Russia to Modernize 30 Tu-22M3 Bombers by 2020

Gestart door Lex, 04/02/2012 | 11:58 uur

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Russia's Backfire Bomber Is Back!

Thomas Newdick on Jun 13

Tupolev is upgrading Tu-22Ms for ops in Russia's expanding sphere of influence

There's no bomber quite like a Backfire. In many ways, Russia's Tu-22M3 is a Cold War throwback. An intermediate-range, variable-geometry machine, the Tupolev design really gave NATO planners headaches in the 1970s and '80s.

If the Cold War had turned hot, Tu-22Ms would have attacked high-profile targets including American aircraft carrier battle groups in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The bombers also would have struck European ports and key airfields, with the aim of severing supply routes to the U.S.

Today, the Backfire is the only supersonic bomber in its class. And until quite recently, the outwardly archaic warplane seemed likely to fade away. However, with tensions ratcheting up in the Black Sea and Baltic regions, the Tu-22M3 has suddenly become a whole lot more relevant.

Difficult development

While its appearance in the early 1970s led to considerable alarm in the West, the aircraft dubbed "Backfire" by NATO was always something of a compromise. The Tu-22M designation was a political measure designed to secure funding, by suggesting it was a simple upgrade of the previous-generation Tu-22.

The same shortcut meant that it had to retain the radar and rather troublesome missile armament of its predecessor. Early versions struggled to achieve the required range and speed requirements.

After Tupolev finally perfected the Tu-22M, the bomber fell afoul of the START I nuclear treaty. START I forced Moscow to delete the bomber's in-flight refueling capability—and, with it, much of the plane's operational relevance.

START I also limited the total number of Tu-22Ms that Moscow could deploy, meaning that veteran Tu-16 and Tu-22 bombers had to soldier on in naval service.

The Russians have been understandably cagey about the precise capabilities of the Tu-22M3. However, we know it has a dash speed of 2,300 kilometers per hour and a combat radius of 2,200 kilometers when carrying armament and flying a high-altitude, partially-supersonic profile.

Increasing relevance

When the Russians probe North America's defenses off the coast of Alaska or even California, they usually send turboprop Tu-95MS and jet-propelled Tu-160 heavy bombers, which with their aerial refueling abilities are truly able to circle the globe.

With no provision of its own for in-flight refueling, the Tu-22M can operate only around Russia's immediate sphere of influence. Tu-22M3s fought in the campaigns in Chechnya and Georgia. The Georgians shot one down in 2008—the type's first combat loss.

Russia's recent annexation of Crimea, the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and increased saber-rattling in the Baltic have compelled NATO to reinforce its frontier. It's in this dangerous scenario that the Tu-22M3 now finds itself.

When Russian news agency RIA Novosti announced plans for a major military exercise in the Baltic—timed to coincide with NATO's Saber Strike and BALTOPS maneuvers in the same area—the missile-carrying Backfire was the centerpiece. "We have completed the redeployment of troops in the designated areas," a Russian defense ministry spokesperson said on June 12. "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers are ready to perform air patrol training in the region."

Focusing on an exercise area in and around Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, the joint exercises involve the local Baltic Fleet as well as army airborne and air force units under the commander of Russia's Western Military District.

Su-27 fighters, Su-34 attack planes, Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft, A-50 early warning platforms, Mi-24 assault helicopters and Il-76 transports are also participating alongside the Tu-22Ms.

Not coincidentally, the same Novosti report also states that the defense ministry expects to receive "at least 10" modernized and refurbished Tu-22M3s before the end of 2014. Moscow is boosting its increasingly busy medium bomber force.

Current status

In a report in the current issue of Combat Aircraft magazine, Russian aerospace expert Piotr Butowski reveals interesting details of Moscow's plans for the Tu-22M3.

Russia built more than 500 Tu-22Ms of all versions over the decades, but only seven squadrons—each with a nominal strength of 10 aircraft—remain in service at three bases. Belaya in southeastern Siberia, Shaykovka southwest of Moscow and Ryazan southeast of Moscow.

The latter serves as the training unit for the bomber.

Analyzing satellite imagery, Butowski concludes that there are 28 aircraft at Shaykovka, 40 at Belaya and 10 at Ryazan. However, not all of these aircraft are operational. The actual number of operational Tu-22M3s is probably closer to 65 or 70.

