Russia's superplane: Tu-160M2 will become a legend in the world aircraft industry.

The new Russian supersonic aircraft Tu160M2, which is currently being constructed at domestic factories, is one of the most anticipated new products of the military-industrial complex. It is known that this aircraft will become a platform for the future construction of the promising PAK DA aviation complex. It is he who is assigned a special role in replacing several series of aircraft at once: Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS and Tu-160.

In addition, the technical equipment of the bomber will make many potential adversaries think once again about whether it is worth committing acts of aggression against Russia.

It is impossible to ignore the unique stealth technologies and speed characteristics of the bomber. Many experts and engineers have repeatedly noted that the reduced visibility of an aircraft in the air can play a cruel joke on enemy air defense. But a lot has already been said about this, as well as about the armament of the Tu160M2.

However, at the moment new information has emerged that allows us to look at the bomber from a completely new perspective. The scientific director of the FSUE GosNIIAS, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Fedosov, said in an interview with the RNS news agency that the military wrote their wishes for the aircraft, and want to see it as more than just a bomber.

Today the Tu-160M2 is considered a unique multi-mission aircraft. The military wants to give the aircraft the qualities of both a strategic bomber and a long-range interceptor. It is also necessary that the new aircraft industry product can be used as an operational-tactical bomber or as a platform for launching spacecraft.

In other words, engineers are faced with the most difficult task: to combine the qualities of completely different devices in one aircraft. The Tu-160M2 must have the speed of an interceptor fighter and, it turns out, must maintain reasonable maneuverability characteristics. At the same time, the aircraft must be armed with missiles and bombs, which reduces its speed and maneuverability due to the weight of the bomber. And it’s unlikely that anyone will take on the task of preserving altitude parameters.

Therefore, today there is every reason to believe that the bomber will become a legend in the aircraft industry, as was the case with the Soviet T-64 tank in its time. Let us remember that this particular tank stopped the division into medium, heavy and light tanks, combining the unique qualities of all vehicles. Starting with the T-64, the USSR and Russia had a “main battle tank”. And Russia may soon have a superplane - this is exactly the second name given by the PolitExpert publication to the aviation novelty of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Konstantin Valentinovich Sivkov, a doctor of military sciences, military analyst, chairman of the Union of Geopoliticians, and columnist for the Military-Industrial Courier, told the PolitExpert publication whether the Tu-160M2 will be able to repeat the feat of the T-64.

The military expert said that the Tu-160M2 is a completely new and unique aircraft, which will have amazing prospects in the future.

“To design a multi-mission aircraft that could perform a wide variety of tasks without the involvement of other air forces is indeed a very interesting approach. Will Russia be able to create one? Well, here we need to take it point by point.

The bomber's functions will remain. This is not discussed. It is now specifically optimized for the use of cruise missiles and free-fall bombs (both atomic and conventional).

The only difficulty is precision bombing and work on ground or air targets. The fact is that at present the aircraft does not yet have equipment for firing conventional weapons with high accuracy. However, installing something like this is possible in principle. And when converting the aircraft, it is possible to use high-precision missiles X-29 or X-58. It will be quite effective,” said Konstantin Valentinovich.

The military specialist also noted that the Tu-160M2 will be able to easily perform all the functions assigned to it with the necessary modifications. It will be able to successfully fight both ships, ground targets, and enemy aircraft.

“It is possible to use anti-ship missiles against sea targets. This issue was considered during the design of the Tu-160M2. It was necessary that he could successfully strike at naval formations. Russia now has the Kalibr-MK missile in a version for firing at surface targets. And it can be used when modifying an aircraft.

Tu-160M2 as a fighter. This is where a problem may arise. The fact is that he will not be able to conduct a maneuverable battle. The mass, the maximum overload of about 5 units and the specific load on the wing will have a big influence. But he can conduct long-range missile combat quite easily.

