Tu-160 "White Swan"

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

Promotional Video

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

Promotional Video

Yes they're talking about creating new air-frames (as opposed to using unused air-frames), 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 and have the speed advantage of the swing-wing design be simulated by introducing a higher percentage of composite materials (possibly even introducing heat-resistant aluminum) to lower the total weight of the air-frame, combined with a deeply modernized (with 5th gen tech) NK-321 engines with increased thrust and exhaust speed.

Just like there's a family of Armata, Kurganets, Boomerang, Typhoon vehicles, we could potentially see aircraft such as the PAK-DA, PAK-TA, and a simplified blended wing version of the White Swan (as a test bed) originate from a family of blended wing designs where costs, resources, and skilled professionals could be shared between Tupolev and Iluyshin, and logistics costs could be minimized by using the same domestically made machine tools, engines, parts and spares in the same factories.

There was talk about the PAK-DA becoming a relatively cheap design 'replacing' the 'Bears, Backfires, and Blackjacks', perhaps they actually meant to say is that the PAK-DA 'program' (not necessarily the aircraft) as being a vehicle for replacing those aircraft visa-vis by creating a family of blended-wing designs where the cost saving measures come from costs, resources, professionals and logistics being shared between Tupolev, Iluyshin, and their affiliated manufacturing centers...

Rostec has also picked up on the article btw:

http://rostec.ru/news/4516470

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



----

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

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



----

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

LOL yes I'm well aware of Ivashov, and Russia needs people like him from the 'Siloviki' class to counter the 'Monetarist' class that Kudrin represents.

Russian Tu-160 Heavy Bomber to Be Invisible to Air Defense

Russian KRET concern is developing a new aircraft guidance system, a targeting and navigation complex, a weapons control system and other electronic equipment. A total of 800 firms and organizations are involved in the modernization of the Tu-160 aircraft.

The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic missile carrier/bomber will be equipped with an advanced radio-electronic warfare system, which is highly effective against anti-aircraft missiles, Russia’s Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) reported.

KRET is developing a new aircraft guidance system, a targeting and navigation complex, a weapons control system and other electronic equipment. A total of 800 firms and organizations are involved in the modernization of the Tu-160 aircraft.

KRET companies are designing engine control and fuel consumption systems as well as a maintenance service which would help the crew in force majeure situations.

On April 29, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited the Kazan Aircraft Production Association and ordered to resume production of the Tu-160.
"There is no match to the Tu-160 among supersonic aircraft," Shoigu said.

The Tu-160 is a supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber/missile carrier designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union in the late 1970s – early1980s. The aircraft entered service in 1987.

In the Russian Long-Range Aviation the Tu-160 was nicknamed "the White Swan". Its original construction is stealth-ready and allows the aircraft to stay unspotted during long-range combat missions.

The Tu-160 holds 44 world records in flight altitude and operation range. The most recent was set when it made a continuous flight of 18,000 kilometers in 24 hours and 24 minutes.

The Tu-160 is the largest, heaviest and the most powerful supersonic aircraft in military aviation. During modernization, the aircraft will be equipped with advanced communication and navigation systems, new targeting systems and electronic warfare complexes.

Initially, the Tu-160 was designed to carry 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles with thermonuclear warheads. Currently the Tu-160 is rearmed with the cutting-edge Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles with an accuracy of five meters.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150504/1021703874.html#ixzz3Ze0nOKPH

Short interview (in Russian) with Viktor Murakhovsky, member of the Expert Council of the Chairman of the Military Industrial Commission
and editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, regarding the Tu-160 production

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/

Summary of main points:

1. Development of a completely new bomber (Pak-Da) will take time. He doesn't expect serial production until the second half of the 2020's (around 2027)

2. In the meantime, Russia will require a sufficiently strong LR Bomber force and therefore restarting production of the Tu-160 makes sense

3. A force of 40 x Tu-160's is needed.

- 36 in active service
- 2 in reserve
- 2 for training

4. The main problem could be restarting engine production, while he doesn't think the fuselage and other elements will be a problem. With adequate funding, he believes production could be restarted within 2 years with a production rate of 2-4 aircraft per year

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!

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!

Excelent

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

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.

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.

Test aircraft and those awaiting refits. http://tass.ru/en/russia/796821

Major overhaul of Russia's Tu-160 strategic bomber to be completed in 2019

The Russian defense minister ordered to work out the issue of resuming production of Tu-160 bombers at the Kazan aircraft manufacturing plant

KAZAN, May 26. /TASS/. A major overhaul of Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers will be completed in 2019, Boris Naishuler, the director of the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Production Association’s design center, which upgrades the aircraft, said Tuesday.

"The first stage of modernization has been completed; the second stage connected with replacement of nearly all onboard radioelectronic equipment on existing aircraft is expected to be completed in 2019," Naishuler told TASS.

He said the process of modernization started with replacement of equipment installed on the planes back in Soviet times.

"The planes have equipment that was manufactured in former republics of the Soviet Union. The modernization is aimed at replacing all that equipment, including navigation systems and communications equipment, with Russian," Naishuler said.

Russia’s Air Force currently has in operation service about 15 Tu-160s ,they are undergoing modernization announced in 2012. Besides, it was reported that Tu-160s will get upgraded NK-32 engines - a development batch is to be handed to the military in late 2016.

Russia is currently developing a new strategic bomber dubbed PAK DA (prospective aviation complex of long-range aviation). The new bomber is expected to make its first flight in 2019 and become operational in the Russian Air Force approximately in 2023-2025.

In late April, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu ordered his subordinates to work out the issue of resuming production of those bombers at the Kazan aircraft manufacturer.

The Kazan Aviation Plant, founded in 1927, is a subsidiary of JSC Tupolev. It currently manufactures special purpose aircraft on the basis of Tu-214, as well as repairs and modernises bombers. In addition, the company manufactures and supplies components and assemblies within the framework of cooperation with other plants of the United Aircraft Corporation. In particular, the Kazan plant is preparing for the production of wings and tail assembly for the IL-476 planes.

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

Viktor wrote:Wow wow wow


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

so now US will be like III Reich in 1944

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...

Article says at least 50 new (to pay for new assembly lines). I hope new with active aa defenses and bit even faster so no F-35 and maybe F-22 can catch it. So why Russia needs fleet of ~ 70 Black Jacks?

Putin is again going to mix with US national interests of US in Yekaterinburg or what?


Wow maybe next will be Yak-141

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.

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

Good News!
They are making a bomber force with Blackjacks, only the hookers.are lacking
anyway with a lot more birds to work with they could have something like a carrier busting version or even an interceptor.

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.

RCS isnt determined to a large part by size. a B-2 has much smaller RCS than an F-16 for example. and with internal carriage of those uber long range cruise missiles, a Tu-160M will be much stealthier radar wise and IR too- less drag, less heat.

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.

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.

Nice  

"White Swan" is flying, and can not see it

abt. Tu-160:

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.

abt. Kh-555:

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.

abt. Kh-101:

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

abt. upgrades:

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.

and the most important:

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?        

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.

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.

Talking about this Beauty and RCS - for details pls check whole article I took liberty of extending previous post wiht more text an dpic. Now you officially allowed to fall in love

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.

15km/s? did you mean 15Mach?
I mean 15km/s would be cool, no warheads needed then mass alone would be like tactical nuke

March 43/44