home In contact with Russian strategic bombers. Revival of the "White Swan": how the Russian combat bomber was updated The name of the Russian heavy bomber

Russian strategic bombers. Revival of the "White Swan": how the Russian combat bomber was updated The name of the Russian heavy bomber

Term limitation

A bomber is usually called strategic only when it has an intercontinental range (over 5000 km) and is capable of using nuclear weapons. For example, aircraft such as the Tu-22M, Tu-16 and B-47 are capable of using strategic nuclear weapons, but do not have an intercontinental flight range, and therefore are often called long-range bombers. (In fact, this use of the term “long-range bombers” is not correct, since such bombers, not having an intercontinental flight range, are otherwise technically also strategic bombers. That is, intercontinental and so-called “long-range” bombers are nothing more than two subclasses of strategic bombers.)

However, due to the uncertainty of the criteria on the one hand, and the political situation on the other, some countries may call not only technically strategic, but tactical and operational-tactical bombers strategic (Xian H-6A - Chinese Air Force, Vickers 667 Valiant - British Air Force, Mirage 2000N - French Air Force, FB-111 - US Air Force). In the latter cases, this is often caused by the use (including planned) of technically tactical and operational-tactical bombers as strategic ones. (Sometimes the use of tactical and operational-tactical bombers as strategic ones is advisable if strategic targets on enemy territory are within the reach of tactical and operational-tactical strike aircraft.)

Story

Strategic aviation (including strategic bomber aviation), in the full sense of the term, began to actively develop in the early years of the Cold War. Nevertheless, the long-range heavy bombers of the Second World War: B-17 and B-29 (US Air Force) and Lancaster bombers of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain are quite rightly classified as strategic bombers. Actually, these aircraft were then used as strategic bombers. The Soviet Il-4, by the nature of its combat use, was also actually a strategic bomber.

During World War II, intercontinental bomber projects began to appear. In Germany and Japan, there were plans to use such bombers for raids on the United States from Europe and Asia, respectively (see Amerika Bomber and Nakajima G10N). In the USA, in turn, a project was being developed for an intercontinental bomber for raids on Germany in the event of the fall of England - as a result of the further development of this project, mass production of the first “real” strategic bomber B-36 began in the second half of the 1940s. The B-36, being a piston aircraft, soon became quite vulnerable to rapidly improving jet fighters, despite its very high flight altitude for those years. Nevertheless, for a number of years the B-36 formed the backbone of the US strategic nuclear force.

The further development of this type of weapons proceeded at a rapid pace. After some time, strategic bombers, usually equipped with nuclear weapons, were constantly on combat duty, providing conditions for mutually assured destruction in the event of war. The main post-war requirement for a strategic bomber, which aircraft designers sought to fulfill, was the ability of the aircraft to deliver nuclear weapons to the territory of a potential enemy and return back. The main such aircraft during the Cold War were the American Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Soviet Tu-95.

Supersonic strategic bombers

The pinnacle of this doctrine is the American “Valkyrie” XB-70A and its Soviet counterpart, the T-4 (“weaving”).

The inconsistency of the doctrine became clear with the advent of air defense systems, such as the S-75, which confidently hit targets such as the U-2 super-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. Production of the B-58 was curtailed, and the first carrier-based strategic bomber, the A-5, was converted into a reconnaissance aircraft.

At this new stage of weapons development, high speed was still required from the strategic bomber, but no longer as a means of overcoming air defense, but as a means of reducing flight time - the duration of arrival at the point of attack. Overcoming air defense was planned as, for example, flying at an ultra-low altitude.

In this paradigm, aircraft such as the FB-111, Tu-22M and the English TSR.2 were made (which did not make it into the series due to the reorientation of Great Britain to the use of SSBNs with Polaris missiles). In English-language texts such aircraft are called “interdictor”.

With the development of new technologies, strategic bombers gained supersonic speed and the ability to fly at extremely low altitudes (B-1, Tu-160), and in some cases, reduced radar signature (B-2 and Tu-160). This set of characteristics increases the likelihood of successful penetration into someone else's protected airspace.

However, the high cost of creating and maintaining aircraft of this type, as well as their low efficiency in low-intensity conflicts, does not make it possible to quickly replace the aircraft fleet and some types of aircraft remain in service for several decades (notable examples: B-52 and Tu-95 ). However, the moral and technical obsolescence of machines of this type necessitates their replacement. Thus, the United States launched a program to develop a new bomber to replace the B-52 (after 2030, when aircraft of this type will be removed from combat duty). In Russia, it is planned to replace the Tu-95 with modernized Tu-160 after 2015. Also in Russia, the PAK DA project was launched - work to create a strategic bomber designed to replace the Tu-160.

