Russia modernizes Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bombers
(Baonghean.vn) - According to Rostec, the Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber is being built on a completely new technological platform using digital solutions. This is one of the most powerful fighter jets in the world.
The resumption of production of the Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber has become a real challenge for Rostec, said Sergei Chemezov, CEO of the State Defense Corporation Rostec. However, in a short time, the design documentation was completely digitized, titanium technology was restored, and production was rapidly accelerated.
Mr. Sergei Chemezov noted that the Tu-160M is being built on a completely new technological platform using digital solutions.
“Currently, this is one of the most powerful fighter jets in the world,” the Rostec General Director affirmed.
The Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber is the largest and most powerful supersonic aircraft in the history of military aviation. It is designed to destroy especially important targets located deep behind potential enemy lines of defense, or in remote combat zones, including with the use of nuclear weapons.
The Tu-160M was developed at the Tupolev Design Bureau in 1975 as a counterweight to the American Rockwell B-1 Lancer supersonic intercontinental aircraft. The Tu-160's first flight took place in 1981, and it entered service in 1987. During the Soviet era, the Tu-160 bomber was nicknamed the "White Swan".
In May 2015, President Vladimir Putin ordered the resumption of production of the Tu-160M in a modernized version. The first modernized Tu-160M is due to begin state trials in July 2023.
One of the main advantages of the new aircraft is the NK-32 engine, which increases the flight range of the Tu-160M to more than 1,000 km.
“The Tu-160M is capable of reaching impressive speeds of up to 2,000 km/h. The aircraft can easily escape interceptor missiles and overcome enemy air defenses,” the developers said.
According to Rostec, the aircraft is also equipped with advanced air defense and anti-jamming systems, electronic warfare systems and on-board radio-electronic weapons developed using advanced technologies. The aircraft's combat load is 40-45 tons; the rotary launcher allows it to carry up to 12 air-launched cruise missiles, including those carrying nuclear weapons.
The Tu-160M and its modernization program are attracting the attention of Western experts. The American military-political magazine The National Interest, when comparing it with the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, assessed that the Tu-160M is designed as a weapons carrier that operates outside the enemy's air defense zone, launching missiles from high altitude. Meanwhile, the B-1 Lancer is a traditional bomber, that is, it uses weapons to fly to the target area.
On February 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited and worked at the Kazan Aviation Plant of the United Aircraft Corporation. Here, President Putin inspected four deeply modernized Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying fighter-bombers.
According to Rostec's report, the Russian leader boarded the Tu-160M cockpit and requested continued modernization of the Tu-160M aircraft./.