To be clear—like many of the Russian air force's mid-life upgrade initiatives, the effort to revamp the Tu-22M3 has run into repeated delays and revisions. The program has languished since the early 1990s and has yet to produce a single upgraded aircraft.

In early 2012, the Kremlin outlined plans to upgrade around 30 bombers to the new Tu-22M3M standard by 2020. In February 2013, after little movement, Russia's new defense minister Sergei Shoygu tried to jumpstart the program.

The plan to deliver 10 or more Tu-22M3M aircraft before the end of 2014 seems ambitious, to say the least. Currently, Russia is refurbishing—not upgrading—a maximum of four to six aircraft annually.

Moscow clearly aims to retain the bomber for many more years, however. Russia just needs the resources and technical capacity to match its will.

Upgrade options

Just how capable will the new Tu-22M3M be? That depends on a number of factors. Chiefly, whether Russia pursues the top-of-the-range upgrade or opts for a cut-price option. The latter wouldn't be a surprise—Russia has already reduced upgrades for the Su-24 attack aircraft and Su-27 fighter.

Whatever shape it takes, the Tu-22M3M should get a new primary weapon. The Raduga Kh-32 missile is a successor to the Kh-22—NATO codename AS-4 Kitchen—that has been in service since the 1960s. The Kh-32 reportedly boasts twice the range of the Kh-22, which can hit a ship target at 350 kilometers.

While it remains a relatively primitive, liquid-fuel missile, the Kh-22 possesses an impressive terminal speed in excess of Mach 4, making it a serious threat to even the most advanced air-defense systems. The Kh-22 is compatible with nuclear and conventional warheads.

Kh-32s have already been seen on a Backfire at the Zhukovsky flight test center.

Beside the Kh-32, the Tu-22M3M might also carry the subsonic Kh-SD missile and the supersonic Kh-MT, both still under development. The new munitions offer ranges of up to 2,000 and 1,000 kilometers, respectively, and combine stealthy airframes with modern guidance systems and warheads.

Intriguingly, Butowski also notes that Russia is testing a hypersonic research vehicle, using the Tu-22M3 as a launch aircraft. Such technology could provide the basis for a new, hypersonic cruise missile.

Other provisions of the Tu-22M3M upgrade include a new Novella-45 radar. Upgraded Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers could get similar sensors.

Complicating matters is the presence of a more modest, cheaper upgrade package that the Gefest company recently pitched. This is based on the firm's upgrade for the Su-24, and essentially adds digital avionics for a precision-bombing capability.

Beginning in 2009, a number of Tu-22M3s received the modifications, yielding impressive results. Should the full-scale Tu-22M3M program falter, Gefest will be well placed to continue its work.

Clearly, the Russian air force sees the continued relevance of the Tu-22M3. Regardless of its combat potential, it carries considerable political weight. Once Russia claimed Crimea, one of its first military projects on the peninsula was to overhaul the runways at Gvardeyskoye air base, with a view to deploying Backfires there from 2016.

Even in Tu-22M3M form, however, the Backfire upgrade is relatively modest. Combined with the fact that only around half the fleet is getting the upgrades, this is a strong indicator of Tupolev's main priority—the all-new PAK DA heavy bomber.

This secretive project could finally yield a successor to the Tu-95MS, Tu-160 and Tu-22M3. Until that happens, however, the Backfire seems set to play a important role alongside its bigger brothers in Russia's assertive new strategy.

https://medium.com/@warisboring/russias-backfire-bomber-is-back-2618703120b7

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

New Bomber Outline Takes Shape – Russian AF Commander

MOSCOW, June 27

The outline for a design of the Russian Air Force's future strategic bomber, known as PAK-DA, has been worked out, Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.

"The outline of this aircraft is already formed, and the technical and tactical characteristics are being set out," Bondarev told a news conference at RIA Novosti dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Russian Air Force.

"I think we have the resources and funding to make the plane on time, so it is ready when we need it as a replacement or addition to our Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers," he added.

The AF commander did not specify the number of new bombers expected to enter service with the Air Force after 2020.

