Russia's modernized bombers may be able to fly into the stratosphere

Russia's newly improved Tu-160M2 bomber will be able to fly as high as the Earth's stratosphere (more than 18km).

This height is currently not reachable by any anti-aircraft artillery or anti-aircraft missile.

Russian Tu-160M2 aircraft. Photo: PressPhoto.

At the end of 2016, the Russian Defense Ministry will receive a batch of improved NK-32 engines for Tu-160M2 strategic missile-carrying bombers.

According to the developers, the new engine will help the plane fly into the stratosphere at an altitude of more than 18km.

“The new NK-32 version can be used as an aircraft engine as well as a rocket engine. Thanks to that, the Tu-160M2 will be able to fly stably at an altitude that no enemy air defense system can reach,” said a source in the Russian defense industry.

The first flight of this modernized aircraft will take place in 2018.

According to Russian Air Force Commander Viktor Bondarev, the Defense Ministry plans to purchase about 50 Tu-160M2s.

Serial production of this aircraft will begin in 2021.

Why did Russia improve the Tu-160?

Russia is currently developing a new generation of strategic bombers (PAKDA project). However, the development of this new aircraft is being delayed. The first aircraft will be produced between 2020 and 2025 at the earliest.

The Russian Air Force Command is currently preparing an intermediate option to temporarily replace the PAKDA.

Tu-160M2 weapons

According to military experts, the Tu-160M2 will be used both as a deterrent weapon and to meet the current challenges of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“The term ‘missile-carrying’ emphasizes the bomber’s ability to use both nuclear and conventional cruise missiles. Among them are the new generation of long-range cruise missiles H-101 and H-555,” said Pyotr Dainekin, former commander of the Russian Air Force and Hero of Russia.

“The Tu-160 can be equipped with any type of bombs, both nuclear and conventional: armor-piercing, concrete-piercing, cluster bombs, mines. The total warhead mass can be up to 40 tons,” Dainekin added.

He said the new aircraft is capable of hitting targets even when the aircraft is located far away, outside the area where the enemy's air defense system can reach./.

According to VOV