Everything will depend on the weapons used. For example, the X37 missiles, which are currently in service and used on other aircraft, will make it possible to hit the enemy at a great distance. In this case, the Russian aircraft will not have to engage in close combat, and it will be able to avoid enemy medium-range missiles. Considering the enormous payload capacity of the Tu-160M2, it is realistic to place about 12-16 missiles on board. The distance will make it possible to discharge an impressive arsenal and avoid a collision at supersonic speed. The Russian bomber can also be loaded with upgraded X-55 missiles. Overall, the White Swan will be able to destroy a large number of aircraft from an enemy attack force.

However, there is one problem. To use such missiles and fire from a long range, you need a very powerful phased array radar that will be able to detect enemy aircraft (the same fighters) at a distance of 400-450 kilometers. So far, there is equipment that can only illuminate ground and water targets. We need deep modernization,” the expert said about the Tu-160M2.

Konstantin Valentinovich believes that the new aircraft will not have problems transporting any space objects. And in general, the Tu-160M2 is a new word in the aircraft industry.

“Spacecraft are not a problem. There is no need for sophisticated equipment, and Russia has experience. For example, the An-225 was originally created to launch Buran. Therefore, modifying something in the Tu-160M2 will be some kind of problem.

The only difficulty that currently exists is the placement of a large amount of new and upgraded equipment on the aircraft. All this will lead to a change in the shape of the aircraft. The fuselage, nose, suspension, fairings, aerodynamics and more will change. In fact, they will create a new unique aircraft,” the expert emphasized.

The military specialist also noted that new prospects and opportunities will be opened for the Tu-160M2.

“The bomber is opening up fundamentally new possibilities. This aircraft will be unique in its versatility due to the weapons used and tactical characteristics. He will be able to operate deep in the enemy’s defenses, overcome air defenses, and suppress the enemy without the participation of additional forces. If we manage to assemble such an aircraft, it will be a new word in aircraft construction. Russia will receive a universal main long-range combat aircraft for strategic aviation.

But do not forget that such equipment is very expensive to produce. The loss of even one aircraft seems to be a serious blow.

The Russian Federation is developing an ultra-long-range missile for the modernized Tu-160

Currently, a long-range cruise missile is being developed for the modernized Tu-160M2 strategic bomber, the RNS agency reports a message from the head of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise GosNIIAS, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeniy Fedosov.

“Currently, the so-called X-BD missile – long-range – is being included in the project of the modernized Tu-160M. Its range is classified. It is known that its predecessor, the X-101 missile with a conventional charge, has a range of 3 thousand km. The new missile will have a much longer range,” the academician said.

He noted that today a concept has emerged: not to introduce long-range aircraft into the enemy’s air defense zone.

“It must operate outside this zone, and the weapon enters the zone. If such an aircraft carries a lot of weapons, then the principle of information degradation of the enemy’s air defense begins to work again. By not entering the enemy’s air defense zone, but by launching a missile there, we dictate the direction of the attack, the moment and density. And if you thoroughly scout the enemy's air defense, then we will always find a bottleneck and throw a group at that throat. If we are talking about a strategic nuclear strike, then at least one missile will always get through. And that will be enough,"
Fedosov told the agency in an interview.

The Russian armed forces will soon receive new supersonic strategic missile-carrying bombers Tu-160M2. It is planned that serial production of a new modification of the famous “White Swan” will begin after 2021. And the first prototypes of the new machine will appear in 2019. The head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, announced on June 2 that the priority units of the Tu-160M2 have already been put into production. The minister announced this information during a conference call at the defense department. As the press service of Tupolev PJSC reported at the end of May, welding of large elements of the new Tu-160 series aircraft began at the Kazan Aviation Plant.