Bondarev also denied any knowledge about the ongoing conflict between Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who has responsibility for military-industrial affairs, and the Armed Force's General Staff over the need for a new "traditional" strategic bomber.

Rogozin said on his blog last week that it would be undesirable for Russia to "go down the American route," and produce a bomber like the Northrop B-2, and repeated his earlier calls for a hypersonic air vehicle system instead of a traditional long-range bomber.

In earlier comments, Rogozin had appeared to dismiss the need for PAK-DA, saying long-range bombers would fall victim to air defense systems long before reaching their targets.

Rogozin's comments came just days after President Vladimir Putin called on Russian industry to develop PAK-DA.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20120627/174266747.html

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Russia Looking at 2020 for New Generation Long-Range Bomber

MOSCOW, July 2

The Russian Air Force may receive its first PAK DA next generation long-range bomber about 2020 instead of 2025 as initially planned, Russia's acting deputy Air Force commander, Major General Alexander Chernyayev, has said.

"I think the first models of the Prospective Air Complex for Long Range Aviation (PAK DA) will be supplied to the Air Force approximately by 2020," Chernyayev said in an interview published on the Russian Defense Ministry website late last week.

Russia's Long Range Aviation commander, Major General Anatoly Zhikharev, has said the Air Force could receive the new strategic bomber in 2025.

The general look of the new strategic bomber has already been worked out, and engineers are currently finishing work on aircraft specific operational requirements, Chernyayev said.

"We have everything today to develop the plane on time and put it into operation together with [Tupolev] Tu-95MS Bear, Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-22M3 Backfire [strategic bombers], which have proven their high reliability," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered development of the new long-range strategic bomber to be sped up in mid-June.

"I know how expensive and complex this is," Putin said during a conference on defense orders. "The task is not easy from a scientific-technical standpoint, but we need to start work," he said, adding that otherwise, Russia could miss the boat.

Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has said previously that a new aircraft assembly line in Russia's Kazan plant (KAPO) would build PAK DA and the new Antonov An-70 propfan transport aircraft. The same plant previously built the Tu-95MS and Tu-160.

Currently, only Russia and the United States operate intercontinental range bombers. Most other nuclear-capable nations rely solely on intercontinental ballistic missiles, based on submarines or in land-based silos, or cruise missiles. The United States has expressed an interest in successor systems to its B-1, B-2 and B-52H long-range bombers.

Chernyayev also said in his interview the Russian Air Force was planning to modernize its Tu-95MS, Tu-160 and Tu-22MS bombers, as well as Ilyushin Il-78 Midas air-to-air refueling tanker aircraft.

Russia's strategic air forces operate a total of 63 Tu-95MS and 13 Tu-160 bombers. Altogether, they are capable of carrying 850 long-range cruise missiles.

http://en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20120702/174358197.html

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Russia Confirms G5 Bomber Plans

(Source: RIA Novosti; published June 9, 2012)

KAZAN --- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday reiterated plans to develop a new, fifth-generation strategic bomber.

"Alongside a fifth-generation fighter there are also plans to develop an advanced long-range aviation complex. I am talking about a new strategic bomber," he said.

Maintenance and modernization of the existing strategic bombers is not enough, he added.

His remarks come days after a senior cabinet member questioned the need for a new bomber.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin suggested on Monday that with the current and future air and missile defense systems in place, strategic bombers were no longer relevant and could no longer be relied on to deliver strikes on enemy territory.

Russia announced plans in 2009 to develop a new strategic bomber featuring stealth technology by 2025. The new bomber is expected to replace the Tu-95MC Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers currently in service with Russia's strategic aviation.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/135877/russia-confirms-5th-gen-bomber-plans.html

Ace1

Citaat van: dudge op 09/02/2012 | 21:38 uur
Volgens diezelfde wiki moet de PAK-DA zover de BEAR als de TU-160 vervangen.

Volgens DefenceAviation ook het onderwerp van dit topic, de TU-22M3.

Citaat van: http://www.defenceaviation.com/2008/07/pakda-a-russian-stealth-bomber.htmlThe Russian Air Force PAK DA is a fifth-generation strategic bomber intended as the replacement of aging Tu-95MS, T-22M3 and Tu-160.

