Russian bomber crash exposes weaknesses in air fleet

On 15 August, in the Irkutsk region, the Russians lost another Tu-22M3 bomber. This type of aircraft, whose capabilities we will recall, is one of the more significant for the Russian Air Force. As military expert Oleg Katkov noted, this is evidenced by the fact that information on the number of Tu-22M3 in possession is closely guarded by the Russians.

The loss of this Tu-22M3 instance was not related to Ukrainian actions. The Russian aircraft crashed in Siberia during a training flight. According to Russian reports, preliminary inspections indicated that the cause of the crash was a "technical malfunction".

Photos from the crash site, showing the remains of the ill-fated Tu-22M3, are beginning to appear on social media.

Military expert Oleg Katkov notes that it is very difficult to estimate how many Tu-22M the Russians have at their disposal. According to the Military Balance report, there were 57 units in mid-2023.

Now, the number is certainly smaller. Several of these machines have been destroyed or damaged by Ukrainians. It is also uncertain whether all stored Tu-22M are fully operational.

"Of course, the Russian Federation has problems maintaining these aircraft in proper combat readiness. Currently, the main bomber of the Russian Federation is the Tu-95, on paper they have about 40. Information on the actual number of Tu-22M3 aircraft is closely guarded, as there are various issues. For instance, engines for these aircraft have not been produced since 1996," Oleg Katkov explained, as quoted by the Unian agency.

Confirmed information shows that this year the Russians lost two Tu-22M3 units. One in April, and another in August. Another two were damaged in July during a Ukrainian attack on Olenia airfield.

A very important feature of the Tu-22M3 is its ability to carry up to 24,000 kilograms of armament. Equally important, especially from the Ukrainian perspective, this Russian bomber is capable of carrying, among other things, Kh-32 and Kh-22 missiles, which are difficult for Ukrainians to defend against. The range of the Kh-22, when dropped from an altitude of 14,000 metres, is estimated to be about 550 kilometres. The Tu-22M3 can also carry Kh-15 or Kh-47M2 Kinzhal cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres.

The Tu-22M3 can also reach speeds of up to 2,300 kilometres per hour and has a range of up to 7,000 kilometres. The bomber measures 42 metres in length and has a wingspan of 34 metres.