• Sergei Shoigu
• globallookpress.com
• Kremlin Pool

Return what was lost

For the needs of the Ministry of Defense, Tupolev PJSC should produce about 50 Tu-160M2 aircraft - this volume of purchases of the new bomber was previously announced by Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov. Currently, the Russian Aerospace Forces are armed with ten Tu-160 aircraft, produced back in the Soviet period. Some of the unique missile carriers were simply destroyed in the 1990s. The cars remaining on Ukrainian territory after the collapse of the USSR were sawed up as part of the US “cooperative threat reduction” program. True, Moscow was able to obtain some of the planes from Kyiv in exchange for Ukrainian debts for gas in 1999-2000.

In addition to the Tu-160, the Russian Aerospace Forces are armed with the Tu-95 (“Bear”) strategic bombers. The aircraft was developed after World War II; the Tu-95 made its first flight in 1952. Until now, this turboprop aircraft remains a leader among aircraft in its class and is capable of carrying the most modern missiles.

But technology does not stand still, and the military arsenal needs constant updating. The Tu-160M2 should eventually replace aircraft designed back in the last century. In parallel, work is underway on a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA), in which Tu-160M2 technologies will be partially applied.

About 800 Soviet factories and organizations were involved in the work on creating the Tu-160 to one degree or another. To develop and put into production a new modification of the aircraft, coordination of a number of enterprises is also necessary. In March 2016, the re-equipment program of the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAZ) named after. S.P. Gorbunov for the development of Tu-160M2.

As Deputy General Director of the Tupolev company Valery Solozobov explained to the media, engineers from all leading aircraft design schools were involved in working on the Tu-160M2: Tupolev, Sukhoi, Yakovlev, Beriev, Mikoyan.

“Designers in different parts of Russia are busy designing different parts of the airframe and wing. This will help to radically speed up the production of components and assemblies of the “strategist” on modern machine-tool processing centers,” said Solozobov.

Tu-160 is a supersonic strategic missile carrier with variable wing geometry (the ability to change the angle of the wing to the aircraft body ). The bomber can carry both nuclear and conventional projectiles, the destruction radius exceeds 7000 km. Its flight range without refueling is almost 14,000 km.

The Tu-160 is the most powerful strategic bomber, the combined thrust of its four engines is 100,000 kgf, it can carry a combat load of up to 40 tons. For comparison: the power of the American B-52 strategic bomber is only 61,680 kgf.

New models of strategic bombers are being developed in Russia with an eye to the future. Today, Russian cars of this class are noticeably ahead of their foreign counterparts in most respects. In the late 1990s, the American company Northrop Grumman developed the B-2 Spirit multi-role bomber. The use of stealth technologies made it possible to make the vehicle less noticeable to radars than the Tu-160.

• American B-2 Spirit bomber
• US Air Force/flickr

However, the price of the B-2 Spirit - $2 billion (while one Tu-160 costs $250 million) - nullified the achieved advantage.

The Russian Defense Ministry expects that the Tu-160M2 modification will be twice as effective as the old long-range bomber model. According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, the depth of modernization of the missile carrier will reach 60%.

In particular, the avionics (the electronic “stuffing” of the aircraft) will be radically updated. The designers intend to implement an integral-modular principle - elements of on-board electronics will be interchangeable. If one computer fails, its functions will be redistributed between other parts of the system.

The aircraft will be equipped with a fundamentally new electronic warfare system. Concern Radioelectronic Technologies (KRET) will equip the Tu-160M2 with the Himalaya airborne complex, previously supplied for the T-50 fifth-generation fighters. The White Swan will be protected from air defense missiles, as well as from aircraft missiles.

The developers claim that the electronic defense system will protect the aircraft from almost 100% of threats.

The course of the Tu-160M2 will be calculated using the BINS-SP-1 inertial navigation system. The system, equipped with three laser gyroscopes and quartz accelerometers, determines the position of the vehicle in space with an accuracy of 100 m and can operate in any latitude, including the Arctic.

It is planned that the new NK-32-02 engines will raise the White Swan’s flight ceiling to 22 km. This will allow the bomber to be removed from the range of American Patriot air defense systems, whose destruction range does not exceed 20 km.