As a rule, strategic bombers were developed specifically for the delivery of nuclear weapons. But they were sometimes used in local wars. In particular, the Tu-16, Tu-22 and Tu-22M were used to a limited extent in the Afghan War, the B-52 in Vietnam and Iraq, and the B-2 in Yugoslavia and Iraq (2003).

Main strategic bombers

Cold War

Experienced and unrealized projects

Modern

Future

BOMBER- combat aircraft, designed for the beginning. for defeating ground and sea. enemy targets with bombs or missiles. Battles are divided into front-line (tactical) and long-range (strategic), as well as light, medium, and heavy. The design is modern. B. (see figure)… … Big Encyclopedic Polytechnic Dictionary

bomber- a military aircraft to destroy enemy ground and sea targets. The main weapons are bombs and missiles. It may also have 1–2 cannons and several machine guns. Bombers are divided into front-line (tactical) and strategic... ... Encyclopedia of technology

strategic- oh, oh. 1. to Strategy. S plans. S art. S abilities. From a strategic point of view. 2. Meeting the requirements of strategy, important from the point of view of achieving the overall goals of the war. Raw materials (of defense significance,... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

strategic- (those and those) oh, oh. see also strategically 1) to strategy S plans. S art. S abilities. From a strategic point of view. 2) Meeting the requirements of Art... Dictionary of many expressions

US Air Force nuclear incident (2007)- Strategic bomber B 52H An incident with nuclear warheads occurred in ... Wikipedia

"Northrop" Encyclopedia "Aviation"

"Northrop"- Rice. 1. Strategic bomber B 2 "Stealth". Northrop Corporation US aircraft and rocket manufacturing company. Founded in 1939 by J.C. Northrop under the name Northrop Aircraft, the modern name since 1959. In ... ... Encyclopedia "Aviation"

flying wing- Strategic bomber B 2 Spirit “Flying wing” is a type of “tailless” design with a reduced fuselage, the role of which is played by the wing carrying all the units, crew and payload... Wikipedia

Books

Strategic bomber B-52 "Stratofortress". 65 years in the air, Konstantin Aleksandrovich Kuznetsov, Boeing B-52 is one of the most outstanding aircraft in the history of world aviation. Known here as Stratofortress (Stratospheric Fortress), in the USA it is called BUFF - Impact or Big Ugly... Category: Military equipment Series: War and us. Aviation collection Publisher:

