Russia plans to acquire 70 Tu-160M bombers, with the first four already in 2023

In a significant development, the Russian Air Force is set to acquire four Tu-160M strategic bombers by the end of 2023. This acquisition puts the Air Force in a unique position, as it is also in the process of commissioning a substantial number of long-range combat aircraft with global reach. It's worth noting that neither the United States nor China has embarked on similar procurement efforts.

Forecasts indicate that the Air Force plans to have a total of 70 Tu-160M bombers, and there has been a notable increase in production reported in January.

The first flight of the advanced Tu-160M, an upgraded version of the Soviet Union's powerful Tu-160 strategic bomber class, occurred in January 2022. This represents a significant advancement from the original Tu-160, which first flew in 1986. The improvements include state-of-the-art avionics integration and the use of NK-32-02 engines, which require less maintenance while delivering exceptional flight performance and endurance. The Tu-160M also features an array of new armaments, with the Kh-101/102 cruise missiles being the most prominent addition.

Currently, there is ongoing development of hypersonic weapons for the aircraft. Initially, the Soviet Air Force had planned to acquire around 100 Tu-160s by the 2000s, but the program was prematurely halted due to the dissolution of the Soviet state. Most of the fleet was left stranded in Ukraine, and Ukraine, under Western pressure, subsequently destroyed a significant portion of it.

Russia now possesses only 16 of the originally Soviet-constructed fighter jets, a significant reduction from its previous fleet. The remaining 54 are expected to be newly manufactured in the near future.

bulgarianmilitary

Russian Air Force starts trials of upgraded Tu-160M Bomber

Russia’s new prototype Tu-160M bomber has completed its second test flight and will now undergo trials with the Defence Ministry. The aircraft was delivered to Russian Ministry of Defence on Dec. 30 for a second stage of tests that are expected to last up to three years.

The Tu-160M is expected to enter service between 2024-2025.

During the testing process, the bomber will fly in various directions over Russia and international waters, with some events simulating an approach to North America.

Modernized systems and equipment make up 80% of the Tu-160M. The aircraft is using the new NK-32-02 engine.

defensenews 

Two Upgraded Tu-160 aircraft delivered to Russia Air Force

The Russian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that on 23 April two Tu-160 (NATO: Blackjack) aircraft have been relocated from the S P Gorbunov aviation plant near Kazan to their deployment airfield in the Saratov region.
The aircraft feature new inertial navigation and engine control systems as well as upgraded weapons with associated digital technologies.
In total, Russia operates 17 Tu-160s which provide a maximum range of 14,000km and are expected to remain in service until 2040. Ukraine operated 19 of the aircraft before returning some to Russia and dismantling the rest.

RAF TYPHOONS INTERCEPT TU-160 RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT OVER THE NORTH SEA

RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, with an RAF Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, to monitor two Russian Blackjacks approaching UK airspace las 29th, March.
The RAF worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the Russian aircraft as they passed through a variety of international airspace before they were intercepted over the North Sea. The ighters escorted them from the UK’s area of interest and ensured that they did not enter UK sovereign airspace.
raf.mod.uk

First modernised Tu-160 makes maiden sortie

Russia's United Aircraft has flown the first remanufactured Tupolev Tu-160, with the supersonic aircraft performing a short flight from Kazan on 25 January.
Watched by a crowd of VIPs including Russian president Vladimir Putin, the 7min sortie was performed at an altitude of 300m, to check the aircraft's handling characteristics.
As well as modernising the aircraft with new avionics and engines, Tupolev has made extensive alterations to the existing airframe.
The Tu-160 was last produced in 2008 and the current upgrade process is part of an effort to re-establish the final assembly facility in Kazan.
flightglobal

