Why is the US afraid of Russia's strategic bomber fleet?

Russia's long-range bomber fleet is now a fraction of what it was in Soviet times, but cruise missile technology has given it a significant advantage.

The number of strategic bombers in the Russian Air Force is currently not comparable to that of the Soviet Union. However, the investment in modern cruise missiles since the Soviet era has allowed Russia to possess a powerful long-range bomber force, although it is inferior in both quantity and type of aircraft compared to the US, according to the National Interest.

The Kremlin has made clear its desire to develop the PAK-DA stealth bomber project. However, in the coming time, Russia will still have to rely on the trio of Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS and Tu-160, before the PAK-DA model can become a reality.

Russia is believed to have 16 Tu-160 "White Swan" (NATO reporting name: Blackjack) aircraft in service, of which 11 are on combat duty and 5 are training aircraft. In addition, the Tu-95MS (NATO reporting name: Bear-H) fleet maintains a force of 63 aircraft, with 55 combat-ready.

Tu-95MS aircraft prepare for takeoff. Photo: Skybird.

The Tu-95MS uses a classic design and has been in service since 1956, but has undergone major upgrades to accommodate modern electronic and combat systems. The main weapon of the Tu-95MS is the Kh-101 cruise missile with a range of up to 4,500 km carrying a conventional or nuclear warhead.

This type of aircraft has demonstrated its combat capabilities in Russia's military campaign in Syria. The Tu-95MS launched missiles at terrorist targets without entering Syrian airspace, while supporting many other operations on the ground. "The key factor is the missiles. The Tu-95 is old, but it is still as effective as the B-52," military expert Michael Kofman commented.

Unlike American stealth bombers, Russian strategic bombers are not designed to penetrate enemy airspace. Their mission is to maneuver to launch cruise missiles at a safe distance, beyond the enemy's ability to intercept.

Replacement for the strategic bomber triad

Moscow will still have to gradually replace its bomber fleet. The PAK-DA may not be the answer, the most likely candidate is the upgraded version of the Tu-160M2. Using the modernized version of the Tu-160 would save Russia a huge amount of development investment, as it could focus on combat systems and weapons.

The Tu-160M2 is likely to replace the current Tu-95MS and Tu-160. But the candidate to replace the Tu-22M3 (NATO reporting name: Backfire) is not really clear. One of the most unpredictable options is the Su-34 fighter-bomber (NATO reporting name: Fullback).

This is a variant built on the Su-27 fighter platform to replace the Su-24 attack aircraft. But the combat performance of the Su-34 is considered to be on par with medium-range bombers.

Kofman said that the Su-34 has proven its capabilities in Syria, which will prompt Russia to use it to replace both the Su-24 attack aircraft and the Tu-22M3 bomber. There is no reason to develop a new aircraft to replace the Tu-22M3, when the Su-34 can meet the mission requirements and is much more flexible.

Modern missile technology allows Russia’s bomber fleet to carry out precision strikes from great distances, despite using relatively old designs and airframes, something the Pentagon is very concerned about in the event of a conflict with Russia.

According to VNE