The Russian Aerospace Forces have received two modernized Tupolev Tu-160M2 strategic bombers (Ivan Yarygin and Vasily Reshetnikov), the Defense Ministry reported.
The modernized mobmbers successfully passed ground and flight tests. The modernization of strategic missile carriers to the Tu-160M2 variant is ongoing at the Kazan Aviation Plant.
The Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO codename: Blackjack) is a long range, supersonic, variable geometry wing, strategic bomber -designed to penetrate sophisticated air defense systems at low altitude and supersonic speed. It is the Soviet counterpart to the US Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.
Armament (typically nuclear short range and long-range cruise missiles) is carried inside two weapons bays located at the middle of the fuselage.
The Tu-160M2 is a further development of the Tu-160 strategic bomber with state-of-the-art sensors and weapons.
In all, the Tu-160M2 is a highly upgraded version featuring detection reduction coatings, new more powerful and efficient engines giving it greater operational range, new avionics, electronics, glass cockpit, communications & control systems, a number of weapons, as well as improved thrust and unrefueled range. It will also be equipped with a new defensive system protecting it from missiles.
It will boast four new Kuznetsov NK-32 engines. The Kuznetsov NK-32 is an afterburning, three-spool, low bypass, turbofan jet engine, the largest and most powerful engine ever fitted on a combat aircraft. In maximum afterburner it produces 245 kN of thrust (55,000 lbf).
It is expected that the Tu-160M2 will be armed with long-range standoff cruise missiles, including the Kh-101/Kh-102 (nuclear variant) air-launched cruise missile and the Kh-55 subsonic air-launched cruise missile.
Makes more sense building strategic bombers than building aircraft carriers. Just needs a strategic bomber escort such as a Tu-161 armed with R-77 and R-37/M.
Nice pic.
Its just a copy of the B-1 lancer….
>_>
Silly communists…
its not a copy. It has different role, diferent technology, is faster andmuch larger. Your comment just shows that you know nothing about aviation. Stupid capitalist scum.
How? It is much bigger, much faster, much more powerful, completely different internal structure, different class of engines, completely different avionics and weapons systems, completely different design and mission philosophy. In fact, they are not even in the same class of bomber aircraft. There is a vague external resemblance if you know absolutely nothing about aircraft design, that’s about it.
In fact the B-1B an Tu-160 is two different platforms with two different roles. It is a common mistake among people that dont know the intended purpose of both platforms to make that mistake. Only on the outside can they be somewhat compared. On the inside they a two very different platform.
The TU160M2 is very reasonably priced at $20 million USD each – a real bargain. When will a civilian version be available? It would be great for transferring large quantities of bullion bars between my high security storage vaults.
will be available october 2020 lol jk idk
Impressive.