Tu-160 "White Swan"

ГосНИИАС and Tupolev showcased solution for TU-160 "glass cockpit".

Militarov wrote:

ГосНИИАС and Tupolev showcased solution for TU-160 "glass cockpit".

Awesome. I'd love to see the surrounds too though, center console etc. (I can see they're there, just camera angle does't show them off)

OminousSpudd wrote:

Militarov wrote:

ГосНИИАС and Tupolev showcased solution for TU-160 "glass cockpit".

Awesome. I'd love to see the surrounds too though, center console etc. (I can see they're there, just camera angle does't show them off)

Now representatives of the company "Tupolev", pilots and navigators ATT GosNIIAS is debug modes, and address the issues of ergonomics, interaction of the crew with the information and control field of the cockpit.
— Even some two decades ago, the avionics modern aircraft carried out 15-20 of the main functions — navigation, autopilot, communication, and others — said the scientific head of GosNIIAS Yevgeny Fedosov. Today a number of key features of long-range aircraft exceeds a hundred, and every year increasing the accuracy requirements of navigation, the complexity of the weapons systems of the aviation system, their number will only increase.

so beta to test ergonomics...nice looking tho

http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/78898/

The first Tu-95 flew 64 years ago today... amazing.

https://www.gazeta.ru/army/2016/11/12/10325705.shtml#page1

Kazan Aviation plant has started re-learning how to make the main wing beam for Tu-160 http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2245553.html

Google translate wrote:There was a unique equipment to work with the 20-meter monolithic slabs of varying thickness of titanium alloys, because of which made 38% of the construction of the Tu-160.

"Backbone" of the bomber can be called the central titanium beam length of 12.4 m and a width of 2.1 m around which are grouped and other elements of the airframe. For example, at its hinge joints were hung wings. For the manufacture of the beam has been developed process of electron beam welding in a neutral atmosphere or in a vacuum. "Titan is known, is not brewed in the air - begins to burn, and does not extinguish it, so do it either in a vacuum or in a neutral environment, - told the" Online Business "Advisor to the Prime Minister of Tatarstan Nazir Kireev. - When welding everything must go very accurately - all calculated literally fractions of a millimeter. "

The beam milled in two halves and welded in one piece in a vacuum chamber under spetsprisadkami and fluxes. In the scientific and popular literature states that this welding is so far it relates to the unique technologies and can be regarded as national priorities. "Such a welding time was only at the Kazan aircraft plant, and it appeared only in connection with the Tu-160

Why have Soviet and Russia not designed the Kh-55/555/65 then Kh-101 missiles with internal fixed engine like Kalibre missile to reduce the drag and RCS? The dopped-out engine mechanism surely is more complicated and less dependable than internal fixed one.

I expect Russia to resume the production of the Tu-160 as fast as possible. The Tu-160 continues being a key element of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Why have Soviet and Russia not designed the Kh-55/555/65 then Kh-101 missiles with internal fixed engine like Kalibre missile to reduce the drag and RCS? The dopped-out engine mechanism surely is more complicated and less dependable than internal fixed one.

The difference in radar cross section would be not important... especially when flying low and fast.

External engine pods are more efficient than internal engines... which often need suction relief doors to get the required air capacity to the engine.

the internal volume taken up with air intakes to feed a fixed internal motor would take up a lot of internal volume. Being able to drop the engine down into the slipstream makes it rather more efficient.

GarryB wrote:

Why have Soviet and Russia not designed the Kh-55/555/65 then Kh-101 missiles with internal fixed engine like Kalibre missile to reduce the drag and RCS? The dopped-out engine mechanism surely is more complicated and less dependable than internal fixed one.

The difference in radar cross section would be not important... especially when flying low and fast.

External engine pods are more efficient than internal engines... which often need suction relief doors to get the required air capacity to the engine.

the internal volume taken up with air intakes to feed a fixed internal motor would take up a lot of internal volume. Being able to drop the engine down into the slipstream makes it rather more efficient.

Thank you Garry.

Military Acceptance on Tu-160

Really is a sexeh beast of a plane.

hoom wrote:Military Acceptance on Tu-160

Really is a sexeh beast of a plane.

