And how will the modernization of existing combat vehicles change the long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force
The Tu-160 and Tu-95 long—range strategic missile carriers of the Russian Aerospace Forces are undergoing modernization. During these works, the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products has already been restored, and production of airframe assemblies and unique systems has resumed. The production and testing base for the new machine is also expanding. Sergey Chemezov, General Director of the Rostec state Corporation, told Izvestia about this. About how the strategic aviation armament is being updated and what are the prospects for creating a new PAK DA complex, see the Izvestia article.
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 striking spear, says Sergey Chemezov.
— Today, the Tu-160, Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers form the basis of long-range aviation. Rostec enterprises are working to modernize these machines. The aircraft are receiving new complexes and systems, which significantly increases their combat potential," the head of Rostec told Izvestia.
Tu-160 missile carrier
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
He noted that the UAC specialists had done a lot of work to resume production of the upgraded Tu-160M missile carriers.
— For this purpose, the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products was restored, the production of airframe assemblies and unique systems was resumed. Our industry does not stand still, and today work is underway on a new generation aircraft, including expanding the production and testing base for a new machine," said the head of the state corporation.
According to experts, the expansion of the production and testing base most likely refers to the reconstruction of production at the Kazan Aircraft Factory 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 bench base for testing promising aircraft models.
The Tupolev family
Indeed, since the 2010s, Russia has been conducting several modernization programs for long-range bombers, which are designed to extend their service life and significantly increase their combat capabilities. In fact, as a result of the modernization of the Russian Aerospace Forces, they receive completely new attack aircraft systems that are capable of using the most modern air-launched missiles.
Thus, the long-range strategic Tu-160 and Tu-95MS are being upgraded in terms of equipment and weapons systems. The updated Tu-160M and upgraded Tu-95MSM can now use the latest non-nuclear cruise missiles X-101 and the most modern X-BD. These planes have already taken part in the counter-terrorism operation in Syria, and now they are working on their own.
Tu-95MS strategic bomber launches X-101 cruise missiles
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
The main representative of long-range aviation has been the Tu-95MS turboprop strategist for many years. These are cruise missile carriers manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s, which can carry X—55 and X-555 missiles under the wing and in the fuselage. It is too early to write off well-deserved cars, and in the 2010s, a program was launched to modernize the Tu-95MS to the level of the Tu-95MSM. The aircraft receives new electronics and equipment, as well as a radically updated weapon system with X-101 missiles. This upgrade significantly extends the service life of the Tu-95MS fleet.
The Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bomber is also being upgraded to the Tu-22M3M level. The first aircraft of the new type flew on December 28, 2018. He received a new set of equipment and a modern cabin, the aft artillery installation was replaced with an electronic warfare system, and the weapons system was radically updated. The Tu-22M3M can use the new supersonic cruise X-32, as well as probably other, including hypersonic, missiles.
It should be noted that there is practically nothing with which to intercept X-32 type ammunition for air defense systems, which are available today, for example, the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The rocket flies at almost hypersonic speed and can perform complex maneuvers. According to the modernization program at the Kazan Aviation Plant, it is planned to refine 20 Tu-22M3 bombers.
NK-32 engine for the Tu-160 strategic bomber
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Mamontov
In 2015, a program was launched to resume production of the Tu-160 strategic bomber. It is believed that the entry into 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 first flight - it was a new bomber assembled by the Kazan Aircraft Factory.
In the capital of Tatarstan, production was reconstructed to fulfill the program for the construction of new Tu-160 aircraft, production of NK-32 engines for them was resumed, and the aircraft's electronic equipment was completely updated.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have already received the first new Tu-160 aircraft over the past couple of years, and in December 2024 it was announced that during 2025, the long-range aviation would receive four Tu-160M aircraft.
In December 2022, a regiment armed with the Dagger hypersonic aviation missile system with MiG-31I carrier aircraft joined the long-range aviation. The carrier was chosen for a reason — it is precisely due to the high supersonic speed of the "thirty-first" that the Dagger-type missile receives an additional increase in flight range, which allows it to hit targets 2,000 km away from the carrier. Taking into account the range of the MiG-31, this makes it possible to deliver precision strikes against targets on almost the entire European continent.
Airline complex operations
Modernization programs for the current long-range aviation fleet and the resumption of production of the Tu-160 will ensure the preservation of the high combat capabilities of Russian strategic aviation until the 2030s, when aircraft of twentieth-century designs will be replaced by the latest PAK DA. Under its creation, the production base of the aviation industry is expanding.
An employee of the plant in the production shop of the first samples of the upgraded Tu-160
Image source: Photo: TASS/Egor Aleev
PAK DA stands for "promising long—range aviation complex" - a new aircraft that is being created by the Tupolev Design Bureau for the Russian Aerospace Forces. The project is covered with a veil of secrecy, but there is still some understanding of the appearance of the new aircraft in the public field.
The aircraft complex will have a flying wing aerodynamic design and will be subsonic. This choice is due to the requirements for the aircraft — the "flying wing" has more internal space for the payload and with the placement of weapons in internal compartments and at subsonic speed, the best flight range is achieved.
The use of missile weapons is assumed without entering the air defense zone of a potential enemy. It is likely that such aircraft will be in waiting areas for a long time, over the desert regions of the World Ocean or the Far North.
Production of the first samples of the upgraded Tu-160
Image source: Photo: TASS/Egor Aleev
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 can be up to 30 tons, which means that the bomber will be able to carry a total of at least 12 cruise missiles in the armament compartments. The total take-off weight of the machine, according to experts, may be 145 tons.
Of course, the newest aircraft will be equipped with the most advanced complex of radio equipment and a defense system that will interfere with any guidance systems. It is difficult to predict the readiness of the new aircraft, but the new machine should make its first flight in the next few years, and by 2030, serial production of the new strategist is likely to begin. During the 2030s, the PAK DA should become the main long-range aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Dmitry Kornev
