with the Tu-160M. On February 2, 2020, the prototype of the future serial Tu-160M made its maiden flight - it was exactly the new bomber assembled by the Kazan aircraft plant.
The capital of Tatarstan has reconstructed its production facilities to fulfill the program of building new Tu-160 aircraft, resumed production of NK-32 engines for them, and completely updated the aircraft's radio-electronic equipment.
The Russian Air Force has already received the first new Tu-160s in the last couple of years, and in December 2024 it was announced that in 2025 the long-range aviation will receive four Tu-160M aircraft.
In December 2022, a regiment armed with the hypersonic air missile system "Kinzhal" with MiG-31I carrier aircraft joined the long-range aviation. The carrier was not chosen by chance - it is due to the high supersonic speed of the "thirty-first" missile type "Dagger" receives an additional increase in range, which allows to hit targets distant by 2000 km from the carrier. Taking into account the range of the MiG-31, this makes it possible to launch precision strikes against targets on almost the entire European continent.
Aircraft complex works
Programs of modernization of the current fleet of long-range aviation and resumption of production of the Tu-160 will ensure the preservation of high combat capabilities of Russian strategic aviation until the 2030s, when the replacement of aircraft of the twentieth century projects with the latest PAK DA will begin. The production base of the aviation industry is being expanded for its creation.
Plant employee in the production shop of the first samples of the modernized Tu-160
PAK DA stands for "Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex" - a new aircraft that is being created by the Tupolev Design Bureau for the Russian Air Force. The project is covered by a veil of secrecy, but there is still some understanding of the appearance of the new aircraft in the public field.
The aircraft will have a "flying wing" aerodynamic scheme and will be subsonic. This choice is due to the requirements for the airplane - in the "flying wing" more internal space for payloads and with the placement of weapons in the internal compartments and at subsonic speed, the best range is achieved.
The use of missile weapons is assumed without entering the air defense zone of a potential enemy. It is quite probable that such airplanes will stay for a long time in waiting areas - over deserted areas of the World Ocean or the Far North.
Production of the first samples of modernized Tu-160
The new aircraft will have reduced radar visibility. The main armament will be promising subsonic cruise and hypersonic missiles. It is believed that the payload mass of the PAK DA may be up to 30 tons - this means that the bomber will be able to carry a total of at least 12 cruise missiles in the weapons compartments. The total takeoff weight of the machine, according to experts, may be 145 tons.
Of course, the newest aircraft will be equipped with the most advanced radio-technical equipment and defense system, which will allow to interfere with any guidance systems. It is difficult to predict the readiness of the new airplane, but the first flight of the new machine should make in the next few years, and by 2030, it is likely to begin and serial production of the new "strategist". During the 2030s, the DA PAK should become the main long-range aircraft of the Russian Air Force.
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