Critical loss of Tu-22M3 bombers: Russia's aging fleet faces challenges
Photo: Tu-22M3 (rosmedia)
The loss of each Tu-22M3 bomber is very painful for the Russian Federation. Currently, the enemy has around 30 of these aircraft, according to Defense Express.
Russia is not producing Tu-22M aircraft in any version. For example, the last Tu-22M3 was produced in 1993. The only reserve the enemy can use consists of about six airframes that have been standing outdoors for 30 years. However, Russia may try to restore aircraft that have already been decommissioned and are in storage.
The most significant problem for the Russians at the moment is that the NK-25 engines for the Tu-22M3 were last produced in 1996.
The Russians planned to use NK-32 engines from the Tu-160 for the Tu-22M3M, but these engines are primarily needed for the modernization and possible revival of Tu-160M production. At the same time, the modernization schedule has already failed, and as of now, only two bombers are known to have been modernized, with one being ready in 2018.
How many Tu-22M3s Russia has
According to Military Balance estimates, there are about 57 units "on paper" as of mid-2023. The aircraft are operated by:
- The 200th Heavy Bomber Regiment
- The 52nd Heavy Bomber Regiment
- The 40th Mixed Aviation Regiment
"Additionally, it is crucial to note that Russia intended to modernize only up to 30 aircraft to the Tu-22M3M level. This figure can be considered a benchmark. From this number, at least two lost aircraft and some damaged ones should be subtracted. However, the number is much higher in reality because not all Russian Tu-22M3s are in combat-ready or operational condition," the agency adds.
Tu-22M3
The Tu-22M3 is a Soviet long-range bomber developed in the 1970s and put into service in 1980. Equipped with three NK-25 engines, the aircraft can reach speeds of over Mach 2 and has a flight range of up to 7,500 km. The Tu-22M3 is designed for strategic strikes, including the use of nuclear weapons, and can carry up to 24,000 kg of bombs.
However, since the late 1990s, Russia has not produced new Tu-22M3s. As mentioned above, efforts to restore them are complicated by the lack of spare parts and engines.
It is worth noting that RBC-Ukraine reported that yesterday, August 15, a Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Russia. Today, August 16, it was revealed that one of the four pilots on board died.
