Tu-160 "White Swan"

May 7, AEX.RU holding Rostec "Technodynamica" (formerly "Авиационное оборудование" (Aviation equipment)) plans to resume at its Samara enterprise "Aviaagregat", production of chassis for strategic bombers Tu-160 (White Swan), said on Thursday to RIA Novosti the company.

"Holding entity "Technodynamica" part of Rostec state corporation is ready to provide new Tu-160 systems and units. The production of chassis for "White Swan" will be resumed at the site of Samara "Viagraget": at the moment the company has already transferred Technodynamica's calculations on the timing of resumption of production and the amount of expenses for this process" — said the representative of the press service.

As the CEO of "Technodynamica" Maxim Kuzyuk said, "holding companies can continue to manufacture those systems that are already in use, and to create new systems, including the APU (auxiliary power unit). "We are ready for the resumption of production of the chassis for "White Swan" in the shortest possible time, the rest of the units are already being produced" — quotes the press-service.

....

"Technodynamica" (until March 2015 — "Aviation equipment") specializes in the design, manufacture and after sales service systems and components of aircraft. It produces parts and components for such industries as oil and gas, automotive, transport, energy. "Technodynamica" includes 36 companies located throughout Russia.

Cyberspec wrote:Well despite the initial sceptism, the wheels are being set in motion and it looks like the production of a upgraded Tu-160 is quite possible...

May 7, AEX.RU holding Rostec "Technodynamica" (formerly "Авиационное оборудование" (Aviation equipment)) plans to resume at its Samara enterprise "Aviaagregat", production of chassis for strategic bombers Tu-160 (White Swan), said on Thursday to RIA Novosti the company.

"Holding entity "Technodynamica" part of Rostec state corporation is ready to provide new Tu-160 systems and units. The production of chassis for "White Swan" will be resumed at the site of Samara "Viagraget": at the moment the company has already transferred Technodynamica's calculations on the timing of resumption of production and the amount of expenses for this process" — said the representative of the press service.

As the CEO of "Technodynamica" Maxim Kuzyuk said, "holding companies can continue to manufacture those systems that are already in use, and to create new systems, including the APU (auxiliary power unit). "We are ready for the resumption of production of the chassis for "White Swan" in the shortest possible time, the rest of the units are already being produced" — quotes the press-service.

....

"Technodynamica" (until March 2015 — "Aviation equipment") specializes in the design, manufacture and after sales service systems and components of aircraft. It produces parts and components for such industries as oil and gas, automotive, transport, energy. "Technodynamica" includes 36 companies located throughout Russia.

Source: http://www.aex.ru/news/2015/5/7/134170/


Some info on the company: http://rostec.ru/about/company/139

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magnumcromagnon wrote:theoretically speaking if the air-frame can be modernized and simplified to the point of just being a straight forward blended-wing design then the more complex swing-wing design could be abandoned

"With the development of the US missile defense, the value of land and submarine based missiles is reduced. For retaliation, the role of strategic aviation. That is why it is given now so much attention. In Russia, unfortunately, in this area in the 90's and 2000's committed serious backlog. The aviation component we did not pay much attention, gave priority to mobile missile complexes, but they are already vulnerable. Now the focus will be on strategic aviation"- said on Radio Sputnik president of the Academy of Geopolitical Analysis, military expert Leonid Ivashov.

According to him, a modernized Tu-160 will surpass in many respects the most advanced American bombers. "It is clear that the aircraft will not be done from scratch. This will be a variant of the Tu-160. It should be recognized that to this day, he remains the best strategic bomber and Tu-95 MC (also the carrier of cruise missiles) will be withdrawn out of service. Tu-160 is maneuverable and can carry cruise missiles and tactical nuclear weapons. The next version will be "stealthy" featuring radio-absorbing coatings and in many aspects will surpass the American F-117.

