Posted on 03/05/2007 11:22:41 PM PST by Srirangan
Moscow: Russia will commission two modernized Tu-160 bombers in 2007, the Strategic Air Force commander said Monday. Russia is currently carrying out an ambitious program to upgrade and modernize its strategic Air Force assets.
The upgraded fleet will include both new and modernized Tu-160 Blackjack, Tu-22 Blinder and Tu-95 Bear bombers. "We are modernizing the fleet of Tu-160 bombers...and are planning to receive two [modernized] aircraft by the end of this year," Lieutenant-General Igor Khvorov said.
He added that one of the previously commissioned bombers will conduct test bombing runs in spring 2007.
(Excerpt) Read more at militaryglobal.com ...
No they can't. The Russian heavy strategic bombers are all accountable under START / SORT treaties. The Russians visit U.S. strategic bomber bases and count the bombers. The U.S. does the same to Russia. They are all accountable. Even the heavy strategic bombers in museums, and on show at gates, got the once over to make sure that they were non-flyable.
Correct. Tu-22M3 Backfire C.
/Notice the "Bison/
Yes now that you mention it I do.
Have you ever seen the size difference between the two? The Tu-160 is the largest and heaviest strategic bomber in the world.
Happen to know the NATO designation of this weapon? That isn't the "Yakhont", is it?
The lease deal forbids India from using the Akulas in exercises with British, U.S. or other Western navies, sources said.
Hmmm. Putinesque attitude implants. No Cold War II yet, but there's beginning to be a draft in here.
I think it's SS-N-27 'Club'.These are roughly in the same weightcategory as the Tomahawk & come in multiple anti-ship & land attack variants,some with a supersonic terminal stage.
The Yakhont is designated as SSN-26 & is a much larger weapon.It cannot be launched from a normal 533 mm torpedo tube,unlike the Club.
About not allowing exercises,well Pooty has a point-he doesn't want anyone to get close to his best toys.Don't think the US would have allowed that either if it leased it's finest weaponry to anyone.
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