The aging Russian turboprop strategic bomber-missile carrier Tu-95MS has defensive weapons from the Cold War, the American edition of The Drive is surprised, commenting on one of the recent videos of the Russian Defense Ministry.
The publication drew attention to a frame in which a pair of 23-millimeter aircraft guns is visible in the aft part of the bomber-missile carrier. "The Tu-95MS is operated by a crew of seven people, all of whom, except one, are placed in a sealed compartment in the forward part of the fuselage. The tail gunner, however, has a separate compartment in the aft part, from where he controls the 23-millimeter guns, " the newspaper writes.
The Drive reminds that the American strategic bomber B-52 Stratofortress, which is even older than the Tu-95MS, lost its stern gun after the Cold War. "In the end, the value of the tail guns firing conventional ammunition is very doubtful for any combat tasks that the Tu-95MS can perform," the publication writes, admitting that the aft guns can fire radar and thermal decoy shells.
In July, The National Interest magazine wrote that the Soviet (Russian) strategic missile bombers Tu-22M, Tu-95 and Tu-160 and their various upgrades are old, but still dangerous.
Ivan Potapov