First Tu-160M2 airframe rolled out

The first Tu-160M2 supersonic strategic bomber was rolled out at the PJSC ‘Tupolev’ Gorbunov Aircraft Plant’s factory in Kazan, Russia, on 16 November.
The aircraft is built around an incomplete Tu-160, likely to be one of the three airframes placed in storage in the early 1990s. One of these airframes, RF-94115, is in service with the Russian Air Force at Engels Air Base, close to Saratov, flying with the 2nd Aviation Group’s 6950th Aviation Brigade. This airframe was removed from storage and completed to the basic Tu-160 standard, becoming operational in 2008. Another airframe arrived in Kazan in 2009, and there is a strong possibility that it is this aircraft that was used for the Tu-160M2 roll out. The location of the third airframe is unknown at this time.
Three operational Tu-160s have been modernised to Tu-160M standard, and it is possible that the remaining airframes in line for an upgrade will receive Tu-160M2 specifications, which will reportedly take place at the same time as the building of new airframes. The only comparable difference between the M and M2 standard is the new Kuznetsov NK-32-2 turbofans. However, funding may make this impossible and
Tony Roper - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
UAC_Russia_eng

Russian Air Force Modernised Bombers TU-95M TU-160 M1 To Debut on Victory Day Parade

The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) is to showcase its modernised strategic bombers at the Victory Day flypast over Moscow for the first time on 9 May.
Rehearsals on 13 April saw a Tupolev Tu-160M1 'Blackjack' bomber and three Tu-95MS 'Bear' bombers with external weapons pylons for the carriage of Kh-101/102 cruise missiles practising their overflights of the capital city ahead of the annual event
janes

Russian strategic bombers hit ISIS positions with cruise missiles, smart bombs

Russia’s Defense Ministry has released new videos of retribution attacks on Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) with strategic bombers launching smart bombs and cruise missiles.
Strategic aviation was scrambled shortly after confirmation that the Russian passenger plane that crashed in Egypt's Sinai Desert on October 31 was downed by a terrorist bomb.
On November 17, crews of Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out strikes with air-based cruise missiles on the ISIS objects on the territory of Syria.
rt.com

RAF Typhoons intercept Russian TU-160 aircraft near UK airspace

RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland yesterday to meet two Russian aircraft.
The Typhoon pilots visually identified the two Russian aircraft and escorted them whilst in the UK area of interest. Air to air refuelling (AAR) support was provided by an RAF Voyager aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.
gov.uk

Experts skeptical about Russia's Tu-160 bomber production plans

Recent declarations by Russian officials regarding plans to re-start production of the Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber, combined with various other announced procurements, are being met with scepticism by a number of experts. The two reasons most commonly cited for this are that Russian industry lacks the numbers of qualified personnel necessary to support so many procurements taking place simultaneously and that the funding available is nowhere close to what would be required.
The Russian deputy defence minister for procurement, Yury Borisov, told news outlets on 4 June that the envisioned new-build Tu-160 would essentially be a new aircraft due to its onboard systems being several generations beyond the 1980s-era avionics suite of the original Tu-160. "This aircraft would be designated the Tu-160M2," he said, adding that, "according to our plans, this will most likely happen sometime after 2023".
In addition to the plan for a modernised Tu-160, another initiative calls for 130 Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptors to be brought up to the MiG-31BM configuration. Central to that upgrade is the installation of a new avionics suite, modernised crew stations fitted with state-of-the-art displays and a new variant of the onboard radar set.
In addition, the chief of staff of the Russian Air Force (VVS), Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, is also calling for large numbers of Sukhoi Su-30MK, Su-35 and T-50/PFI fifth-generation fighters, Su-34 fighter-bombers, and a new domestic version of the MiG-35 that was formerly proposed for export to India.
A commonly cited weakness of today's Russian defence sector is that the workforce is only a small fraction of its former, Soviet-era size, with a commensurate drop in its capacity.
janes

Russia to complete Tu-160 upgrades ahead of time

Russia is to complete a major upgrade of its Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber fleet a year earlier than previously announced, with the final aircraft now set to be delivered back to the air force in 2019.
The work, is geared at replacing all of the aircraft's Soviet-era equipment with modern systems.
The first phase, now completed, involved bolstering the aircraft's nuclear armament with the capacity to carry 12 conventionally armed Raduga NPO Kh-555 (AS-15 'Kent') long-range cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs. The first such upgraded aircraft was delivered back to the air force in April 2008.
The second phase is focused on replacing the radar, as well as the electronic navigation and communication systems. The first flight of a Tu-160 fitted with these new systems took place out of the Kazan Aircraft Plant (KAPO) east of Moscow in November 2014. The aircraft's engines are also to be upgraded under this effort at a later date.
The modernisation programme to the 16 bombers in the air force's inventory is now expected to be completed in 2019, rather than 2020 as previously stated.
Russia's new PAK-DA bomber is expected to make its maiden flight in 2019, before being inducted into service in the 2023-25 timeframe to replace the Tu-160, Tu-22M3, and Tu-95 platforms.
janes

