Why does the Russian Armed Forces order fifty Tu-160 "White Swan" aircraft The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are "rebooting" the Tu-160 "White Swan" aircraft program and 50 new ones have been ordered to the existing 17 combat vehicles.
This was told by the American specialized portal 19FortyFive. This fact raises concerns among NATO, since this aircraft in its technical characteristics is in many ways superior to American strategic bombers. "Newspaper.Ru" figured out why Russia is increasing the number of Tu-160.
"It is impossible to call the Tu-160 aircraft "old", although the experimental aircraft made its first flight back in 1981 (the beginning of operation in the Russian Air Force since 1987). This strategic bomber-missile carrier with a variable sweep wing is the largest and most powerful supersonic aircraft with unsurpassed speed in its class. In the modification of the Tu-160M2, which the Russian Aerospace Forces intend to purchase, this is a completely new air vehicle that has retained only an external resemblance to its predecessors. Russia is radically increasing the Tu-160 fleet. This is a bad signal for NATO," 19FortyFive notes.
There are 17 Tu-160 strategic bombers in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces. Pilots call this car the "White Swan". Their second life began precisely after a deep modernization to the level of the Tu-160M2, which was carried out at the Kazan Aviation Plant. The price of the updated aircraft is estimated at 16 billion rubles, and there are seven such cars so far. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced new orders, but their number was not officially disclosed.
Experts from the British military publishing house and Jane's Information Group analytical center, positioned as a "global intelligence company," believe that Russia intends to develop the strategic Tu-160 program and increase their number by another 50 aircraft.
"The modernization and construction of new Tu-160 heavyweights is due to a number of circumstances," he told the newspaper.Ru" military expert Vladislav Shurygin. - Firstly, it is already a time-tested machine, which in an updated version will last for many more years. Secondly, there is an established production pipeline, which is also important for the production of new aircraft. Well, and thirdly, the PAK DA has not yet been completed - a promising long-range aviation complex, the appearance of which is expected no earlier than 2025."
"The Tu-95 is still flying, but their century is not long, the Tu-22, with all its advantages, is a lighter aircraft and does not raise the number of weapons that the Tu-160 is capable of. And it is impractical to wait now until the PAK DA goes, so the road is given specifically for the Tu-160," Shurygin adds.
The need to modernize the Tu-160M2 is due to the trend of time - new types of weapons are supposed to be placed on board, including the ultra-long-range X-BD missile, capable of carrying its warhead over a distance of 3000 km. The new strategic bomber also provides for the installation of new electronic equipment.
"The new Tu-160M2 is made with elements of integrated modular avionics, equipped with new computing and onboard systems, controls, a free-form inertial navigation system, an electronic warfare complex and an armament control system. The decision to produce the updated Tu-160M2 was made precisely when it was necessary to create a transitional version of a strategic missile carrier," said Sergei Belousov, a member of the Board of Military Experts.
At the end of 2021, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov (now head of Roscosmos) He noted that the improved Tu-160 will be made almost entirely on a new elementary base and will receive new NK-32 engines manufactured by UEC-Perm Motors.
"Tu-160 bombers will remain a powerful means of nuclear deterrence in the near future," he told the newspaper.Ru" aviation expert Yuri Pelyaev. - The bet is on their supersonic flight speed and lightning-fast destruction of targets by missiles, primarily strategic cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The "White Swans" do not even need to enter the enemy's air defense zone, their weapons are capable of reaching the target at a distance of two to five thousand kilometers. The construction of the new Tu-160 will completely close the niche of aviation weapons in the event of a nuclear conflict."
Victor Sokirko