Engines for aircraft of the Tu-160 line were previously produced at the Kuibyshev Engine Plant named after. M.V. Frunze (now it is PJSC Kuznetsov).

The plane of “doomsday” and local conflicts

As military expert Mikhail Khodarenok explained in an interview with RT, the Tu-160 has no equal in flight range, take-off weight, size, or armament.

“But in aviation there is such a law - when the established period of validity of a particular unit comes to an end, it needs to be changed. It is necessary to continue to maintain the fleet of existing strategic bombers, but updating is also required. In principle, the Tu-160M2 will be a new aircraft; only the airframe will remain from the original Tu-160. Until the promising long-range aviation complex is ready, a lot of time will pass, but the Tu-160M2 can be built much faster. Although this task cannot be called simple - just look at the cost of transferring paper drawings from the 1970s into an electronic form that modern machines “understand,” the expert said.

The release of the Tu-160M2 will make it possible to update the Russian air fleet until the appearance of the ultra-modern PAK DA, the creation of which requires an order of magnitude more time and money. Strategic aviation is one of the most effective types of weapons, so the efforts spent on its modernization are more than justified.

As military expert Viktor Murakhovsky explained to RT, long-range strategic aviation has a number of advantages that make it a relevant and in-demand weapon. For a ground-based missile, for example, absolutely accurate target designation is needed, in addition, such missiles cannot compete in the speed of reaction with a long-range bomber.

“After launch, a missile can no longer be retargeted, and a bomber can change its combat mission directly during flight. Based on the experience of using long-range aviation, for example during operations of the Soviet Union, such situations often arise. The bomber can patrol near the area of ​​​​use and, when a target appears, instantly hit it from a duty position. Experience shows that strategic bombers are also used in local conflicts. Using ground-based cruise missiles instead would be very expensive and unwise,” Murakhovsky concluded.

In the 60s of the last century, the Soviet Union focused on the development of missile weapons, and strategic aviation, represented by Tu-95 and M-4 with subsonic speeds, was considered unable to overcome the air defense of NATO countries.

The US decision to create a new strategic supersonic bomber B-1 prompted the USSR leadership to take adequate response measures. The Council of Ministers decided to begin preparing a project for a modern intercontinental strategic supersonic aircraft, which later received the designation TU-160, and among the pilots it had the affectionate name “White Swan”.

History of the project to create the Tu 160 aircraft

The creation of a project for a new bomber was entrusted to the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau. By the beginning of the 70s, projects were submitted for consideration. Both projects turned out to be similar - it is a supersonic vehicle with four engines and a wing with variable sweep, but the designs were still different.

In 1969, the Tupolev Design Bureau, with experience in creating a supersonic passenger aircraft, joined the project. Tu-144. Having considered the projects of the Sukhoi and Myasishchev Design Bureaus and the out-of-competition project of the Tupolev Design Bureau, it was decided to give work on the project to the Tupolev team, as they have extensive experience in creating supersonic machines.

In addition to the Tupolev Design Bureau, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, the Air Force Research Institute, and TsAGI were involved; in total, since 1972, more than 800 organizations have participated.
The first prototype (designation 70-01) took off from the ground in December 1981 with a crew led by test pilot B. Veremey from the Ramenskoye airfield. The second sample was intended for static tests. The first four samples were manufactured at the Opyt enterprise.

Tu 160 diagram

Serial aircraft were manufactured at the Kazan Aviation Plant. In 1984, on October 10, the series was given a ticket to the sky.

Description of the Tu 160 aircraft

The design of the vehicle is based on an integral aerodynamic layout with a low-mounted wing with sweep that changes in flight. The sweep can be changed from 200 to 650.
The wing is equipped with rich mechanization - there are slats along the entire length on each console, and flaps at the rear. In front of the flaps, a flaperon and an interceptor were built into the console design.

The radio-transparent antenna radome hides the on-board radar for viewing the front sphere inside. In the space between the cockpit and the surveillance locator blocks there is a Sopka radar, designed for low-altitude flights around the terrain.