Of course, this a concern for Americans. They are happy to fight away from their own territory, but this aircraft will be specifically aimed at US military facilities. And I believe that within 8-10 years, the aircraft will be the main factor of nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence " - concluded the military expert.

Source: Tu-160 "White Swan" will be the main factor of nuclear deterrence
http://vpk.name/news/131476_tu160_belyii_lebed_stanet_glavnyim_faktorom_yadernogo_sderzhivaniya.html

Cyberspec wrote:

magnumcromagnon wrote:theoretically speaking if the air-frame can be modernized and simplified to the point of just being a straight forward blended-wing design then the more complex swing-wing design could be abandoned

I was thinking the same thing but that would be a completely new aircraft and require much more time to develop. Like you wrote, maybe that could be an option for the Pak-Da project.

Atm, it sounds like they want something that can be put into production relatively quickly (next few years)...a stealthier Tu-160 eqipped with new avionics and improved engines.

Came across this, apparently originally from the website of the engine maker



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This is one of the responses to the deployment of the missile shield....here's what retired general Leonid Ivashov (sort of a Soviet style hawk) has to say

"With the development of the US missile defense, the value of land and submarine based missiles is reduced. For retaliation, the role of strategic aviation. That is why it is given now so much attention. In Russia, unfortunately, in this area in the 90's and 2000's committed serious backlog. The aviation component we did not pay much attention, gave priority to mobile missile complexes, but they are already vulnerable. Now the focus will be on strategic aviation"- said on Radio Sputnik president of the Academy of Geopolitical Analysis, military expert Leonid Ivashov.

According to him, a modernized Tu-160 will surpass in many respects the most advanced American bombers. "It is clear that the aircraft will not be done from scratch. This will be a variant of the Tu-160. It should be recognized that to this day, he remains the best strategic bomber and Tu-95 MC (also the carrier of cruise missiles) will be withdrawn out of service. Tu-160 is maneuverable and can carry cruise missiles and tactical nuclear weapons. The next version will be "stealthy" featuring radio-absorbing coatings and in many aspects will surpass the American F-117.

Of course, this a concern for Americans. They are happy to fight away from their own territory, but this aircraft will be specifically aimed at US military facilities. And I believe that within 8-10 years, the aircraft will be the main factor of nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence " - concluded the military expert.

Source: Tu-160 "White Swan" will be the main factor of nuclear deterrence
http://vpk.name/news/131476_tu160_belyii_lebed_stanet_glavnyim_faktorom_yadernogo_sderzhivaniya.html

To restart the Tu-160 will take two years to create a modern analogue - 20 years
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/www.bigness.ru/articles/2015-05-06/tu160/147956/

CHELYABINSK, may 12. /Corr. TASS Eugene Tkachenko/
Plant "Ural smithy" (part of "Mechel"), entered into a contract to supply parts for engines NK-32is designed for strategic bombers Tu-160. This was reported by TASS in the factory.

sepheronx wrote:Plant "Ural smithy" has signed a contract to supply parts for engines NK-32

CHELYABINSK, may 12. /Corr. TASS Eugene Tkachenko/
Plant "Ural smithy" (part of "Mechel"), entered into a contract to supply parts for engines NK-32is designed for strategic bombers Tu-160. This was reported by TASS in the factory.

The start!

franco wrote:According to this article there are 43 Tu-95MS aircraft operational. Another article stated there was 15 Tu-160's.
http://tass.ru/en/russia/783192

OminousSpudd wrote:

franco wrote:According to this article there are 43 Tu-95MS aircraft operational. Another article stated there was 15 Tu-160's.
http://tass.ru/en/russia/783192

Wut. Where did the other 4-5 Swans come from? Is that including incomplete airframes? Not that I'm complaining, but still.

Viktor wrote:Wow wow wow


Russian Air Force to Get at Least 50 New Strategic Tu-160 Blackjack Bombers

GarryB wrote:50 new Blackjacks... that would make them a much more viable force... everyone knows that only having a few in service aircraft types makes them expensive, but having more makes it cheaper over all because you get the advantage of larger production runs...

this will be very cool if they follow through...