This airbase is located near the city of Engels in the Saratov region. It is home to Russian strategic bombers. At the moment, only Russia and the United States possess these types of aircraft, capable of operating over vast distances and using nuclear weapons.
Strategic missile carrier - Tu-95MS. Tu-95 (product “B”, according to NATO codification: Bear - “Bear”) is a Soviet and Russian turboprop strategic missile-carrying bomber, one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft, which became one of the symbols of the Cold War.
On November 12, 1952, the prototype 95-1 took off. Ahead lay a difficult test path to the sky. Alas, during the 17th test flight the prototype crashed and out of 11 people on board, 4 died. But this did not stop the testing, and the aircraft was soon put into service.
Tu-95MS is a carrier of Kh-55 cruise missiles with a nuclear warhead. It is based on the Tu-142MK, a long-range anti-submarine aircraft.
In continuation of the traditions begun in domestic aviation in the late 20s - early 30s of the 20th century, some aircraft are given their own names. Tu-160 is named in honor of Heroes of the Soviet Union and people directly associated with Long-Range Aviation, Tu-95MS - in honor of cities.
But the most interesting thing is the flights.
You could stand on the edge of the runway and watch Tu-95 and Tu-160 take off and land past you endlessly.
The hum and vibration of the propellers gives me chills. One can feel a kind of childish delight at what is happening. Alas, a photograph cannot convey this. On July 30, 2010, a world record for a non-stop flight for aircraft of this class was set, during which time the bombers flew about 30 thousand kilometers over three oceans, refueling four times in the air.
Suddenly a Mi-26T arrived. There was confusion when applying the numbers, and another Mi-26T with tail number 99 flew with the registration of RF-93132 for several months.
We are going to the aircraft parking areas. About 95th there is an APA-100 - an airfield mobile electrical unit.
Then we climb into the Bear's cabin. I immediately take pictures of the workplace, which is located near the entrance and which is crammed with all sorts of interesting equipment. The attendant climbs in next and looks at me reproachfully: “Alexander, what’s wrong? That’s why you immediately shoot exactly what you shouldn’t shoot.” I delete the frames and find out that you can shoot anything except that very workplace. The photo shows the flight engineer's console.
PIC dashboard.
In general, of course, the interior decoration is military-style. However, domestic design bureaus have never bothered with cabin ergonomics. And this strange floor between the chairs is a rubber sheet with wooden slats. Believe it or not, this is a means of emergency escape from an airplane.
The Tu-160 is a supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber with a variable-sweep wing, developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1980s.
The Russian Air Force operates 16 Tu-160 aircraft.
Il-78M taxis for takeoff. In the PIC chair is the commander of the air base, Colonel Dmitry Leonidovich Kostyunin.
This tanker can deliver 105.7 tons of fuel in flight.
The Tu-160 is the largest supersonic aircraft and variable-wing geometry aircraft in the history of military aviation, as well as the heaviest combat aircraft in the world, with the largest maximum take-off weight among bombers. Among pilots he received the nickname “White Swan”.
The Bears are taxiing for takeoff - flights have begun.
The program includes route flights and refueling from a tanker. Training dressing can be dry or wet. During the first, the crew only docks with the tanker, and during the second, a couple of tons of fuel are transferred. Several approaches can be made during a training flight.
The roar of NK-12 chills you to the spleen. They say that American submariners, being at depth, hear the Bear flying above them.
Finally! Tu-160 takes off. Oh, what a handsome man.
Two intra-fuselage compartments can accommodate up to 40 tons of weapons, including several types of guided missiles, guided and free-fall bombs and other weapons of destruction, both nuclear and conventional. Maximum take-off weight - 275 tons.
The Kh-55 strategic cruise missiles in service with the Tu-160 (12 units on two multi-position revolver-type launchers) are designed to hit stationary targets with predetermined coordinates, which are entered into the missile’s memory before the bomber takes off. Anti-ship missile variants have a radar homing system.
Landing. A very beautiful plane...
Technicians meet the crew after the flight.
Inspection of NK-32 engines after the flight. Estimate its diameter. This engine is one of the largest and most powerful aircraft engines in the world. Thrust - 14,000 kgf, afterburner - 25,000.
Preparing for departure.
The plane is being refueled and ready for the next flight.
The gas station attendant returned.
The bears return to the den.
The NK-12 engine installed on the Tu-95 still remains the most powerful turboprop engine in the world. By the way, no one is trying to create something more powerful. Just don't.
Now flights are carried out 2-3 times a week, unlike the dull 90s, when they flew on major holidays.
Engels Air Base.
This time we practiced refueling Tu-160 and Tu-95MS from an Il-78 tanker. And some of the planes went on a long flight over Russian territory.

Night flights began. The training doesn't stop!

Tu-160 in the sky over Engels.
Tu-95MS missile carriers over Red Square on May 9, 2010.

Significant objects located on the territory of a hostile state, usually outside the main theaters of military operations, with the aim of undermining its military and industrial potential.

USAF B-17, B-24 and B-29
Royal Air Force Lancaster bombers.
Soviet Il-4 and Pe-8.

Actually, these aircraft were then used as strategic bombers. The Soviet Tu-4, by the nature of its combat use, was also a strategic bomber.

The further development of this type of military equipment proceeded at a rapid pace. After some time, strategic bombers, usually equipped with nuclear weapons, were constantly on combat duty, providing conditions for mutually assured destruction in the event of war. The main post-war requirement for a strategic bomber, which aircraft designers sought to fulfill, was the ability of the aircraft to deliver nuclear weapons to the territory of a potential enemy and return back. Such aircraft during the Cold War were the American Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Soviet Tu-95.

Supersonic strategic bombers

The pinnacle of this doctrine is the American “Valkyrie” XB-70A and its Soviet counterpart, the T-4 (“weaving”), which were not implemented in the series.

At this new stage of weapons development, high speed was still required from a long-range and strategic bomber, but no longer as a means of overcoming air defense, but as a means of reducing flight time - the duration of arrival at the point of attack. To overcome air defense, it was planned, for example, to fly at an ultra-low altitude.

