Russia to modernize strategic bombers

According to Air Force Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin, the aircrafts Tu-95MS, the Tu-160 and the Tu-22M3 are all to undergo modernization, RIA Novosti reports.

Russian strategic flights have become a normal sight in the Barents Sea and the North Atlantic. Most of the Russian aircrafts are met by respectively Norwegian, British or other NATO country fighter jets, which mark territory. As BarentsObserver reported recently, the number of Russian flights along the Norwegian coast in 2008 amounted to 87.

Tu-95MS

Speaking about the modernization programme, General Zelin says that “all parts” of the Tu-95MS are to be modernized, including an “intellectualization of the aircraft’s military information processes”. The Tu-95MS aircrafts now in service were all built in the 1980s and 1990s. The Russian Air Force has previously indicated that it intends to use the aircrafts until 2040.

Tu-160

The supersonic heavy bomber Tu-160 is to be upgraded with enhanced combat qualities both with regard to the use of conventional and nuclear armament. Also radio-electronic devices on board are to be modernized. The Tu-160 entered service in 1987 and was thus the last strategic bomber designed by the Soviet Union. It still remains in production, with at least 16 currently in service with the Russian Air Force. The Russian Air Force is previously reported to receive a further five modernized Tu-160s each year

Tu-22M3

The supersonic, tactical bomber Tu-22M3 is to get new aircraft system including enhanced armament with guided air-surface missiles. Russia still has a significant number of the tactical and maritime strike bomber. Parts of the Russian Tu-22s are stationed in Olenegorsk, Murmansk Oblast.

Also several of the Russian fighter jets are to be upgraded, the Air Force general confirms.