The crew cabin is designed for four members - two pilots and two navigators, who sit side by side. The first navigator is responsible for aircraft navigation, the other for the use of weapons. The seats are equipped with a catapult.

Under the influx of the wing in front there are multi-mode air intakes that regulate the incoming air flow and supply it to the engines. The cross-section of the intake channels changes, from rectangular to round. The power plant consists of four NK-32 turbofan engines, two located on each side of the fuselage.

The fin of the Tu-160 is made of two sections, the fuselage body is rigidly connected to the lower part, and the upper trapezoidal section serves as a rudder. The rotation mechanism and the rotation stabilizer itself are attached to the fixed part of the keel.

The landing gear of the aircraft is made according to a three-legged design, the main landing gear on each leg has six wheels that retract into a niche in the center section between the air intakes and the weapons compartment. The nose landing gear is two-wheeled and, in the retracted position, is located between the weapons compartment and the cockpit.

The design of the aircraft allows 171 tons of fuel to be placed in 13 caisson tanks, which at cruising speed with a sweep of 350 makes it possible to cover a distance of 14 thousand km. In-flight refueling is also provided - the fuel receiver in the form of a retractable boom is located in the bow, in front of the cockpit.

Tu 160 in the air

To fulfill its purpose - to break through enemy air defenses and strike important strategic targets, it is equipped with the Baikal airborne defense complex. This complex includes stations for detecting threats from aviation and air defense systems, electronic warfare stations and automatic devices for shooting decoys and decoys.

At the bottom of the nose of the aircraft there is an OPB-15T optical-electronic sight for precise bombing and a television camera in the front lower sphere. An inertial navigation system, a celestial navigation system and satellite tracking system equipment allow for high-precision flights with the aircraft's location displayed on the navigator's indicators.

Tactical and technical data of the Tu 160 bomber

Tu 160 "White Swan"

Flight characteristics of Tu 160

• Maximum speed at an altitude of 12 thousand. m – 2200 km/h.
• The maximum speed at the ground is 1030 km/h.
• Cruising speed – 850-920 km/h.
• Rate of climb – 70 m/sec.
• Practical range without refueling is 14 thousand km.
• Ceiling – 15600 m.
• Combat radius - 7300 km.
• Flight duration is 14.5 hours.

Power plant of the Tu 160 aircraft

• Four NK-32 turbofan engines with cruising thrust of 137.2 kN.
  afterburner - 245.7 kN.

Dimensions of the Tu 160 aircraft

• The length of the aircraft is 54.10 m.
• The height of the aircraft is 13.10 m.
• Wing span, sweep 200 - 55.7 m.
• Wing span, sweep 350 - 50.7 m.
• Wing span, sweep 650 - 35.6 m.

Weight of the Tu 160 aircraft

• Empty, equipped aircraft - 117 tons.
• Take-off maximum – 225 tons.

Armament of the Tu 160 aircraft

• On a drum-type installation - 6 Kh-55SM/101/102 anti-aircraft missile launchers.
• Kh-15 short-range missiles – 12 pcs.

Interesting information about the Tu 160 strategic bomber

Forty-four world records are registered on the account of the White Swan.

Each board is named after an outstanding designer or famous pilot.

Tu 160 "Valentin Bliznyuk"

Only this strategic bomber can boast its own kitchen and bathroom; before it, military aircraft were not equipped with such amenities.

NATO called it “Dubinka”, and Russian pilots affectionately called it “White Swan”.

In the world, this is perhaps the largest aircraft with a variable sweep wing.

While on a visit to Russia, Frank Carpucci, the then US Secretary of Defense, inspected the pilot's cockpit and hit his head on an electrical panel. Since then, pilots have nicknamed it “Carpucci’s shield.”

Video: p launching cruise missiles at terrorist targets in Syria from a Tu 160

Supersonic Russian bomber White Swan (Tu-160)

The Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber (according to NATO classification "Black Jack") was developed at the Tupolev design bureau together with the Kazan Aviation Production Association named after S.P. Gorbunov in Tatarstan from 1980 to 1992.

