Key Points and Summary on Mach Tu-160M2 Bomber – The Tu-160M2 “White Swan,” the world’s largest and fastest strategic bomber, is a key element of Russia’s nuclear-capable air power.
-Despite its Cold War origins, the modernized Tu-160M2 variant features significant upgrades to its engines and avionics.
-This supersonic, variable-sweep wing aircraft has been used to launch cruise missiles against Ukraine.
Meet the Tu-160M2 Bomber from Russia
To an ornithologist, the term “white swan” is a bit of a redundancy, as all swans are white. These elegant waterfowl feed on aquatic plants and are quite harmless to humans.
In military aviation, the “white swan” has a far deadlier connotation. It’s the literal translation of Bely Lebed, Russian aircrews’ affectionate nickname for one of their homegrown mechanical warbirds, the Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic, variable sweep wing, nuclear-capable heavy strategic bomber and airborne missile platform. The latest edition is the Tu-160M2.
Tupolev Tu-160M2 Initial History
The Tu-160 dates back to the Cold War. The original was designed by the Soviet Tupolev Design Bureau, which is now part of the United Aircraft Corporation. The bomber’s concept took root in 1972, with the prototype making its maiden flight on Dec. 18, 1981. Production was authorized in 1984, and the bomber finally attained official operational status in April 1987. It made its first public appearance in a military parade two years later.
The Tu-160M variant was approved for production in 2015 – Vladimir Putin’s presidential predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, had put the kibosh on the production of earlier variants in January 1992, the month after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The M variant debuted on Jan. 12, 2022, when it carried out a low-altitude basic test flight.
According to David Cenciotti of The Aviationist, “The new Tu-160M2 version includes a glass cockpit, weapons upgrades, new engines and the removal of obsolete equipment no longer relevant to the Tu-160’s mission. According to the CEO of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yury Slyusar, the new aircraft has 80% of its systems and equipment upgraded.
“At the moment, we can’t help but notice that the new Tu-160 is often referred to as Tu-160M and M2. If any, the difference between M and M2 variants is not clear.”
Forty-one Tu-160 airframes of all variants have reportedly been built so far, and Russia is the only current operator of the plane. There have been some rumblings that India is interested in purchasing the bomber, but this has not yet come to fruition.
White Swan Technical Specifications and Vital Stats
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems officer)
Fuselage Length: 54.1 meters (177 feet 6 inches)
Height: 13.1 meters (43 feet 0 inches)
Wingspan: 55.7 meters (182 feet 9 inches) with wings spread
Max Takeoff Weight: 275,000 kilograms (606,271 pounds)
Powerplant: 4 × Samara NK-321 afterburning turbofan engines, generating 245 kilonewtons (55,000 pounds-force) of thrust
Max Airspeed: Mach 2.05 (1,572 mph)
Ferry Range: 12,300-kilometer (7,600-mile) practical range without in-flight refueling
Combat Range: 2,000 km (1,200 miles) at supersonic speeds; 7,300 km (4,536 miles) at subsonic speeds
Service Ceiling: 16,000 meters (52,000 feet)
Armament:
2 x internal weapon bays with a carrying capacity of 45,000 kg (99,208 lb) of ordnance.
2 x internal rotary launchers each holding 6 × Raduga Kh-55SM Granat cruise missiles (primary armament) or 12 × Raduga Kh-15 short-range nuclear missiles
The Bely Lebed is the first post-World War II Soviet-designed bomber to lack defensive armament, but the Tu-160 is the world’s largest and fastest bomber. Yes, it is longer and heavier than the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which has a fuselage length of 160 feet, 10.9 inches and a max takeoff weight of 488,000 pounds. And yes, it is faster than the Rockwell B-1B Lancer, which can reach Mach 1.7.
Indeed, in 1989 and 1990, the White Swan set a total of 44 world speed flight records in its weight class.
Operational History in Brief
The White Swan has been blooded in combat during the Russia-Ukraine War, though it’s not completely clear whether the M/M2 variant has been used. Engagements involving the Tu-160 have consisted of cruise missile attacks targeting Kyiv, as well as the Havryshivka Vinnytsia international airport.
This activity made the Tu-160 a high-priority target for Ukraine, and on Jan. 20 this year, the Ukrainians launched a drone strike on the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant, where the bombers are assembled; Russian officials claim minimal damage was done.
More impressively, Tu-160s were reportedly among the aircraft attacked on the tarmac during Ukraine’s audacious June 1 drone attack on multiple Russian airfields. Most reports have the Tu-160 bombers escaping any damage.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr, Defense Expert
Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU).
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