1 Brand new TU-160 enters service

[MigBuster]

Well I never

 

 

http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/ai...er100015681.php

[BlindpilotBR]

man, they had power to destroy the world yet...

or destroy USA...

[MAKO69]

Those planes are huge they may look like a B-1B but it is a lot bigger.

Edited May 1, 2008 by MAKO69

[Atreides]

And they have a lot more power than the B-1 etc etc. Good for Russia, I for one would love to see 200+ nuclear capable TU-160's.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Atreides

[JediMaster]

What would they need that many nuclear capable bombers for?

 

The US doesn't even have 100.

[+pcpilot]

Man! 11,000 mile range...holy moley! Good for Russia??? What good can possibly come from 200 frikken bombers? The world has enough already.

[Atreides]

What would they need that many nuclear capable bombers for?

 

The US doesn't even have 100.

 

To one day use Iran and Pakistan as a bombing range

[+lindr2]

SORRI FOR BAD ENGLISH, be cause I'm russian, but

Don't fear Tu-160 today we hawe only 17 planes in service, and modification only in project.

BUT NEW Tu-22M will be your nightmare!!! ground radar 400 km range and 6 m resolution, kh-35, nuke missiles and bombs, precision weapons etc.

200 - 300 planes will be modified for this standart. RUSSIA IS NOT AGRESSOR BUT WHITOUT POWER, WE WILL BE VICTIM.

POWER CREATE FREEDOM !!!

[+Typhoid]

SORRI FOR BAD ENGLISH, be cause I'm russian, but

Don't fear Tu-160 today we hawe only 17 planes in service, and modification only in project.

BUT NEW Tu-22M will be your nightmare!!! ground radar 400 km range and 6 m resolution, kh-35, nuke missiles and bombs, precision weapons etc.

200 - 300 planes will be modified for this standart. RUSSIA IS NOT AGRESSOR BUT WHITOUT POWER, WE WILL BE VICTIM.

POWER CREATE FREEDOM !!!

 

Backfire is still a regional plane, not intercontinental. The Blackjack can reach just about anywhere and then launch a package of cruise missiles.

 

The combination of modernized Backfires for regional use and Blackjacks for intercontinental is already a very potent force and one we watch closely.

[SayethWhaaaa]

I dunno, I'm with lindr2 on this one. Modernised Tu-22s with comtemprary Russian avionics/weapons systems popping up unannounced or decking targets from standoff ranges would be pretty freakin scary. K, the Tu-160 is a very capable machine, there's a hell of a lot more Tu-22s either in storage or in service.

 

Just a question about these two though, I know the Tu-22M3/4 didn't have an in flight refueling capacity dues to the SALT deals, but have they been equipped since? They're predominantly conventional bombers these days, I don't see why the SALT limitations would apply now. For that matter, what about the Tu-160. I thought I had seen snaps of an in flight probe and drouge system, but I could be wrong... damned cold has me a bit sketched out!!

[+Typhoid]

I dunno, I'm with lindr2 on this one. Modernised Tu-22s with comtemprary Russian avionics/weapons systems popping up unannounced or decking targets from standoff ranges would be pretty freakin scary. K, the Tu-160 is a very capable machine, there's a hell of a lot more Tu-22s either in storage or in service.

 

 

modernized Tu-22M's as opposed to modernized and new production Tu-160's?

 

also depends on the target. The Backfires are optimized for anti-carrier ops and regional strikes. The Tu-160 is optimized for a very different role. The range is the other key difference. The Blackjack can go where the Backfire can only dream of....

 

"there's a hell of a lot more Tu-22s either in storage" yea - obsolete ones..... good for AMRAAM's!!

 

refueling is good question.

[The Southern Cross]

I remember a 10 years old video in which the speaker claimed that Russia has many hundred Backfires in service(300-400). That's too much, I think...the real number could near 30-40. Does anyone here have more reliable info? I'm a bit confused.

[+lindr2]

I remember a 10 years old video in which the speaker claimed that Russia has many hundred Backfires in service(300-400). That's too much, I think...the real number could near 30-40. Does anyone here have more reliable info? I'm a bit confused.

Tu-22M0 Prototype

Tu-22M1 Prototype

Tu-22M2 211 planes in years 1974-1984

Tu-22M3 268 planes in years 1983-1993

[+Typhoid]

I remember a 10 years old video in which the speaker claimed that Russia has many hundred Backfires in service(300-400). That's too much, I think...the real number could near 30-40. Does anyone here have more reliable info? I'm a bit confused.

 

for current info, not on open sources.

[The Southern Cross]

The number of Backfires is very high indeed...they're more than a threat.

[SayethWhaaaa]

"there's a hell of a lot more Tu-22s either in storage" yea - obsolete ones..... good for AMRAAM's!!

 

Well... technically that statement's true. :biggrin: If you include the one rusting at the end of runways...

[MigBuster]

Talk about confusing - Seems the TU-22M Backfire is derived from the TU-22 Blinder - how? more like they threw the TU-22 drawing in the bin (but kept the Red stars) and just built an entirely new jet from scratch!

[Guest pfunkmusik]

It's amazing what $110/bbl. of oil will do for an economy once on the brink of collapse.

 

pfunk

[kct]

Rather, what Putin has been complaining about (something like their customers flying the most advanced versions of aircraft they produce (see: India and Malaysia for the Su-30MKI/MKM) and they are not doing the same...considering that they have less than 10 Su-35es in service at one time, which is lesser even the Su-30MKMs (ours along with the Indian MKIs are considered more like Su-35es) we're operating).

[+lindr2]

Rather, what Putin has been complaining about (something like their customers flying the most advanced versions of aircraft they produce (see: India and Malaysia for the Su-30MKI/MKM) and they are not doing the same...considering that they have less than 10 Su-35es in service at one time, which is lesser even the Su-30MKMs (ours along with the Indian MKIs are considered more like Su-35es) we're operating).

 

Su-30 MKK ,MKM, MKI, Su-27SK etc It's ONLY export planes. Not for RUSSIA air Force, be cause letter 'K' in names - "Kommercheskiy" - Commercical. Su-35 is yesterday also, first Su-35 created in 1989-90. WE DON'T NEED THIS PLANES. NOW. Today we work about new su plane V generation, this work will be ended in short time. Su-34 production started, Tu-22M, Tu-95, Tu-160, Su-24M, Su-27, Mig-29 update starting now, MiG-31M with R-37 missiles (280km max range) may be started in service, i think this enough.

[kct]

Speaking of which...any word about the PAK-FA (or any of the 5th generation fighters from Sukhoi)?

[JediMaster]

PAK-FA is still in progress, but when it will have first flight, let alone enter service, is anyone's guess.

 

I was unaware the MiG-31M program was still going, I thought at this point Russia was going to standardize on 29s for short range and 27s for long range.