Posted on 05/28/2015 4:46:59 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Russia’s Air Force will purchase at least 50 Tu-160M strategic bombers, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Gen.Viktor Bondarev said on Thursday.
"The supreme commander [president of Russia - TASS] and the Russian defense minister have taken a decision on reviving production of the Tu-160M aircraft [NATO reporting name: Blackjack]," he stressed.
The industry "has confirmed its possibilities" on restarting the production of these bombers, he said. "The production of the aircraft will be restarted. To cover all the outlay of the production, at least 50 aircraft will be purchased in course of time," Bondarev said.
The decision on reviving the production of Tu-160 M will not hamper the creation of a new strategic bomber dubbed PAK DA (prospective aviation complex of long-range aviation).
The reproduction of this model will be carried out simultaneously with the development of the new one, Bondarev said.
"Of course, we have no right to do it otherwise," Viktor Bondarev said in reply to the query whether the revival of the Tu-160M production could interfere with the designing of a new generation strategic bomber, and whether work on both planes would proceed simultaneously.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu ordered to study the issue of resuming the production of Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers at the Kazan aviation plant in the Volga Republic of Tatarstan in late April. There are currently around 15 Tu-160s in service that are undergoing modernization due to be completed in 2019.
The Tu-160 bomber is "a unique plane that has been several decades abreast of time and has not used its constructive possibilities to the full extent until now," the Russian defense minister said.
"No one has devised a better plane in the supersonic category up to date," Shoigu said.
Russia is currently developing a new strategic bomber dubbed PAK DA (prospective aviation complex of long-range aviation). The new bomber is expected to make its first flight in 2019 and become operational in the Russian Air Force approximately in 2023-2025.
Kazan Aviation Plant
The Kazan Aviation Plant, founded in 1927, is a subsidiary of JSC Tupolev. It currently manufactures special purpose aircraft on the basis of Tu-214, as well as repairs and modernises bombers. In addition, the company manufactures and supplies components and assemblies within the framework of cooperation with other plants of the United Aircraft Corporation. In particular, the Kazan plant is preparing for the production of wings and tail assembly for the IL-476 planes.
Is everything they have a ripoff of Western engineering?
What?!? The B-1ski is totally different airplane from the American B-1.
They only built 35 under the Soviet Union when money was no object. Now that their economy is in shaky condition they’re going to build 50?
Maybe they have a buyer for them
No more calls, we have a winner.
The old guy engineers are dead....... the kids need something to train on
Perhaps a Farsi speaking country with bundles of wealth just released by obama lifting sanctions
They were still entering service when the Soviet Union fell. And iirc Ukraine got to keep between 1/3 to 1/2 the fleet. Just like it got to keep Varyag.
It’ll be interesting to see the production rate of these things. I’d guess that this has as much to do (if not more) with maintaining the industrial base and transitioning to the next gen bomber as a strategic forces buildup.
Or India. Or China.
The map is inaccurate. The Engels airbase has been moved eastwards from its location.
“Maybe they have a buyer for them”
Yep...
China.
Russia bought the remaining TU-160’s the Ukrainians had. None were airworthy.
The TU-160M rebuild/upgrade program (Chinese electronics and new engines) appears successful, with the first couple of aircraft already delivered.
I thought I read somewhere that the AS-16 Kickback was retired. That is quite a weapon, 150 mile range and Mach 5 speed, it gave a non stealthy bomber a low level launched stand off thermonuclear weapon, like SRAM did for the B52 and B1. Today the B1 has no nuclear role as per treaty, and the B52 can only expect to launch cruise missiles against today’s air defenses. And while it is still going strong, it is very old.
Maybe cruise missiles replace that role, and stealth is probably the only realistic penetrating bomber. I imagine the TU-160 has quite a radar return. It certainly isn’t very stealthy.
It relies on ECM.
Vladimir Putin in the cockpit of a TU-160 Bomber
Still have to get the Ruskies credit, it is a good B-1 ripoff.
Heh, almost identical.
It’d be funnier if they weren’t such a threat.
Even though military cooperation between Russia and China has increased, I don’t think even the Russians would sell the Chinese a nuc capable bomber that can reach Moscow or target the Russian Pacific fleet
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