In this paradigm, the first serial supersonic bombers are such long-range bombers as the FB-111, Tu-22M and the English TSR.2 (which did not make it into the series due to the reorientation of Great Britain to the use of SSBNs with Polaris missiles). In English-language texts such aircraft are called “interdictor”.

With the development of new technologies, serial strategic bombers also received supersonic speed and the ability to fly both at high and extremely low altitudes (B-1, Tu-160), and in some cases, stealth technologies of reduced radar signature (B-2, Xian H-20, PAK DA and partially B-1B and Tu-160), as well as the configuration "

Many have heard more than once about the tank power of Russia. Bombers, oddly enough, are mentioned much less often. But we should not neglect aviation, as well as the navy. This is a very important component that allows you to control the airspace of a state, protecting it or attacking the enemy from the air. In this article, we will talk about the strategic bombers and fighters of Russia that are in service.

Strategic bomber

Before moving directly to the topic, I would like to talk about what equipment belongs to the strategic class, because it is this technology that is of greatest importance for So, strategic equipment is intended for delivering nuclear strikes by dropping bombs or missiles on strategically important enemy targets. At the same time, strategic and tactical military equipment should not be confused. The latter is used to destroy enemy equipment and manpower. It is worth noting that currently only two countries in the world have strategic bombers in their arsenal: Russia and the United States. Well, now let's move on to considering specific models.

Tu-160, or “Blackjack”

All aircraft receive a NATO classification and name. In this case it is Blackjack. At the same time, the factory designation was “Object 70”. Such Russian bombers belong to the class of strategic bombers with variable sweep wings. This unit was developed at the Tupolev Academy back in the 1970s and is still in use today.

Today it is the largest and most powerful aircraft of its class, with variable wing geometry and maximum take-off weight. Pilots often call the Tu-160 “white swan”. We can say that during the development of the bomber, strict requirements were put forward that had to be met. For example, the total mass of the combat load had to be at least 45 tons, and the flight range - at least 10-15 thousand kilometers. Since all the requirements were met, more than 25 copies were mass-produced, and there were also about 8 prototypes.

Briefly about the technical characteristics of the Tu-160

As noted a little above, the aircraft is equipped with a variable sweep wing. The minimum span is 57.7 meters. The most interesting detail is the power plant, which consists of 4 NK-32 engines. Each motor is a three-shaft 2-circuit with a displacement of output flows. As for it, it is designed for 171,000 liters (nitrided). In this case, each engine has a separate tank, but part of the fuel is allocated for alignment. In-flight refueling is possible.

As for weapons, these are Russian bombers, which have destructive power. Initially, the unit was developed exclusively as a carrier of long-range cruise missiles. But later it was decided to somewhat expand the range of ammunition. Currently they are trying to add high-precision long-range cruise missiles such as the X-555 and X-101.

Long-range bombers of Russia: Tu-95MS

This unit received the NATO classification Bear, which means “Bear”. This is a turboprop strategic missile-carrying bomber. It is worth noting that the Tu-95 has become a real symbol, which is why the decision was made to deeply modify and create a more efficient and powerful Tu-95MS. It is worth noting that the bomber is the latest to be put into service around the world, and therefore the newest, which is important. This aircraft has gone through a huge number of modifications. The latter was the possibility of hitting important enemy targets with cruise missiles in any weather conditions and at any time of the day. It was the Tu-95MS that set the non-stop flight record. In 43 hours, the pair of bombers flew about 30 thousand kilometers, with four refuelings in the air.

About the armament of the Tu-95MS

Russia's new Tu-95MS bomber has a total bomb load of about 12 tons. The fuselage bomb bay assumes the ability to accommodate nuclear free-fall bombs with a caliber of 9,000 kilograms. In addition, the Tu-95MS is equipped with X-20 cruise missiles. They are mainly designed to destroy enemy radio-contrast targets at a distance of 300 to 600 kilometers.

It is worth noting that many experts say that the Tu-95MS is the key, that is, the main part of Russian aviation. The aircraft is equipped with X-55 cruise missiles. At the same time, various modifications of the missile carrier carry from 5 to 10 such missiles. In some cases, the device for freely releasing a nuclear bomb is dismantled due to its uselessness. There are also defensive weapons on board, which consist of 23-mm aircraft cannons. Their number varies depending on the modification and can be from 3 to 8 pieces.