Russian Air Force to Get at Least 50 New Strategic Tu-160 Blackjack Bombers

The Russian Defense Ministry will purchase no less than 50 new Tu-160 (Blackjack) heavy strategic bombers when production is renewed, without specifying when production would begin.
The renewed Tu-160 manufacturing will not lead to suspension of PAK DA, a next-generation Russian strategic bomber developed by the Tupolev, equipped with the newest high-precision weaponry.
PAK DA bombers were previously planned for delivery in 2020, however, the Russian Air Force will start receiving its aircraft in 2023.
The Air Force Tu-160 is now being upgraded, and radar and navigation equipment is being replaced.
sputniknews

Russia to Renew Production of Tu-160 Strategic Bomber

Russia will renew the production of its Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber and missile carrier, Russian Defense Minister said Wednesday during a visit at the Kazan Aviation Plant.
In 2013, the Russian Defense Ministry signed a contract with the Tupolev design bureau to upgrade three Tu-160 bombers.
sputniknews

Russian Air Force to get 6 more modernized Tupolev Tu-160 bombers in 2015

Russia’s Long Range Aviation will get another 6 modernized strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-160 in 2015 and will bring the number of Tu-95MS bombers to 43, according Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force.
The Russian Long Range Aviation which marks the 100th anniversary of creation on Tuesday is armed with the Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers. According to reports, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) launched a program for these planes’ modernization. This year, pilots received after repair 9 strategic Tu-95MS and 9 long-range Tu-22M3, as well as one modernized Tu-160 bomber.
Units of long-range aviation operate the strategic missile carriers Tupolev-160 and Tupolev-95MS, long-range strategic bombers Tupolev-22M3, refueling jets Ilyushin-78, special-task aircraft Antonov-30b, the transport turboprops Antonov-12 and Antonov-26, as well as Mi-8 and Mi-26 helicopters.
Russia’s next-generation strategic bomber — PAK DA (prospective aviation complex for long-range aviation) is to perform its first flight in 2019. The new plane will be delivered to the army in 2023-2025.
itar-tass

Russian air force takes first modernised TU-160 and TU-95

Russia’s air force has today received the first examples of a number of modernised strategic bombers – a Tu-160M and Tu-95MSs - following upgrade work performed by manufacturer Tupolev.
Enhancement activity on the supersonic Tu-160 includes “partial replacement” of the aircraft’s avionics and weapons systems. First flight of the initial example took place on 16 November.
A second phase of modernisation will begin in 2016 with the addition of uprated Kuznetsov NK-32 engines.
Russian Air Force has an active inventory of 13 of the long-range bombers.
A further delivery will take place before year-end, says Tupolev, with an additional 20 aircraft to be modernised in the 2015-16 timeframe.
flightglobal

First Flight of Russia's modernised Tu-160 bomber

Russia’s strategic bomber Tupolev Tu-160 has performed the first flight after modernisation, flying during 2 hours and 40 minutes.
At present the Tu-160 missile carriers are undergoing the first stage modernisation with replacement of nearly all the onboard radar equipment and avionics.
Last year, the Tu-160 missile carriers performed a long-distance flight from Russia’s Volga area to Venezuela. They took off from the Engels base in the Saratov region, flying over the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific, along the southeast coast of the North American continent and landed at the Simón Bolivar International Airport near the Venezuelan capital Caracas.
The planes flew more than 10,000 kilometers during 13 hours. After that they performed a flight from the Venezuelan Maiquetia airport to Managua airport in Nicaragua. The strategic bombers covered a distance of more than 2,500 kilometres in three hours.
itar-tass