Of dat ook betekend dat de TU-95, T22 en TU-160 de dienst verlaten is een ander verhaal, maar het is wel wat gesuggereerd wordt, maar wat weer vreemd lijkt gezien deze upgrade.

Wikipedia laat de T-22M3 er trouwens buiten:
Citaat van: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAK_DARussian Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev has stated that the new bomber will replace both the turboprop-powered Tupolev Tu-95 and the supersonic Tupolev Tu-160.[3]

Dudge dan heb ik het vermoeden dat de  PAK-DA een flinke vertraging heeft en daarom worden  er 30 Tu-22M3  gemoderniseerd.

Ace1

Citaat van: IPA NG op 09/02/2012 | 17:24 uur
Ik denk niet dat de Tu-160 snel uit dienst zal gaan. Dat is toch wel een redelijk modern toestel.

IPA NG, sterker nog in 2006 zijn er 5 gemoderniseerd  en is er een bijgebouwd volgens de wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160

IPA NG

Ik denk niet dat de Tu-160 snel uit dienst zal gaan. Dat is toch wel een redelijk modern toestel.
Militaire strategie is van groot belang voor een land. Het is de oorzaak van leven of dood; het is de weg naar overleven of vernietiging en moet worden onderzocht. --Sun Tzu

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Citaat van: dudge op 04/02/2012 | 15:24 uur
Citaat van: jurrien visser op 04/02/2012 | 15:03 uur
Schokkend is het zeker niet, wellicht moet je het zien als een interim oplossing totdat de PAK DA het operationle levenslicht ziet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAK_DA

De PAK-DA wordt, als ik de wiki geloven mag, gebaseerd op de Tu-160, een toestel van een grotere klasse dan de Tu-22.
De PAK-DA moet de TU-92 (50 stuks) en TU-160 (35 stuks) vervangen.

Hun toestellen zijn meestal goedkoper, maar ze hebben ook minder geld. Al met al, zijn het allemaal geen grote getallen.

Ik vindt het niet onvoorstelbaar als ze zich niet meer PAK-DA's kunnen veroorloven (in 2030) dan dat zij zich nu TU-160's kunnen veroorloven.
Wat ook weer geen heel raar getal is, de Amerikanen hebben van hun B2 maar 21 stuks besteld, al hebben ze daarnaast ook nog B1's en B52's.
De TU-22M zou dan een lichte/maritieme aanvulling kunnen zijn, en/of gewoon grotendeels vervallen.

Ik denk dat het veroorloven in 2030 niet het grootste probleem zal zijn, het is immers voor de Russen een extra slinger aan de olie- en gaskraan.

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

#2
Citaat van: dudge op 04/02/2012 | 15:00 uur
Vindt ik weinig schokkend.
Als pas in 2020 30 van de 141 Tu-22M's worden gemoderniseerd, is dat natuurlijk niet echt vroeg. De dreiging vanuit Rusland neemt in die zin ook ziendeogen af. De kwantiteit die ze gewend zijn is ook voor hun niet meer vol te houden.


Schokkend is het zeker niet, wellicht moet je het zien als een interim oplossing totdat de PAK DA het operationle levenslicht ziet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAK_DA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA2TdQSA8F0

Lex

MOSCOW, January 31 (RIA Novosti)
About 30 Tu-22M3 strategic bombers from Russia's Long Range Aviation fleet will be modernized by 2020, Russian Air Force spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Tuesday.

"We plan to upgrade about 30 strategic bombers to the M3M standard," Drik said.

Tu-22M3 (NATO reporting name Backfire-C) is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic bomber that Russia uses mainly to patrol the skies over its southern borders, Central Asia and the Black Sea region.

The Tu-22M3 has a flight range of 6,800 km (4,300 miles) and can carry a 24,000 kg (52,910 lb) payload, including nuclear bombs and cruise missiles fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads. Aircraft of the M3M standard can be equipped with a wider range of weapons.

As of 2008, the Russian Air Force had at least 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.

Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, commander of Long Range Aviation, earlier said that Russia's strategic aviation fleet will undergo extensive modernization while Russia's next generation strategic bomber, the PAK DA, is being developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau.

He said the modernized aircraft will be equipped with new equipment, communications systems, cockpits and avionics.

© RIA Novosti.
16:10 31/01/2012