Russia's new strategic bomber Tu-22M

“Backflash”, according to NATO classification, or “product 45” is the factory name. It is a supersonic long-range missile carrier-bomber with adjustable wing geometry. T-22M - the latest modification of the Tu-22 - is not much different from the Tu-22K. Many say that this was the result of political manipulation. Thus, the development of the Tu-22M was started only to save money. Nevertheless, the decision turned out to be not the worst; the aircraft is still in service with Russia and shows good results.

Today there are many modifications of the Tu-22M, such as Tu-22M0, Tu-22M1 and Tu-22M2 and M3. But, despite this, all Russian bombers of this class differ from each other insignificantly, which is why it is customary to talk about the Tu-22M. Although it cannot be said that all the modifications made did not improve the technical characteristics of the unit in any way. For example, the weight of the Tu-22M1 was reduced by 3 tons, due to which the aerodynamic characteristics were improved. And the Tu-22M2 was equipped with more powerful long-range cruise missiles.

A little about weapons

Any promising Russian bomber must have on board effective defensive weapons and powerful nuclear missiles that would hit strategically important enemy targets. The Tu-22M3, the latest modification of the Tu-22M, had all this. The total bomb load is 24 tons. At the same time, on board there may be anti-ship missiles, free-falling nuclear bombs, mines and a pair of X-22 cruise missiles. The key feature is the presence on board of the so-called SURO (missile control system), which provides for the presence of 4 aeroballistic missiles.

As for defense, there is a remote-controlled stern cannon installation with an increased rate of fire (up to 4 thousand rounds per minute) and a shortened barrel block. Aiming is carried out using the Krypton system, and firing can be switched to automatic mode.

Conclusion

We looked at the main Russian bombers. You can view photos of these machines in this article. It is worth noting that all the equipment is in service with the Russian Federation. Many of the above aircraft are stationed in Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of the former Soviet Union. Currently, many military bases have long been disbanded and abandoned, and everything that remains there is commonly called an “airplane graveyard.” In addition, as noted above, only the United States and Russia have missile-carrying bombers, but this is according to official data. In principle, this is all that can be said about the main heavy aircraft equipment, which is in use and will not be written off in the coming years. Many projects are currently in development, but detailed information regarding this has not been disclosed. And there is no point in talking about something that has not yet taken off into the sky.

Today, only two states on the planet have special air forces, which are called strategic aviation. It is clear that these states are the USA and the Russian Federation. Strategic aviation, as a rule, has nuclear weapons on board and can easily strike enemies located at a distance of several thousand kilometers.

Strategic aviation has always been considered elite. This is how it remains in the eyes of the American, Soviet, and now Russian military command. Submarine missile carriers and ground-based intercontinental missiles, all of them, together with strategic aviation, are part of the so-called nuclear triad. All this power has been the main force in global deterrence for many decades.

Despite the fact that attention to strategic bombers, or rather to their importance, has recently diminished a little, nevertheless, they still remain an important factor for maintaining parity between Russia and the United States.

Nowadays, the list of tasks for which strategic aviation can be used has expanded significantly.

Now strategic aviation has to successfully master conventional types of ammunition along with precision weapons. Both the United States and Russia are quite energetically using strategic bombers to launch missile and bomb attacks in the Syrian Republic.

Today, Russian and American strategic aviation has in its arsenal aircraft designed and built back in the 50-60s of the last century. Not long ago, the United States began work on creating the latest strategic bombers, which are expected to be put into service before 2025.

Work on a similar program is underway in Russia. The new strategic bomber has not yet been given a name. All that is available is the abbreviation PAK DA, which stands for work on the creation of a Perspective Long-Range Aviation Complex. Development is carried out at the Tupolev Design Bureau. The new vehicle is expected to be put into service in the same way as in the United States until 2025.

It is especially emphasized that PAK DA is not a project to modernize currently available strategic bombers. This is the development of a completely new aircraft using the most modern technologies currently available in the aircraft industry.

However, before moving on to getting acquainted with the PAK DA, it would not hurt to get acquainted with the combat vehicles that are currently in the arsenal of Russian and American strategic aviation.

Position and prospects of modern strategic aviation of the USA and the Russian Federation

American strategic bombers

Today, American strategic aviation has the B-52 and B-2 Spirit heavy bombers, and in addition another aircraft: the B-1B Lancer bomber. It was specially developed to launch nuclear strikes on enemy territory. However, in the mid-90s, the American strategic forces had to say goodbye to him, as he was removed from their composition.