The first flight of the bomber was carried out in December 1981, and in April 1987 the Tu-160 aircraft was put into service. According to some reports, a total of 35 aircraft were built, but currently only 16 aircraft are in operation, the rest of the aircraft are out of service.

The aircraft has a combat radius of 6,000 km (without mid-air refueling), and a service ceiling of 16,000 m. The maximum flight speed is 2,000 km at high altitude and 1,030 km at low altitude.
The Tu-160 received the name “White Swan” due to its maneuverability and special white coloring.
The main combat purpose of the aircraft is the delivery of nuclear and conventional bombs and missiles to deep continental theaters of military operations.

The aircraft is all-weather, with unlimited day-night capabilities and can be operated and carry out combat missions in all geographic latitudes.
Tu-160 engines are installed in two rows under the wings. The air intakes have vertical valves - wings.
The aircraft's power plant system includes four turbofan engines - NK-32, each of which provides a maximum thrust of 25,000 kg.
The bomber has an in-flight refueling system. When not in use, the refueling probe is retracted into the forward fuselage in front of the cockpit.
The plane takes on board 150,000 kg of fuel.

The Tu-160 is similar in appearance to the American B-1B, but it was created after the creation of the B1-B.
Tu-160, today the most modern heavy bomber in Russia. This is a 267 ton aircraft that can carry up to 40 tons of bombs and missiles.
It was created primarily to deliver cruise missiles. Noting the success of the B-1 in Afghanistan and Iraq with smart bombs, changes were made to the Tu-160 so that it could also use these weapons, but without compromising the ability to use cruise missiles.
By 2020, the Russian Air Force will receive more than 10 modernized Tu-160s. According to official data, at least 16 examples of Tu-160 bombers are currently in operation in Russia.
There are plans to increase their number to 30.
The Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-wing geometry, heavy bomber designed to strike strategic targets with nuclear and conventional munitions in deep continental theaters of war. The upgraded version is called the Tu-160M, and has a new weapons system, improved electronics and avionics that doubles its combat effectiveness. The aircraft is equipped with a highly computerized avionics system, which includes an integrated targeting system, a navigation and flight control system, and an electronic countermeasures system against radar detection.

Technical characteristics of Tu-160:

Crew: 4 people
Aircraft length: 54.1 m
Wingspan: 55.7/50.7/35.6 m
Height: 13.1 m
Wing area: 232 m²
Empty weight: 110,000 kg
Normal take-off weight: 267,600 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 275,000 kg
Engines: 4 × NK-32 turbofan engines
Maximum thrust: 4 × 18000 kgf
Afterburner thrust: 4 × 25000 kgf
Fuel mass, kg 148000

Flight characteristics of the Tu-160 strategic bomber:

Maximum speed at altitude: 2230 km/h (1.87M)
Cruising speed: 917 km/h (0.77 M)
Maximum flight range without refueling: 13950 km
Practical flight range without refueling: 12,300 km
Combat radius: 6000 km
Flight duration: 25 hours
Service ceiling: 15,000
Climbing rate: 4400 m/min
Takeoff length 900 m
Run length 2000 m
at maximum take-off weight: 1185 kg/m²
at normal take-off weight: 1150 kg/m²
Thrust-to-weight ratio:
at maximum take-off weight: 0.37
at normal take-off weight: 0.36

Thus, it is noted that on January 25, 2018, a new one made a flight in Kazan in the presence of President Vladimir Putin. The aircraft was rolled out on November 16, 2017, and in December it made its first flight. And the flight in front of the president was of a demonstration nature. The aircraft was named "Peter Deinekin" in honor of the former commander of Long-Range Aviation and commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force in 1992-1998. He passed away on August 19, 2017.

