How much of a threat can the Tu-22M3 "carrier hunter" pose to the US Navy?

The US Navy calls the Tu-22M3 a "curse". Photo: Sputnik.

According to the US press, this aircraft has been called "the curse" by the US Navy. How much of a threat can the improved Tu-22M3 be to the US Navy?

According to Sputnik documents, the Tu-22 M3 version of the supersonic long-range bomber-missile (according to NATO classification - Backfire) was equipped for the Soviet Air Force and Navy since 1989. With a maximum payload of 24 tons, it can operate at a distance of thousands of kilometers from the base, increasing speeds up to 2,300 km/h.

Tu-22M3 operated in Afghanistan, North Caucasus during "Operation Force Georgia to Peace" in August 2008. (Unfortunately, one of these aircraft accidentally flew into the defense zone and was hit by a Georgian "Buk-1M" missile controlled by a Ukrainian gunner).

After that, the Tu-22M3 carried out many combat missions in Syria, showing high efficiency in destroying IS terrorists. However, the main mission of the missile-carrying Tu-22M3 is to fight against enemy warships at sea. It is known as the "aircraft carrier killer".

There are plans to modernize all Tu-22M3 aircraft (about 40 aircraft). Specialists of the Kazan aircraft plant will extend the service life of the "T-22" for several decades. The first of the upgraded Tu-22M3 will take to the skies in August and enter service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in the fall.

Tu-22M3 at Hamedan air base, Iran. Photo: AP/Warfare

The main goal of the Tu-22M3 modernization is to install a carrier of the Kh-32 high-precision supersonic anti-ship missile (in service since 2016). The Kh-32 flies at a speed five times faster than the speed of sound at an altitude of 40 km and completes the attack by diving. Depending on the mission, the missile can be equipped with a conventional or nuclear warhead. In addition, the Kh-32 missile is equipped with a homing warhead, a self-defense device against electronic interference, which can neutralize all currently known means of electronic warfare.

There are three such missiles on the Tu-22M3. At the same time, more powerful and economical engines significantly increase the aircraft's operating range. However, to launch the missiles, the aircraft does not need to approach too close to the target to avoid the risk of falling into the control area of ​​​​enemy air defense missiles.

"The chances of the carrier-based aircraft intercepting the Tu-22M3 are virtually zero, since the range of the Kh-32 missile is about 1,000 km, and the interception radius of the fighter is about 400 km, maximum 600 km," expert, Doctor of Military Sciences Konstantin Sivkov told Sputnik. "And the missile's hypersonic speed makes it impossible to shoot down by the missile defense systems of the aircraft carrier group. Therefore, the deployment of the Tu-22M3 aircraft is a serious threat to the US aircraft carrier fleet."

“An additional threat to the US aircraft fleet is the Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile DF-21D. All this suggests that the US needs to revise, in principle, the entire concept of the “great aircraft carrier fleet” - Konstantin Sivkov said.

It is noteworthy that with sobriety and awareness, American experts have warned about a significant decline in the effectiveness of the US Naval Doctrine.