Key Points – Russia’s Tu-160 “Blackjack,” a supersonic, variable-sweep wing strategic bomber, is a critical but scarce asset in its long-range aviation, with only 13-16 airframes reportedly available.
-Capable of carrying nuclear and conventional cruise missiles at Mach 2.05, it was the last Soviet-designed strategic bomber.
Tu-160 Bomber Russian Air Force. Image Credit: Russian State Media.
-While a modernized Tu-160M/M2 variant re-entered production due to severe delays in the PAK DA stealth bomber program, output is exceptionally slow (only three new airframes since 2018, none yet active).
-The recent Ukrainian “Operation Spiderweb” drone strike targeting Russian bomber bases underscores the vulnerability of these assets; any Tu-160 losses would be virtually irreplaceable.
Tu-160 Blackjack, Russian Mach 2.0 Bomber Is Irreplaceable
The Sunday attack by Ukraine during Operation Spiderweb, the large-scale Ukrainian drone strike against airbases across Russia yesterday, primarily targeted Moscow’s fleet of strategic bombers.
These aircraft, which have been extensively used to launch cruise missile attacks on Ukraine, have been targeted before, but never on such a scale — a reported 117 drones were launched against at least four airfields.
While the exact number of aircraft destroyed or damaged is unclear, initial Ukrainian claims are that 41 aircraft were destroyed. On Monday, Ukraine revised that number to at least 13 aircraft destroyed. Still, there is little doubt that the Ukrainian operation has taken a significant toll on Russian strategic aviation.
The destroyed aircraft reportedly included the Tu-22M3 Backfire-C intermediate-range supersonic bomber, the Tu-95MS Bear-H long-range turboprop bomber, and the A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, also known as the Russian AWACS.
Still unconfirmed are reports about the possible destruction or damage to any Tu-160 Blackjack long-range supersonic bombers.
That, if true, would be a massive blow to Russian prestige and their bomber force.
The Tu-160 Blackjack Bomber
The Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber (NATO reporting name Blackjack) is a variable-sweep wing supersonic strategic missile carrier that can also carry nuclear weapons. The actual number of available Blackjacks varies, but is small, ranging from 13 to 16.
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The Tu-160 was the last bomber designed for the Soviet Air Force and the only Russian bomber designed with defensive armament. The Blackjack can carry up to 13 cruise missiles in its conventional mode.
Russia developed the Blackjack as a response to the American B-1 bomber, but their missions were different. The Blackjack was designed as a high-speed (Mach 2.05), high-altitude nuclear or conventional bomber.
Tu-160 Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The B-1B Lancer was intended to be a low-level, high-speed platform for delivering nuclear weapons under Soviet radar; the American “BONE” switched to an exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s.
The Tu-160 Is a Powerful Machine:
The Tu-160 Blackjack is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-32 afterburning turbofan engines, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 (1,573 mph). The Tu-160M has an unrefueled range of 7,640 miles and a service ceiling of 52,493 feet. Its armament capacity is up to 88,185 lbs of ordnance, including nuclear and conventional bombs and cruise missiles.
The aircraft is capable of all-weather, day-and-night flying, employs fly-by-wire controls, and is equipped with three-strut landing gear, a tail wheel, and a brake parachute.
Two bays, one after the other, are located in tandem to accommodate the aircraft’s payload. The airframe is made of titanium, heat-treated aluminum alloys, steel alloys, and composite materials. The Tu-160 can refuel in flight using a nose cone-type refueling system that retracts in front of the cockpit.
The Tu-160’s nuclear mission is also apparent in the paint scheme, which the Russians call anti-flash white. They have nicknamed the aircraft “The White Swan.” The bright white color would reflect the intense flash of a nuclear explosion, offering more protection to both the bomber and crew than a darker paint scheme.
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The Tu-160 has been used sparingly in combat, ostensibly due to its strategic role. It was baptized in combat in November 2015 during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, where it conducted airstrikes using Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles on ISIS targets.
Production Is Restarted for the Blackjack
The Tu-160 was upgraded to a new version, the Tu-160M. The Tu-160M modernization program commenced in the early 2000s, with a focus on upgrading avionics, navigation systems, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Russia Tu-160 Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The first modernized Tu-160M was delivered in December 2014. The modernization includes new engines, specifically the aforementioned upgraded NK-32-02 engines, which provide better fuel efficiency and performance.
Russia’s decision to restart production of the Tu-160M highlights its need for a viable long-range strike platform amid delays in the development of the PAK DA stealth bomber, which is still in the early stages of development. The bomber may never actually fly.
The modernization program aims to extend the service life of the Tu-160M and enhance its capabilities to meet contemporary threats. In 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered 10 new Tu-160M2s for 160 billion rubles, making it the most expensive Russian aircraft.
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That equates to over $500 million per aircraft, taking into account the purchasing power parity factor. The production of the Tu-160 Blackjacks proceeds, however, at a snail’s pace. Since 2018, only three new bombers have been completed, and none of them are in active service.
While Russia targets Ukrainian civilians and cities, the Ukrainians have opted to target Russia’s long-range bombers that deliver the missiles and bombs, killing their people.
While the number of aircraft destroyed is still uncertain, even a handful of bombers destroyed is critical to Russian Long Range Aviation. And with two of the airframes (Tu-95 and Tu-22M3) unable to be reproduced and the other virtually in the same boat, this was a devastating loss for Russia and Putin.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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