She's a beauty alright, Russians sure make them look good.
Sexiest fighters (Flanker) and bombers (Blackjack) in-service globally imo

Kazan aviation plant is ready for serial production of modernized strategic bombers Tu-160m2, the first bomber is already in the construction phase.

It is located in the capital of Tatarstan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the company executives. As was noted, along with the construction of the first aircraft is already imported components for the assembly of these aircraft.
see also

Earlier, during a conference call Defense Minister stressed that the task of updating the production of Tu-160m2 is under special control, and the stages of its implementation shall be reported on a weekly basis.

The plant Shoigu also demonstrated the latest equipment machining and welding of large-size products from titanium alloys. The head of the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation noted that the production assets of the enterprise, including machines should be updated and maintained to meet the level of problems to be solved. Identified deficiencies Minister promised to fix soon.

In addition, as reported by RIA Novosti , Sergei Shoigu checked, both within the state defense order being repaired with the modernization of strategic missile carriers Tu-160 long-range bombers and Tu-22M3, and the construction of Tu-214 of various modifications for the armed forces. In the near future it is planned to transfer the second TU-214ON used for the implementation of the international agreement "Open Sky". One such machine is enrolled in the aerospace force Russia earlier.

Recall the decision to resume production of the strategic bomber Tu-160 is a modernized version became known in 2015. According to plans of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation the serial production of Tu-160m2 is due to start in 2023, FSI should get at least 50 of these aircraft. Earlier, Chief of the Military Space Forces said that the first flight of the Tu-160m2 can be held at the end of 2018.

franco wrote:Kazan aviation plant is ready for serial production of modernized strategic bombers Tu-160m2, the first bomber is already in the construction phase.

It is located in the capital of Tatarstan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the company executives. As was noted, along with the construction of the first aircraft is already imported components for the assembly of these aircraft.
see also

Earlier, during a conference call Defense Minister stressed that the task of updating the production of Tu-160m2 is under special control, and the stages of its implementation shall be reported on a weekly basis.

The plant Shoigu also demonstrated the latest equipment machining and welding of large-size products from titanium alloys. The head of the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation noted that the production assets of the enterprise, including machines should be updated and maintained to meet the level of problems to be solved. Identified deficiencies Minister promised to fix soon.

In addition, as reported by RIA Novosti , Sergei Shoigu checked, both within the state defense order being repaired with the modernization of strategic missile carriers Tu-160 long-range bombers and Tu-22M3, and the construction of Tu-214 of various modifications for the armed forces. In the near future it is planned to transfer the second TU-214ON used for the implementation of the international agreement "Open Sky". One such machine is enrolled in the aerospace force Russia earlier.

Recall the decision to resume production of the strategic bomber Tu-160 is a modernized version became known in 2015. According to plans of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation the serial production of Tu-160m2 is due to start in 2023, FSI should get at least 50 of these aircraft. Earlier, Chief of the Military Space Forces said that the first flight of the Tu-160m2 can be held at the end of 2018.

Visit of Shoiguto the Kazan plant.

Video included

http://nortwolf-sam.livejournal.com/1730392.html

Good news about the Tu-160. Here is why the production of the Tu-160 has been resumed while there is a development of the Tu-PAK-DA. Both projects have different timing.

It is rare that the Tu-160 has not its own independent topic in the forum.

PAK DA's Precursor, Russian Tu-160M2 Bomber to Get Universal Anti-Missile Shield

https://sputniknews.com/military/201701211049858468-tu-160m2-missile-defense-pak-da/

Construction upgraded Tu-160 will begin in April
Kazan aircraft plant will begin production in April, the latest version of the strategic missile carrier Tu-160m2, told RIA Novosti the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yuri Slusar.

- In March, conduct a test process, and in April plots electron-beam welding, furnace and firing will begin production of the Tu-160 with a new look for the upgraded technology, - said Slusar at a meeting of the joint board of the Ministry of Economy and Industry and Trade of Tatarstan.

The release of "classic" Tu-160 was discontinued in 2008. The key objective of the start of production of a new version of the missile was not just a restoration technologies create those or other units, but their modernization, highlighted in the KLA. In 2016, the corporation has completed the digitization project Tu-160m2, for its release of the Kazan aircraft plant equipment in the next few years will update at 40 percent.

- The aim is to consider the possibility of increasing the production of aircraft in Kazan, which will require appropriate efforts to build our capacities - said Slusar.

