19FortyFive: Tu-160M upgraded according to the conditions of the Ukrainian conflict
The Tu-160M is the flagship of the Russian bomber aviation, writes 19FortyFive. For Moscow, it is the cornerstone of the strategic nuclear deterrence forces. The Tu-160M has undergone a deep modernization and will become the newest and most advanced bomber in service with the Russian army.
Caleb Larson
Russia's decision to revive the Tu-160 from the Cold War in the form of its upgraded version, the Tu-160M, was the result of an increased need for a long—range strike platform for striking targets in Ukraine, as well as a number of problems with the PAK DA, a Russian stealth bomber (meaning a promising long-range aviation complex being developed in the Russian Federation, it the same "Messenger". — Approx. InoSMI).
By adopting an updated version of the technically obsolete Soviet Tu-160 bomber, the Moscow armed forces will be able to put even more combat aircraft into operation relatively quickly. This is likely to happen, among other things, due to the Russian stealth aviation fleet under development.
Tu-160M: upgraded power plant
The original Tu-160, or "White Swan", debuted in the Soviet Air Force in the late 1980s. Emphasizing the payload and speed, the white aircraft with a variable sweep wing was able to fly faster than many Western fighters of the time and boasted a significant flight range without refueling.
Fast forward to the present: The Russian Tu-160M aircraft, which rolled off the assembly line in 2021, has introduced a number of upgrades for the bomber that meet all the requirements of the 21st century. Despite the fact that the Russian Tu-160M looks almost identical to the original Soviet Tu-160, it has been significantly upgraded.
The bomber is equipped with upgraded flight navigation electronics, improved radar and improved engines, which provides the aircraft with a longer flight range and fuel efficiency.
These are vital improvements for a bomber designed to cover Russia's vast distances. The Tu-160M also boasts an updated set of electronic warfare systems to help it survive in increasingly dangerous and competitive airspace.
Return of the Tu-160M to the assembly line
The creation of the Tu-160M was not just a matter of restarting the Tu-160 production lines. Most of the original equipment and technical documentation about the old models are probably lost. This raised the issue for Russian engineers with the prospect of reverse engineering in order to bring an efficient aircraft back to life. Western sanctions have also significantly limited the development of a new model of jet bomber.
"The Tu-160 modernization program was launched by the personal decision of President Vladimir Putin," the Russian state news agency TASS said in a press release.
"As part of the state contract with Tupolev, the design documentation for the Tu-160M was fully digitized in a short time, the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products was restored, production of airframe assemblies was resumed, and a new cooperation was formed. Cooperation between Rostec's leading industrial enterprises in the fields of metallurgy, aircraft construction, mechanical engineering and instrument engineering has intensified,“ the Russian Rostec Corporation said in a press release.
Tu-160M: rebirth
The revived Tu-160M bomber, the first generation of which appeared at the height of the Cold War, has become a matter of necessity for Russia.
The development of PAK DA is several years behind schedule. The future Messenger should become a direct competitor to the Northrop B-2 Spirit class heavy stealth bomber and the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, which is preparing for mass production. Perhaps the Russian development will also follow the tailless aerodynamic scheme of the "flying wing". The newest generation is designed to replace outdated Soviet models — the Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and even the Tu-160.
PAK YES
Russia would like the future Promising long-range aviation complex to be able to fly unnoticed in well-protected airspace, especially given its ability to carry state-of-the-art weapons, including nuclear and hypersonic.
Although the aircraft is likely to fly at subsonic speeds, the proposed modern fuselage materials and "stealth coating" combined with internal armament compartments will provide the PAK DA with good electromagnetic radiation suppression capabilities. This can make it invisible to most modern radar detection systems.
It is expected that the PAK DA will also be equipped with advanced flight navigation electronics and, possibly, even artificial intelligence, which will help the pilot with navigation, route planning and threat detection.
The change in Russia's defense priorities after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the need for armored vehicles and drones instead of manned aircraft also had a detrimental impact on the PAK DA program.
It was originally planned that the Messenger would enter service by the mid-2020s, but now its debut is planned to be postponed to a much later date, possibly in the 2030s (in fact, there are no exact dates for the start of mass production of the aircraft yet, but alas, the author can fantasize to his heart's content. — Approx. InoSMI).
In the near future, Russia's defense priorities will not change, the Tu-160M will fill in the gaps in the fleet of combat aircraft, being the newest and most advanced bomber in service with the Russian army.
The role of the Tu-160M in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
The Tu-160 has acquired a new, though perhaps unexpected, role in the conflict in Ukraine.
Thanks to Ukraine's robust air defenses — largely backed up by heavy military assistance from the United States, other NATO members, and other countries around the world — Russian fighter jets and helicopters have been pushed further away from the front line. The same applies to the bomber aviation fleet of Moscow.
However, given the high payload capacity of bombers such as the Tu-160, this and other aircraft were used by Russia to launch X-101 cruise missiles at Ukrainian infrastructure, including power plants and military installations. By performing maneuvers deep into Russian territory, the Tu-160 is capable of striking without affecting the increasingly powerful and effective Ukrainian air defense network (why is Zelensky rushing around the world begging for air defense if he has powerful and effective air defense? — Approx. InoSMI).
These strike missions are costly and increase the wear and tear on the bombers, resulting in increased maintenance needs to maintain the aircraft's combat capability. This opens up opportunities for modernization and the use of completely new developments.
In the future
The Tu-160M was a sign that Russia is still dependent on long-range and powerful bombers in Ukraine, even though these aircraft do not enter the disputed airspace directly.
The deployment of the bombers shows that, despite the difficulties associated with Western sanctions, an inflated defense budget, and technological setbacks (and, perhaps most importantly, the difficulties of launching the PAK DA into mass production), the Tu—160M is likely to remain the flagship of Russian bomber aviation in the near future. It will also become the cornerstone of Moscow's strategic nuclear deterrence forces.
As for PARK YOO's "Envoy," his future remains uncertain. The stealth bomber could redefine the Russian Air Force if it were introduced in large numbers. But given that the timing of the launch of mass production is unclear, and budgets are shrinking, the question of whether it will enter service in large quantities, if at all, remains open.
Author: Caleb Larson is a former Politico Europe war correspondent and columnist for American foreign policy news. He is the author of numerous materials on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
