According to reference news recently, Russia's first improved Tu-160M long-range strategic bomber has completed its test flight mission and performed well. Judging from the introduction of Tupolev, the new and improved Tu-160M bomber has made relatively large changes and upgrades in airborne communication systems, control systems, and driving and navigation equipment, and its overall combat capability has increased by at least 25% compared with the original version. In addition, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchiko once said last year that the improved Tu-160 bomber is expected to be launched into the Russian Aerospace Forces by the latest in 2021.
(Russian Tu-160M strategic bomber first flight)
With the production of the improved Tu-160 bomber, it means that Russia is gradually restoring the production capacity of this huge long-range strategic bomber. At present, Tupolev's Tu-160 bombers are "partially used for old goods and partly new manufacturing". In the future, it will change to "all new manufacturing". This is a historic step for the Russian army, because they had no ability to re-manufacturing Tu-160 bombers before, let alone restarting the production line.
(Photo-160)
was born in the 1980s. It is a supersonic swept-wing long-range strategic bomber built by Tupolev for the Soviet Aerospace Forces at that time. At the same time, it was the last strategic bomber program before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Not only that, the Tu-160 bomber is also the heaviest bomber ever built. Since the Tu-160 bomber uses white matte paint on the surface, it is called " White Swan ". It is currently the only two large variable sweep wing long-range bombers, and the other is the U.S. B-1B bomber . There are not many countries in the world that can be achieved in swept-wing aircraft, and it is also such a large swept-wing bomber, which is the representative of the ultra-high performance of the Tu-160 bomber. Its main attack methods are high-altitude subsonic cruise, low-altitude subsonic or high-altitude supersonic raid. It can not only strike outside the defense zone, but also conduct low-altitude penetration of . The maximum range of 12,300 kilometers gives the aircraft ultra-long strike capability, and also has supersonic capabilities, and can also carry nuclear. If the United States really wants to intercept, it will pay a considerable air defense cost.
(Tu-160 bomber flying over Moscow during the 2014 Victory Day parade)
According to public information, the Russian Aerospace Forces currently operate at least 19 bombers of this type, of which Russia inherited 9 from the Soviet Union, and later obtained 8 aircraft used by Ukraine to compensate Russia's foreign debts, so it originally owned a total of 17 aircraft, and later Russia built 3 more aircraft. However, in 2003, a serious accident occurred in the crash of the Tu160. Not only did the plane crash, but all four crew members also died. Although all 19 Tu-160 bombers that Russia now owns are far less than the size of the Soviet era, they are barely enough to form a fleet to carry out missions.
(improved Tu-160 bomber)
Such an excellent long-range strategic bomber, the Russians have been considering starting to start manufacturing again since 1992, but due to their limited capabilities, they have been struggling for a long time. It was not until 2018 that Russia built three complete Tu-160 bombers, and most of the important parts were disassembled from the original old ones. The Tu-160 made in the Soviet Union was beyond the reach of design and manufacturing. Even today, the Tu-160's technology is still beyond the reach of many countries. For example, its body wall panel adopts a whole piece of titanium alloy milling and large electron beam welding. Not only is the welding complex and requires special equipment, but it also consumes a huge amount of power. In addition, the 4 Kuznetsov NK-321 turbofan engines equipped with this machine can also be called magical tools. Defense Minister Shoigu previously said that one aircraft will be built every year in the next ten years, and it is not difficult to see how difficult it is to manufacture.
When Russia's future stealth bomber project PAK-DA has not been implemented yet, extending the use of the Tu-160 should be an effective way to allow the Russian Aerospace Forces to continue to maintain its existing deterrent power.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-