Tu-160 - a supersonic strategic bomber with variable sweep wing, the largest military aircraft in the world. It can fly at a speed twice the sound and carry up to 45 tons of bombs and missiles. The VKS plane was nicknamed the "White Swan". M2 version was updated avionics, improved engines, inertial navigation, a modern fire control system. "In practice, this will be a new aircraft in the old building," - said Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov. The military plans to purchase 50 submarines.

hoom wrote:Kazan Aviation plant has started re-learning how to make the main wing beam for Tu-160 http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2245553.html

Google translate wrote:There was a unique equipment to work with the 20-meter monolithic slabs of varying thickness of titanium alloys, because of which made 38% of the construction of the Tu-160.

"Backbone" of the bomber can be called the central titanium beam length of 12.4 m and a width of 2.1 m around which are grouped and other elements of the airframe. For example, at its hinge joints were hung wings. For the manufacture of the beam has been developed process of electron beam welding in a neutral atmosphere or in a vacuum. "Titan is known, is not brewed in the air - begins to burn, and does not extinguish it, so do it either in a vacuum or in a neutral environment, - told the" Online Business "Advisor to the Prime Minister of Tatarstan Nazir Kireev. - When welding everything must go very accurately - all calculated literally fractions of a millimeter. "

The beam milled in two halves and welded in one piece in a vacuum chamber under spetsprisadkami and fluxes. In the scientific and popular literature states that this welding is so far it relates to the unique technologies and can be regarded as national priorities. "Such a welding time was only at the Kazan aircraft plant, and it appeared only in connection with the Tu-160

they say that central body will be same for tu-160 and pak-da.

Which is very strange because the centre body of the Tu-160 is made from a titanium box structure that is very very strong... it holds and supports the bits to allow the swing wing mechanism to work.

I wonder if they are going to do a Fitter on us and have the PAK DA with partial swing wing to change the drag characteristics in different flight modes.

A straight wing for takeoff and landing at low safe speeds and a swept wing for low drag higher speed cruise.

The problem is that if it is subsonic then a swept wing is overkill in terms of weight and cost and complexity for such a minor improvement in speed via reduction in drag.

Unless of course they want a straight wing flying wing and a swept wing super cruising bomber...

This will be interesting.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/181506/tupolev-prepares-to-resume-tu_160m2-production.html

Experts point to the significance of the fact and remind that the shop had been virtually wiped out following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The company admits that many of its facilities have been neglected, according to the BUSINESS Online news portal.

The Kazan Aircraft Plant awarded two contracts for restoring the Tu-160 manufacturing equipment in March 2016. Both are to be carried out by March 30, 2017. Elektromekhanika in the city of Rzhev undertook to square the UVN-45 away for 948 million rubles ($16.5 million), while a subcontractor for rebuilding the ELU-24 was not selected at the time. According to the corporate newspaper, Rzhev-based NITI Progress has been selected for this job. It will be paid 710 million rubles ($12.3 million).


...

"The ELU unit is used for wing center section welding. There will be no upgraded Tu-160, unless we re-learn how to make the beam," a BUSINESS Online source in the aircraft industry says. "As is known, money allocated for the rebuilding the [ELU-24 and UVN-45] units is big. Will the job be done on time? It is hard to say, because the units have been out of repair seriously and for a long time, since the 1990 literally wrought havoc at the shop."
...
The ELU-24 and UVN-45 units are to be tested and accepted and the manufacture of the components of the main longitudinal beam and wing pivot assembly is to begin by March 30, 2017."

Related to Tu-160M2 and PAK-DA:

Kazan Aviation Plant restored Electron-beam welding of titanium

At the Kazan Aviation Plant. S.P. Gorbunova electron-beam welding of titanium was restored in record time. The technology is restored on a new, modern technical basis.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/92824/

White Swans' Nest: The Birthplace of New Russian Strategic Bombers

An aircraft factory in Kazan is expected to become the birthplace of a new generation of Russian Tu-160 long-range supersonic bomber aircraft known throughout the world as the White Swan.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has confirmed that the assembly of the new supersonic heavy strategic bombers will be taking place at an aircraft factory in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan.