Vladimir Putin met with workers of the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAZ). On the same day, January 25, the Ilyushin Design Bureau reported that a prototype of the Il-78M-90A refueling aircraft took off in Ulyanovsk. According to the design bureau, in the long term it will become the main refueling aircraft for the Russian Aerospace Forces. Similar to the Tu-160, its first real flight took place on January 19.

The new Tu-160 has serial number 8-04 (its proper name is “Peter Deinekin”). This is the fourth aircraft of the eighth series and the 35th aircraft produced, excluding ground test prototypes. Production of the Tu-160 was carried out in Kazan in 1988-1994, after which four unfinished fuselages remained at the plant. The first of these, 8-02, was transferred to the military in 1999, followed by 8-03 in 2007, and 8-05 still remains at the enterprise. The Russian Aerospace Forces has 16 Tu-160 aircraft (excluding 8-04), all of which are part of the 121st Heavy Bomber Regiment in Engels.

To fulfill its main task - intercontinental flights as a carrier of strategic weapons, the speed of the Tu-160 at an altitude of 11-12 km is 0.77 M, which allows it to have a flight range of 12,300 km without refueling with six X-55 cruise missiles. In the theater of operations, the aircraft overcomes enemy air defenses at a speed of 2000 km/h at high altitude. The flight range at a speed of 1.5M is 2000 km. Low altitude flight at a speed of 1030 km/h using a terrain following system is not applicable. The Tu-160 was first used in combat on November 17, 2015, when it fired Kh-101 missiles at targets in Syria.

The new Tu-160M2 was built not only to increase the number of strategic bombers. The main goal is to prepare production at KAPO to produce 50 aircraft at a rate of three aircraft per year. The new production Tu-160M2 aircraft (“product 70M2”) retain the old airframe, but will be equipped with modernized engines, new avionics and weapons. The first new Tu-160M2 is scheduled to take off in 2021. The resumption of production of new Tu-160M2 will help maintain the serviceability of the existing Tu-160 fleet, which lacks spare parts for scheduled repairs.

The idea of ​​resuming Tu-160 production was announced in April 2015. The decision had apparently been made some time before. The Tu-160M2 is very important to the Russians, and in the current situation, while other programs are suffering from a lack of funding, this project appears to be receiving additional funding. Thus, out of 178 programs financed in the aviation industry in 2015, 54 were cut, and 16 new ones were opened. All of them were related to the project to resume production of the Tu-160M2.

Maintaining the airworthiness of the Tu-160 fleet and producing the Tu-160M2 require new engines. JSC "ODK-Kuznetsov" from Samara in August 2014 signed a contract for the production of NK-32 series 2 engines, renewing it after a pause of 25 years. The NK-32-02 engine was developed in 1987, but its production was not carried out due to problems with financing. The modernization of the NK-32-02 affected the compressor and turbine blades, internal aerodynamics, and improved internal cooling. As a result, kerosene consumption was reduced, and the take-off thrust of 25 tons remained unchanged. The Tupolev Design Bureau states that during tests with new engines and a base load (six cruise missiles, that is, a mass of nine tons), the Tu-160 can cover 13,950 km, that is, 1,650 km more than the standard version. Now the engine for the Tu-160M2 is designated as NK-32-02M2.

On October 23, 2014, a project was approved to modernize the control system and on-board equipment of combat Tu-160s into the Tu-160M ​​variant (product 70M). The new Tu-160M2 is very likely equipped with the same equipment. This new equipment for M/M2 variants should be ready by 2020-2021.

The existing Obzor-K airborne radar will be replaced with a new radar of the Novella NV1.70 family, which is operated by Zaslon JSC. Ulyanovsk KBP is developing a new cockpit with LCD monitors for the Tu-160M. The aircraft will also be equipped with the NO-70M navigation system with the BINS-SP-1 inertial system, the ANS-2009M celestial navigation system, as well as a navigation computer. Other systems include the DISS-021-70 navigation radar, the A737DP space navigation receiver, the ABSU-200MT autopilot and the S-505-70 communication system. The Redut-70M airborne defense system is a completely new development created specifically for the Tu-160M/M2. The Kulon Research Institute is developing the BKR-70M state identification system for this aircraft.