B-1B bombers are considered similar to the Russian Tu-160 jets, although they are inferior to the latter in size. According to available information provided by the American State Department in January of this year, 12 B-2 bombers, as well as 73 B-52 aircraft with the N modification, continue to be on combat duty.

Today, the B-52 bombers, developed back in the 50s and 60s, are the basis of the strategic forces of the United States. These aircraft carry AGM-86B ALCM cruise missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads. Bombers have a flight range that exceeds 2,750 km.

B-2 Spirit bombers are the most technologically advanced and most expensive aircraft on the planet. Their price is significantly more than the astronomical two billion dollars. The first bombers were manufactured back in the 80s. However, a decade later the program had to be closed. As it turned out, even the United States could not cope with such a high cost.

During this time, they managed to produce twenty-one B-2 vehicles. The bombers are made using stealth technologies that have the lowest electronic paramagnetic resonance in the world. It is significantly lower than the small stealth aircraft of the F-35 and F-22 types. B-2 Spirit bombers have only free-fall bombs, as a result of which they are ineffective against enemies who have advanced air defense systems at their disposal. In particular, the Russian S-400 air defense system can easily detect B-2 bombers.

Thus, the B-2 Spirit aircraft are rather “strange” bombers. Despite the astronomical prices, their combat effectiveness in the event of a possible nuclear conflict would be very ambiguous.

B-1B Lancer bombers are also not capable of arming themselves with strategic cruise missiles. Although, to be more precise, the US Army arsenal currently does not have such weapons suitable for these aircraft.

These days, these bombers are used primarily for strikes using conventional munitions. It is possible that they can be armed with free-falling bombs with nuclear warheads. However, it is unlikely that these bombers would be able to penetrate deep into the territory of an enemy with serious air defenses.

What prospects does American strategic aviation have? In 2015, aircraft manufacturer Northrop Grumman, which created the B-2 Spirit, won another tender announced by the United States Department of Defense to build new American strategic bombers, planned to be called the B21.

Work on the development of these machines began to be carried out under the LRS-B program. The abbreviation stands for Long-Range Strike Bomber, which in turn can be translated as “Long-Range Strike Bomber.” Today it is no longer a secret to anyone what the new bombers will look like.

Just like the B-2 Spirit, the new vehicle will be designed according to the “flying wing” design. The military department demands that the new aircraft be even less visible on radar, and its cost could exceed the American budget. They intend to begin producing the latest bombers in the next decade. The American military is currently planning to purchase a hundred of the newest B21s, and in the future completely replace them with B-52s and B-2s.

According to their developers, the new bombers will be able to carry out combat missions, both controlled by a crew and unmanned. The total cost of the project is $80 billion.

Russian strategic bombers

The Russian Air Force currently has two heavy bombers: the Tu-95 MS modification and the “White Swan” Tu-160. The most popular strategic bombers in the domestic Air Force were the turboprop T-95 “Bears”, the first flight of which was carried out during the time of Stalin in 1952. Although, it should be emphasized that the bombers used today are related to the “M” modification and were created back in the 80s.

Thus, it turns out that the main arsenal of the Tu-95 is even younger than the American B-52 bombers. We can add to this that in recent years they have already begun to modernize these aircraft to the MSM modification. It is planned to modernize 35 aircraft, and this in turn will facilitate the adoption of the latest X-101/102 cruise missiles.

With all this, even the “Bears” that have not undergone modernization will be able to take on board the Kh-55SM missile system with a range of up to 3500 km, as well as the potential for installing nuclear warheads on them. Kh-101/102 missiles can travel up to 5,500 km. Today the Russian army has 62 Tu-95 units.

The second aircraft currently in service with the Russian Air Force is the Tu-160. In general, these are supersonic bombers with variable wing geometry. The Russian Air Force has sixteen such aircraft. These supersonic bombers can also be armed with cruise missiles of the Kh-101/102 and Kh-55SM types.

Today, we have already started producing modifications of Tu-160M type aircraft. These are the first bombers of this modification, which were transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces in August of this year. These bombers are equipped with new systems with on-board electronics, and in addition, work is underway to create modifications such as the Tu-160M2. On the latest modifications of vehicles, along with cruise missiles, the use of free-fall bombs can also be used.

