Tupolev Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber. (Photo : Russian Aerospace Forces)
Upgrading of the surviving examples of Russia's most modern strategic bomber, the supersonic and variable-wing Tupolev Tu-160M, continues while serial production of new aircraft for the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) has begun.
"The first deeply modernized Tu-160M will appear in 2021. The share of new components in it will be 60%," said Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces to Russian media.
The Russian Aerospace Forces currently operates some 15 Tu-160M supersonic strategic bombers, of which 11 are fit for frontline service. The original version of the TU-160 entered Russian service in 1987.
Gen. Bondarev also said the modernization program, which also resumed production of the Tu-160M, won't be disrupted.
"I think this program will be implemented without fail. We thoroughly analyzed our capabilities before adopting it. The industry said there will be no problems with the Tu-160 reproduction."
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided to restart serial production of the Tu-160M (NATO reporting name: Blackjack) in 2015. The Russian Aerospace Forces are expected to receive at least 50 of the new variable-wing aircraft after serial production begins in 2023.
The upgraded Tu-160M will feature new weaponry, new engines and improved electronics and avionics that double its combat effectiveness. It will carry the hypersonic Kh-90 GELA (3M25 Meteorit-A) air-to-surface missile.
It will have a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 (2,220 km/h) and a practical range of 12,300 km.
The newly refurbished and newly built TU-160Ms (nicknamed "White Swan") will join a new sister aircraft, a strategic stealth bomber named the Tupolev PAK DA.
PAK DA is expected to make its first flight in 2019 and might become operational by 2025 at the latest. Development of PAK DA, however, has been postponed to resume series production of the Tu-160M in 2023.
PAK DA, which will replace both the turboprop-powered Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" and the Tu-160M, is being developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau. PAK DA stands for "Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Dal'ney Aviatsii" literally, "prospective aviation complex for long-range aviation."
First flight of the flying wing was originally scheduled for 2019. PAK DA will fly at subsonic speeds but a hypersonic version might be developed. PAK DA will be equipped with advanced precision guided weapons, including hypersonic weapons.
In its hypersonic version, PAK DA will be capable of launching nuclear weapons from space and can reach any part of the globe in one or two hours, said Colonel Alexei Solodovnikov, Representative of the Military Academy of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces.
