Posted on 12/28/2009 1:10:19 PM PST by kronos77
A new-generation Tu strategic bomber will be developed by 2017, Russian aircraft maker Tupolev said on Wednesday.
Company President Alexander Bobryshev told Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin the research on the new aircraft project should be completed by 2012, while production-line assembly should start in 2020 to 2025.
However, Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, commander of Russia's strategic aviation said on Tuesday a new strategic bomber, which will use stealth technology, is expected to enter service in 2025-2030
He said the stealth technology will make "the new aircraft difficult to detect by radar, although it is impossible to make airplanes of this type completely invisible."
The new bomber will replace the Tu-95MC Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers currently in service with Russia's strategic aviation.
According to various sources, in addition to 16 Tu-160 bombers, the Russian Air Force currently has 40 Tu-95MS bombers and 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.
These aircraft will form the backbone of the Russian strategic aviation in the next decade following extensive modernization.
MOSCOW, December 23 (RIA Novosti)
I guess they need their own B-2 bombers.
Probably a B-2 look alike.
Too bad the Russkies can’t get it done before 2012. The Kenyan would surrender to it.
and our POTUS dithers
...
On the Tu-95 Bear, that is one interesting plane. Counter rotating props, swept back wing and flies as fast as a jet airliner. I read on the plane and for its day, it was very fuel efficient and had a very long range.
they can’t afford to build a new bomber. this is an artifice that they will use to scare the obamites into negotiating away something of ours that already exists in return for them giving up something that never will exist.
yes and it has a radar image as big as Texas !
BWAHAHAHAHAHHA - what a great concept - target practice that gets great gas mileage!
Your B-52 has an amazing radar signature, and yet is very dangerous, chiefly because it can stand off and fire stealthy cruise missles (and one never knows where it comes from).
Stupid Soviets. If they develop a manned bomber they’ll be waaaaay behind the curve - a total waste of money.
They need to develop a stealth UCAV to do the job, instead.
The Russians are never stupid, they can build a flying pig farm and sell it to AQ with grins and giggles of ecstasy from them.
I love your tagline!
Heck, he’d float them a low/no interest loan out of stimulus finds to build it.
Who would it be designed to bomb? The cold war is over. Or is it?
Wait a minute, what happened to their disarmament deal with Oh!Brutha!?
“the new aircraft difficult to detect by radar,........................ By the time it is ready, it will be obsolete, the advanced super high intensity pulse coordinated high velocity lazer controlled radar will pick it up. (Sounds great uh? I made it up, but you get the idea.)
My guesses ars as follows:
It will not be tail-less, but something Yf-23ish, blended with V or canted tails....
Remember they are into the robust gear, take off any surface thing, so it will be more utilitarian.
They will use existing engines may even landing gear to save money, Flight deck? maybe, common with something in the fleet.
The B-2 is to delicate for them given their design history.
Save this post, it will be fun to see how close I am.
Right...ok...good luck...see you in 20...17....
Yep that Bear is a heck of a bomber! So damn noisy with the counter-rotating props, it was easily detected and tracked by our subs. Great plane there!! sc/
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