Despite the ongoing work to modernize the Tu-160, the Tupolev Design Bureau is promoting the project with the new PAK DA bomber. As already mentioned, it is planned to launch their serial production until 2025.

Efforts to create the latest strategic bomber began in 2009. The design team was given the task of carrying out the first flight of the aircraft in 2019. It is assumed that in the next decade, or rather closer to its end, PAK DA bombers will completely replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160 and will become the main aircraft in Russian strategic aviation.

In 2012, the Tupolev Design Bureau announced that development work on the PAK DA project had finally started. According to the information released, the new bombers will be carried out according to the “flying wing” design. It seems that everything is being done by analogy with the American strategic bombers of the B-21 and B-2 Spirit types.

The presence of a large wingspan prevents the latest strategic bombers from becoming supersonic. However, this can provide significant range, as well as low visibility to enemy radars. It is expected that there will be a massive use of composite and radio-absorbing materials in aircraft designs.

According to the designers, it is assumed that this approach to the matter will have an impact on a significant reduction in electronic paramagnetic resonance. Moreover, it is planned to significantly reduce the weight of the future heavy bomber. Thus, PAK DA aircraft will be the first domestic bombers to be manufactured using stealth technologies.

In addition, the presence of such a scheme will provide an opportunity for a good combination of flight characteristics and sufficient internal volume of the aircraft. And this, in turn, will make it possible to take on board more fuel, which will naturally have an impact on increasing the flight range of heavy bombers.

It is assumed that the take-off weight of the bombers will exceed 100 tons. Although there is as yet unconfirmed information about the mass of even 112, or even 200 tons. It was also reported that in terms of combat load, future bombers will be at least as good as the Tu-160. This means that they will be able to take on board missiles and bombs weighing more than thirty tons. The military department requires designers to increase the flight range of new aircraft within 12,000 km.

In 2014, it was reported that the tender to create engines for new aircraft, tentatively named NK-65, was won by the Samara company Kuznetsov.

Perhaps prototypes of the new bombers will be manufactured in Kazan, at the Gorbunov KAPO plant, where aircraft production will possibly be established. It is also known that the Tikhomirovsky Research Institute of Instrument Engineering is already developing radars for new heavy bombers.

It is not known for certain how many new strategic bombers they intend to build. It is possible that their number will be directly dependent on the economic situation in the state, because such aircraft are very expensive. It is possible that the public will be able to get acquainted with more accurate data on the number sometime in 2020. Nevertheless, if these aircraft are being built to replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers, then the production batch will contain several dozen aircraft.

Data on the PAK DA project is now extremely scarce. Representatives of the domestic Air Force report only general information about it, and even that is very laconic.

According to statements by the Russian military department, the PAK DA will be armed with all currently available aviation weapons, and it is possible that also promising hypersonic missiles.

There is no information about the time of production of the first prototypes of the new machines, as well as the timing of the launch of the project itself into mass production. It is clear that the initially stated deadlines are, as a rule, very conditional and will constantly change. Everything will depend on how complex the design work will be, as well as the financing of the project itself.

On top of that, the decision on the modernization and subsequent production of the Tu-160 may also have an impact on the implementation of the PAK, DA project and the timing of its implementation. These days, American strategic aviation is inferior to Russian. Mainly thanks to the cruise missiles that are in service with the Russian Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers.

And American B-2s can only carry out airstrikes using free-falling bombs, and this significantly reduces their combat effectiveness in the event of global conflicts. Thus, the KR X-101/102 is twice as effective in range as its American counterparts, which is why domestic strategic aviation is in a more advantageous position.

The prospects for new Russian and American projects are extremely unclear. Both projects are at the initial stages and it is not yet clear whether they will be fully implemented.

Russian strategic bombers. Revival of the "White Swan": how the Russian combat bomber was updated The name of the Russian heavy bomber

Term limitation

Story

Supersonic strategic bombers

Main strategic bombers

Cold War

Experienced and unrealized projects

Modern

Future

see also

See what a “Strategic Bomber” is in other dictionaries:

Books

Supersonic strategic bombers

Strategic bomber

Tu-160, or “Blackjack”

Briefly about the technical characteristics of the Tu-160

Long-range bombers of Russia: Tu-95MS

About the armament of the Tu-95MS

Russia's new strategic bomber Tu-22M

A little about weapons

Conclusion

Position and prospects of modern strategic aviation of the USA and the Russian Federation

American strategic bombers

Russian strategic bombers