Future Bombers Under Study In China And Russia

While the U.S. Air Force pursues development of the Long-Range Strike Bomber project, striving to launch full-scale development next year, both Russia and China are also proceeding with bomber plans. In the case of Russia, the PAK-DA is the first all-new bomber to start development since the Tupolev Tu-160, in 1977, while China’s prospective new system would be the nation’s first indigenous bomber.
China is reportedly working on a new bomber. It is tempting to discount China’s ambitions to build a world-class strategic strike aircraft given that its People’s Liberation Army Air Force (Plaaf) and Naval Air Force (PLAN-AF) seem content to fly successive versions of the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-16. This medium bomber first flew in 1952 and then in China in 1959, subsequently built by the Xian Aircraft Corp. (XAC) as the Hong-6 (Bomber-6, H-6). However, continued improvements and production of the H-6 show that China retains an interest in long-range airpower.
aviationweek

USAF Interceptions of Russian Aircraft Rise as Russia Boosts Air Power

The Russian Air Force is upgrading its long-range aircraft, making increasing encounters near US airspace. The Russian Aircraft are, much better than they ever were during the Cold War and increasingly sophisticated and increasingly capable.
US and NATO aircraft have been intercepting Tu-95 Bear, Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-22 Backfire strategic bombers and numerous fighter aircraft since 2007 when the Russian Air Force resumed long-range aviation missions, which had stopped at the end of the Cold War.
The intercepts typically take place near Alaska and down the western coast of Canada and the continental US. In Europe, they typically occur over the Baltic and North seas.
Since the middle of the past decade, the Russia Air Force has been modernizing its bomber aircraft and long-range missiles.
There have been upgrades to cruise missiles, including a conventional version of the nuclear Kh-55. Another project long talked about is upgrading the Kh-22 anti-ship missile. Within the last year, photos of a Russian test aircraft carrying bright red missiles with a new panel under the nose are believed to be an upgraded Kh-22.
Russia also has aspirations of fielding a new bomber aircraft toward the middle the 2020s.
defensenews

Russia's PAK-DA bomber to fly in 2019

Russia's future PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft should complete its maiden flight in 2019 and state tests and supplies will be completed in 2023 after which the aircraft will begin to enter service.
The PAK-DA programme has lumbered on since first being disclosed in 2007. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is under contract to develop the aircraft, with the holding company's Tupolev design bureau and the KAPO production plant in Kazan developing the aircraft.
The new aircraft type is understood to be designed to include reduced radar cross-section 'stealth' features, although speculation over whether the PAK-DA will feature a flying wing or convention design has yet to be answered.
In 2012 a debate emerged in Russian policy circles over the need for the PAK-DA, and on whether it should be capable of hypersonic speeds. With the programme continuing, this debate appears to have been settled, and it is understood that the aircraft will not be hypersonic - unsurprisingly given the immense technical challenge involved. In April, the head of UAC is understood to have confirmed that Tupolev had completed the design of the PAK-DA and that fabrication of certain parts for a prototype had begun.
When, and if, the PAK-DA does enter Russian Air Force service the aircraft will likely cause older Russian strategic bomber designs to be phased out of service. Currently Russia operates three strategic bomber types, all also designed by Tupolev: the Tu-22M3 'Backfire; Tu-95 'Bear'; and the Tu-160 'Blackjack'.
janes

Russia TU-95 bomber fired 6 cruise missiles at "targets simulating key military assets of a hypothetical adversary

Russia will quadruple its arsenal of long-range precision delivery platforms in the next seven years to strengthen the country's strategic deterrent.
Submarines, fighter jets and strategic bombers are all included as high-precision weapon platforms, and their total number would quadruple.
The weapons systems include both diesel- and nuclear-powered submarines, as well as a range of aircraft including the Su-35 Flanker fighter, Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber, Tu-50 (PAK FA) fifth-generation fighter and the Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers.
The plans were announced while reporting on the results of the drills carried out earlier on Thursday by Russia's nuclear triad.
During the exercise, the Russian military test-launched a Topol (SS-25 Sickle) intercontinental ballistic missile.
Two Delta-class nuclear-powered strategic submarines from Russia’s Northern and Pacific Fleets also test fired ballistic missiles in the exercises.
A Russian Tu-95 “Bear” strategic bomber launched six cruise missiles against ground targets.
ria