Posted on 11/23/2014 4:07:41 AM PST by wetphoenix
Tu-160 has a lift-generating airframe, which is mostly made of aluminum alloys. Titanium alloys make up to 20% of the airframe mass. The bomber’s airframe has a distinctive appearance, with the wing and fuselage gradually integrated into a single-piece configuration. The variable geometry wings (the sweep angle can be varied from 20 to 65) allow the aircraft to use complex flight profiles from low subsonic speeds to mach 2. Photo: UAC/Tupolev design Bureau
The first Tupolev Tu-160M Blackjack has completed its maiden flight after an avionic modernization that revamped the bombers’ radar and avionic systems in the past two years. The aircraft is one of three undergoing the upgrade, under a contract worth RUR3.4 billion (US$103 million) awarded in 2013.
The flight that lasted two hours and 40 minutes took off from the Kazan airfield, in the Tatarstan Republic, of Russia, where the upgrading work was processed by the aircraft’s builder.
The Blackjack is the Russian strategic bomber designed to match and even exceed the capability of the U.S. B-1B Lancer bomber. The Tu-160 was officially delivered to the Russian Strategic Force (VVS) in 1987 but was accepted into operational service 18 years later, reaching a fleet of 16 in 2008. Eight Tu-160 bombers were delivered to Russia from the Ukraine, these were part of 19 bombers delivered to the Ukraine Air Force before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The remaining Tu-160s were destroyed in 2001 as part of the nuclear disarmament of Ukraine.
Part of this fleet went through several upgrades to extend the life of the aircraft. As of 2013 the Russian Air Force had 11 Tu-160M on duty. 10 will receive engine refurbishment as part of another modernization scheduled to begin in 2016, when refurbished NK-32M engines are expected to be ready for delivery.
Tu-160 avionic suit includes a Missile Targeting and Navigation System (MTNS), a communications suite including a multichannel digital satellite communications system, self-defense system, automatic flight control and more. The MTNS provides for the automatic aircraft flight and use of weapons on all latitudes, day, night and in adverse weather conditions..
The NK-32M is a rebuilt, redesigned version of the Kuznetsov NK-321 turbofan engines, four of which will accelerate the Tu-160M to a maximum speed of Mach 2. The engine maker Metallist-Samara JSC has already built and bench tested the rebuilt engines but will be ready to deliver a flight ready engine only in two years.
How fascinating to get a look inside an aircraft whose sole purpose is to drop nuclear bombs on OUR country and try to kill us all.
Steam gauges.
Nice to see that at least one Cold War country still takes its defense seriously - rather than relying on the Polish Calvary.
An aircraft with analog instruments can probably kill people as well as one with digital multifunction displays.
America puts way too much faith in technology. Tech improvements become incrementally smaller and take much more time and money to develop. Technology is not our greatest strength and over reliance on it may soon become a great weakness.
The chances of Russia getting over the USA to drop a bomb is pretty close to zero (without the help of the democrat party) we have a slightly better chance at bombing them....Question is with thousands of nuclear missiles why would one use a bomber!!
While we’ve destroyed our bomber fleet they’ve upgraded theirs.
Blackjack is historically a platform to deny USN a power projection capability intended prey for carrier groups right after a nuclear exchange to make it easier for Soviet conventional forces in later phase of WWIII.
Yeah, we really did a good job of intercepting 4 hijacked airliners in 2001. I’m sure NORAD will keep us safe. As to why bombers if we have ICBM’s? A bomber can be recalled. Not so sure we want to recall an ICBM!
Only a ploy to distract people (disinformation) for propaganda purposes..
While Washington is being taken over while they quiver and shake over strategic bombers..
The enemies are not Russian their AMERICAN(s)...
A whole generation of traitors and anarchists.. has been BRED.. schooled and prepared..
ALL while republicans drank beer watched football... gushed over Oprah..
AND financed it all... in Congress..
Obama is a well deserved PUNISHMENT to the United States..
did I mention an entire generation.. maybe two..
while republicans SLEPT!...
And still it's very hard to actually piss off a republican..
The apathy stinks like a dead body...
“Blackjack is historically a platform to deny USN a power projection capability intended prey for carrier groups right after a nuclear exchange to make it easier for Soviet conventional forces in later phase of WWIII.”
Concur.
B-1SKI
Ah yes, the B1-ski.
LOL:)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.