Viktor wrote:Wow wow wow


Russian Air Force to Get at Least 50 New Strategic Tu-160 Blackjack Bombers


Putin made decision to revive production of Tu-160M strategic bomber — Air Force commander

sepheronx wrote:I am going to be frank. The Tu-160, while a beautiful aircraft, is just very big and will still be spotted like Tu-22M at long ranges. Both are cruise missile striking bombers. So why not build new and better Tu-22M,s that are not only cheaper, but also has ranges where they can still strike nearly anywhere in the world with cruise missiles, like Tu-160? To me, that type of bomber is what should be really used more. I know Russia already has plenty of them, but more of them imo is better and cheaper.

Heck, it is so massive with such large and powerful engines, they could fit a massive aesa radar to it that could probably see as far as modern awacs, that it will trump everything else.

sepheronx wrote:I am going to be frank. The Tu-160, while a beautiful aircraft, is just very big and will still be spotted like Tu-22M at long ranges. Both are cruise missile striking bombers. So why not build new and better Tu-22M,s that are not only cheaper, but also has ranges where they can still strike nearly anywhere in the world with cruise missiles, like Tu-160? To me, that type of bomber is what should be really used more. I know Russia already has plenty of them, but more of them imo is better and cheaper.

Heck, it is so massive with such large and powerful engines, they could fit a massive aesa radar to it that could probably see as far as modern awacs, that it will trump everything else.

Flight distance Tu-160M ​​with a maximum weight of ammunition - 10500 km. With a normal load - 14,000 km. This range cruise missiles, which he has on board, up to 10,000 km.

X-555 subsonic missile. Flying at a distance of 2000 km at a speed of 900 km / h. Flight height varies from 40 to 110 meters, making it virtually impossible to detect and intercept air defense.

Flying 2,000 km, the missile deviates from the targets to hit, only 5 meters. With the power of the warhead more than 400 kg of TNT guaranteed any target is destroyed.

X-101 - also subsonic missile with similar flight characteristics. Different longer range - up to 10,000 km. At the same time at a distance of 5,000 km circular error probable it is 5 meters, 10,000 km - 10 meters. More accurate missiles in the world.[u] In addition, the system has a homing missile and can hit even a moving target[/u], such as an aircraft carrier

Fully upgraded avionics, it will be digital

Classic pointer instruments in the cockpit to replace the screen. On missile carrier will install the newest closed system of satellite communication and navigation.

On Tu-160M ​​no guns for self-defense. But it will establish the most powerful electronic warfare system

EW is so powerful that it does not include, and the average power even during exercises.

Especially for the Tu-160M ​​developed hypersonic cruise missiles. It is a weapon of the future.

kvs wrote:That's right, a fully modern Tu-160s with the latest generation of hypersonic cruise missiles will increase Russia's global
power projection.

There would be no point on wasting money on new Tu-160s if they were obsolete.    The US space drone "prompt global strike"
vehicle is aiming for exactly this sort of capacity but with a supposedly faster turn around time.   I think this system is over rated.
Hitting the target within one hour does not render any system that can do the same in a few hours totally obsolete.   The targets
are not super fast are they now?        

Svyatoslavich wrote: I've read Russian sources state that Tu-160 has a smaller RCS than the B-1B. True or not, fact is that RCS of Tu-160 is surely way smaller than Tu-22M3.

EW is so powerful that it is  not even working with half power during exercises[/b].

magnumcromagnon wrote: Well Putin has stated that Russia is developing their own version of the Prompt Global Strike system, to what it evolves into is anyone's guess, but if I had to guess then maybe it's a ground based, mobile electro-magnetic cannon. From tests they managed to fire projectiles at 15 km/sec. which translates to Mach 43/44, but who know's if they manage to field such a system.