Tu-160 "Valentin Bliznyuk" is a prototype of the Tu-160M. In 2006, this aircraft became the prototype for the “first stage of modernization” modification of the Tu-160M1, which included elements that required deep modernization, such as a “glass cockpit” and a new radar. The earlier equipment has been removed. For example, the modernized aircraft has wired windows that previously served as an optical sight for a bomber sight in the nose cone. Apparently it was removed. Modernization of the first stage and other work are being carried out in Kazan. Since November 2014, five aircraft have been upgraded to the M1 variant and transferred to the Aerospace Forces.

Regardless of equipment modernization, Russian bombers receive new weapons. Since 2003, the Tu-160 (and Tu-95MS) have been modified to use the Kh-555 missile, which is a non-nuclear version of the Kh-55 missile. Since about 2011, the aircraft can use up to 12 new missiles with the new generation nuclear warhead Kh-102 and its non-nuclear version Kh-101.

The Kh-101/102 family missiles are approximately 1.4 m longer and 1 ton heavier than the Kh-55SM and Kh-555 missiles. It is still necessary to develop a new multi-position launcher (drum) that can accept these new missiles in the bomb bays. Initial problems with insufficient strength with the swing mechanism and drum were resolved during 2015. The Tu-95MS has a smaller bomb bay, so Kh-101/102 missiles can only be used on them from external pylons. The maximum range of the X-101 is estimated at 3000-4000 km. The nuclear option has even more.

Especially for the Tu-160M/M2 and PAK DA, the Raduga company is developing the Kh-BD cruise missile, which is a variant of the Kh-101/102 with an increased range. Since the Tu-160 project dates back to 1972, it then provided for the placement of X-45 missiles 10.8 meters long, and the size of the bomb bay was subordinated to this. The armament was changed with the advent of the 6-meter-long X-55 missiles, but the compartment dimensions did not change. The X-101 is 7.4 meters long, which means there is still some space left in the compartment.

Two other missiles are being developed for the Tu-160 and PAK DA - the Kh-SD and the GZUR. The X-SD is being developed by Raduga, a subsonic cruise missile that uses the guidance system from the X-101, but its body has more modest dimensions, similar to the American JASSM AGM-158. The guidance system includes a combination of an inertial navigation system with GPS / GLONASS correction on the cruising section and an electro-optical digital correlation system “Otblesk” (analogous to DSMAC) for the final section. R&D on X-SD began in the 1990s, but stopped within a few years.

The X-SD (or “product 715”) is approximately 6 meters long and can be placed in the bomb bays of Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS bombers. Its weight is approximately 1600 kg. It is equipped with a low-resource product 37-04 engine developed by the Omsk Engine Design Bureau with a thrust of 350 kg and has a flight range of 1,500 km at a cruising speed of 700 km/h. The missile body consists of inclined planes, which simultaneously reduces radar signature and allows it to be placed in a “drum” for six missiles.

Tu-160M/M2 will be able to lift up to 12 X-SD missiles on two drum launchers. The purchase of Kh-SD missiles is provided for in the State Arms Program for 2018-2027. For cruise missiles, there are two ways to survive in the presence of a powerful air defense system - due to the low visibility of the X-SD (product 715) or high speed (product 75). The latest missile is being developed jointly by the parent company JSC Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation in Korolev and Raduga from Dubna as part of the GZUR (hypersonic guided missile) program.

The GZUR is a missile that reaches a speed of 6M and a flight range of 1500 km when flying at high altitude, capable of hitting various ground targets. It is very likely that its main task is to combat surface targets. Its dimensions are estimated to be 6 meters in length and weigh around 1500 kg. This rocket will be equipped with an Izdeliye 70 engine developed by TMKB Soyuz. The rocket should go into production in 2020.