According to Rogozin, the manufacturing process itself will be handled by the Kazan Aircraft Production Association, as the plant has already managed to master all the required production techniques like electron beam welding of titanium.

Earlier Yuri Slyusar, chief of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), announced that the UAC plans to manufacture up to 50 upgraded Tu-160M2 strategic bombers from 2022.

The Tu-160 is a supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber, the largest and heaviest Mach 2+ supersonic aircraft ever built and probably the fastest bomber aircraft currently in use. The warplane, dubbed 'White Swan' by Russian pilots and referred to as ‘Blackjack’ by NATO forces, is capable of engaging ground targets around the globe with both conventional and nuclear weapons.

https://sputniknews.com/military/201704251052985821-bomber-aircraft-production/

Russia's ambitious plans for strategic bombers

It is probably time for a quick update on the status of the Russian strategic bomber modernization program. Russia seems to have quite a big plan. Two years ago, in May 2015, the air force announced that it wants to buy as many 50 new Tu-160 aircraft. This is apparently still very much the plan - in an interview last month the head of the United Aircraft Corporation said that the industry expects to produce from 30 to 50 new aircraft, which are now known as Tu-160-M2. Production is expected to begin in 2021.

Meanwhile, all 16 "old" Tu-160 bombers that are currently in service will be completely refurbished. Initially, the idea was to complete the overhaul by 2019, but in the most recent announcement, made by Yuri Borisov, the deputy minister of defense last month, the date was left uncertain - it's only that the old Tu-160 will remain in force until the arrival of the new Tu-160M2. Some Tu-160 bomber are already undergoing modernization, but it is difficult to say whether it is a "new" modernization or the "old" one - see the discussion in this post.

According to Borisov, Tu-95MS should be able to stay in service as long as it is necessary to be eventually replaced by the new PAK-DA. The original plan for PAK-DA was that it will make its first flight in 2019 and begin service in 2023. The work on PAK-DA is said to be underway since 2011. The contract was awarded to Tupolev design bureau in 2014.

It's hard to say how realistic (or indeed reasonable) is the plan to have all these modernization and new design and construction programs at the same time. The industry has its share of problems, so it should not surprise anyone if all dates will begin to "move to the right."

http://russianforces.org/blog/2017/05/russias_ambitious_plans_for_st.shtml

In other words they are going to build a high tech factory for making strategic bombers and we are going to start by remaking the Tu-160 with modern materials and upgraded engines... we are going to likely make about 50 of them to create a viable force of strategic supersonic bombers.

The problem is that supersonic bombers are not cheap to operate so when we have done that we will produce some cheaper to operate subsonic flying wing bombers called PAK DA in the same factory that will eventually replace the old Tu-160s and Tu-95s currently in service.

Makes perfect rational sense to me.

MOSCOW, June 2. / TASS /. The defense industry began manufacturing the first units of the Tu-160 missile carrier, the production of which is being revived in Russia. This was stated by the head of the Russian military department, Army General Sergei Shoigu, during a conference call at the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4306182

Russian tu-160 upgrade

Interfax wrote:Kazan. June 7. Interfax - developing a strategic missile carrier of the future - PAK DA (PAK DA) - should be held
as much as weapons can be inconspicuous and use any airfields, he told reporters Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov.
      "He should as long as possible barazhirovat, be on duty in the air, take off and land with almost any airfield, have a good load
capacity to carry as many weapons to be inconspicuous. A requirement, for example, to the flight speed is not so relevant in the
presence of new features in aircraft weapons ", - said Yu.Borisov at the Kazan aviation plant.
      According to him, time does not stand, the requirements for long-range aviation aircrafts are changing, growing characteristics
of airborne weapons.
      "Rockets begin to shoot farther, faster, on the approach hypersound, so we do not put forward by the aircrafts perspective
shape long-range aircraft such serious requirements for its flight performance," - said Yu.Borisov.
      According to the deputy head of the military establishment, the PAK DA goes after the restoration of the Tu-160 with a new
look. At the same time before the industry supplied the demand reuse of equipment and technological approaches to twice not
to pay for pre-production and development.
      "The avionics, which we plan on Tu-160m2, has the most to migrate to the PAK DA. Naturally, aircraft hull and engines will
be others, but where you can unify and save on training, we will do so in order to reduce the cost of these projects" - said Yu.Borisov.