Russia's nuclear plan: Old bombers eyed for 2025 arsenal boost
Russia intends to commission four Tu-160M bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons by 2025. However, the Ukrainian portal Defense Express notes that Moscow will not produce any new aircraft. So, where will it obtain these machines from?
The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced plans to strengthen its strategic air fleet by introducing four Tu-160M bombers in 2025. These aircraft are valuable to the local military primarily because each can carry up to 12 missiles, including nuclear ones. Currently, Russia has 13 of these bombers, meaning that plans for 2025 represent a 30% increase in the Tu-160M bomber arsenal.
Russians want new machines but will not produce any aircraft
However, as highlighted by Defense Express, the Russian arms industry, despite its desire to acquire new machines, will not produce any new bombers. The aircraft planned for introduction are units that have been awaiting completion of testing for years. In 2023, Russia also planned to introduce four Tu-160Ms, but this was not achieved. This time, however, the plan is expected to succeed, and the units are set to be added to the arsenal as early as 2025.
Defense Express explains that the "new" bombers for Russia are "stockpiles" from Soviet times, i.e., machines that have been in storage since the 1980s. The Russians do not specify the exact condition of the mentioned Tu-160Ms. However, according to reports, the military has been conducting tests on them for at least several months.
Valuable bomber of the Russian Federation's army
The Tu-160, a supersonic bomber with variable-sweep wings, is a remarkable example of engineering, which NATO calls Blackjack. Due to its unique appearance, it is also referred to as the "White Swan." It is the heaviest bomber type in the world.
Although the production of these aircraft formally ended in 1994, they are still used by the military. The powerful Tu-160 structure features a length of nearly 55 metres, a height exceeding 13 metres, and a wingspan of 36 metres. It can transport a payload of 28,000 kilograms, reaching a maximum speed of up to 2,200 kilometres per hour.
