“Russia is radically increasing its Tu-160 fleet. This is a bad signal for NATO.”

It does not dare to call the Tu-160 aircraft “obsolete”, but the experimental aircraft made its first flight in 1981 (the beginning of operation in the Russian Air Force since 1987). This variable sweep wing strategic missile carrier bomber is the largest and most powerful supersonic aircraft in its class with unrivaled speed. In the Tu-160M2 modification, which the Russian Aerospace Forces plans to purchase, this is a completely new aircraft, which retains only external resemblance to its predecessors. Russia is radically increasing its Tu-160 fleet. This is a bad signal for NATO,” says 19FortyFive.

The Russian Air Force is armed with 17 Tu-160 strategic bombers. Pilots call this car “White Swan”. Their second life began after a deep modernization to the Tu-160M2 level, which was carried out at the Kazan Aviation Plant. The price of the updated aircraft is estimated at 16 billion rubles, and so far there are seven aircraft. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced new orders, but officially their number was not disclosed.

Experts of the British military publishing house and think tank Jane’s Information Group, positioned as a “global intelligence company”, believe that Russia plans to develop the strategic Tu-160 program and increase its numbers by 50 more aircraft.

“The modernization and construction of the new Tu-160 heavyweights is due to a number of conditions,” military expert Vladislav Shurygin told socialbites.ca. – Firstly, this is a time-tested machine that will last for many more years in an updated version. Secondly, there is an established production line, which is also important for the production of new aircraft. And third, the PAK DA, the Prospective Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation, which is expected to appear before 2025, is not yet completed.

Shurygin added that if the newly modernized Tu-160s are not produced now, Russia risks being deprived of powerful strategic bombers in the near future.

“The Tu-95s still fly, but they are short in age, the Tu-22 is a lighter aircraft with all its features, and it does not handle the number of weapons the Tu-160 can do. And now it is impractical to wait for the PAK DA to go, so the road was given specifically for the Tu-160, ”adds Shurygin.

The need to modernize the Tu-160M2 is due to the trend of the times – it needs to install new types of weapons on board, including the Kh-BD ultra-long-range missile capable of carrying the warhead to a distance. More than 3,000 km. The new strategic bomber also provides for the installation of new electronic equipment.

“The new Tu-160M2 is made with integrated modular avionics elements, equipped with new computing and onboard systems, controls, suspended inertial navigation system, electronic warfare system and weapon control system. The decision to manufacture the updated Tu-160M2 was made precisely when it was necessary to create a transitional version of the strategic missile carrier, ”says 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 Roskosmos) stated that the improved Tu-160s will be made on the basis of an almost completely new element and will receive new NK-32 engines manufactured by the UEC. -Perm Engines.

“The Tu-160 bombers will continue to be a powerful means of nuclear deterrence in the short term,” aviation expert Yury Pelyaev told socialbites.ca. – The bet is based on supersonic flight speeds and lightning-fast destruction of targets by missiles, primarily strategic cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. “White Swans” do not even need to break into the air defense zone of the enemy, their weapons can reach the target at a distance of two to five thousand kilometers. The construction of new Tu-160s will completely close the niche of aviation weapons in the event of a nuclear conflict.”