Tu-22M3: News

https://iz.ru/663570/aleksei-ramm/ubiitcam-avianostcev-popolniat-arsenal

Tu-22M3's undergoing modernization.

Key aspects:
- New Engines based on the same ones used on Tu-160M2
- New cruise missiles for the Tu-22M3 - Kh-32 is the missiles.

miketheterrible wrote:https://iz.ru/663570/aleksei-ramm/ubiitcam-avianostcev-popolniat-arsenal

Tu-22M3's undergoing modernization.

Key aspects:
- New Engines based on the same ones used on Tu-160M2
- New cruise missiles for the Tu-22M3 - Kh-32 is the missiles.

This is also very good news for Russia.

This is an aircraft to stay, and to stay longer than the current subsonic strategic bombers, the Tu-95/142 and the Il-38.

miketheterrible wrote:
- New cruise missiles for the Tu-22M3 - Kh-32 is the missiles.

Different missile - Izd. 715...possibly a scaled down Kh-101 that can be launched form a rotating launcher inside the Tu-22M3

Changing to the same engine as the Tu-160M will be of enormous benefit for the aircraft... with 80 odd Tu-22M3s that means 160 engines that are unique at the moment which is not a huge base of engines.

Adding the 16 Tu-160s means adding 64 more engines but also adding 50 or 60 Tu-160M2s means a total of 344-384 engines all using the same parts pool and requiring unified support.

The use of the radar from the upgraded Il-38 suggests to me that when the Tu-160s are back in production and then PAK DAs are also in production the Tu-22M3 might go back to navy use in the anti carrier role, though the improvements in land attack capacity would mean operations like in Syria should be still an option too.

They stated "up to 50 Tu-160M2s", so I doubt 60 will be ordered, unless PAK-DA is cancelled later, not postponed.
With the new CM, the Tu-22M3 will become a lot more than a direct counterpart of the B-1B: http://svpressa.ru/war21/article/186730/?aft=1

There was talk of other missions for the Tu-160M2 including as a heavy interceptor (Tu-160P) and also for other missions too like heavy naval strike aircraft.

Some, if not all, of those more likely will be modified Tu-160Ms, not M2s.

If it is successful in the interceptor role who knows how many they might build.

There was also a model designed to carry a large long rocket on its belly externally for satellite launches too.


Suffice to say right now no one knows exactly how many they will build...

All older model Tu-160s will likely get upgrades to Tu-160M2 level anyway.

The missiles both look the same as far as I can tell

I seem to remember reading in the mid 2000s that the Kh-22M is no longer in frontline service and that any missiles you see under a Tu-22M3 will be a Kh-32...

Don't know how factual that is however.

I seem to remember that there were three main versions of the Kh-22M... one that uses an autopilot to a grid square reference... that one was armed with a nuke warhead and was designed to take out comms centres and command centres etc of fixed location. Another had a radar guidance for large land objects like bridges or large buildings and ships, while the third was an anti radiation missile used against major SAM sites and well defended ships.

Shame they don't list the upgrades...

GarryB wrote:Shame they don't list the upgrades...

They actually did


in short:
Crew: 2 pilots
Engines same as Tu-160M2 - NK-32
avionics - based on 160M2 (I presume netcentric with new navigation to chase CVBGs)

Weaposn: Kh-32, Kindzhal, X-50 (scaled down X-101) and Gzur ( Ma-8 missile) both x6 and with range   ~1500 km (this form BMPD)

Attention: air-frame also will be modified (didn't say to what degree though)
Build in refueling bar too      


refurbished: 36 units. Not bad to fend off NTO fleet. + 50 Tu-160M2.






Updated missile carrier Tu-22M3M will receive a rigging Tu-160

https://rg.ru/2018/04/28/reg-pfo/obnovlennyj-raketonosec-tu-22m3m-poluchit-osnastku-tu-160.html

The creation of a deeply modernized bomber-missile carrier Tu-22M3M is nearing completion, the head of the Tupolev company Alexander Konyukhov said.

- On the prototype of a deeply modernized missile carrier, assembly work and preparations for the first take-off are being completed . It is planned for the third quarter of 2018. In the same year, modernization of combat aircraft will begin, "Interfax quotes Konyukhov .

The updated Tu-22 will receive new, more economical and durable engines, as well as on-board electronics, unified with the "older brother", the strategic missile carrier Tu-160. In particular, the aircraft will have a system of space communications and the ability to receive in-flight target designation - including from mobile sea and land terminals. Given that the main task of the Tu-22 is still hunting for aircraft carriers, the ability to take on-the-fly operational information about their whereabouts will not be superfluous. Another innovation will be the bar for refueling the aircraft in the air - this option will increase the already considerable combat radius of the missile carrier - with new engines the flight range of the Tu-22M3M will be almost 10 thousand kilometers.

In parallel with the modernization of the aircraft, a new weapon is being developed for him. The upgraded electronics will allow the aircraft to use the Kh-32, Kh-55, Kh-555, Kh-101/102 missiles, and prospective Kh-50, GZUR and Dagger .

"Modernization will significantly prolong the service life of Tu-22M family aircraft," Konyukhov stressed. According to open sources, Russia has more than 100 aircraft of this type.

Collecting new cars and modernizing the drill will be in Kazan, where at the Gorbunov Aircraft Plant there are at least four Tu-22 gliders preserved from the Soviet reserve. In addition, the company has accumulated experience in restoring production of Tu-160. The first "White Swan" from the new series  climbed into the sky in early 2018.

Russia will raise into the sky  a new missile carrier

The first flight of the upgraded long-range missile carrier Tu-22M3M is scheduled for August 2018, RIA Novosti reported at the Kazan aircraft plant.

https://rg.ru/2018/04/25/reg-pfo/rossiia-podnimet-v-nebo-novyj-raketonosec.html

"We intend to lift the Tu-22M3M in the air in August," the company representative said.

Photo: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti
Preparation of the Su-57 for the Victory Parade was shot on video
Deep modernization and the resumption of the mass production of the most massive long-range aircraft was laid in the State Program of Armaments for 2018-2027. The aircraft is updated according to the scheme used for the "older brother" Tu-160: from the old Tu-22M, there is only a glider (and the one is modified).

Instead of the regular NK-25 engines, the missile carrier will receive the upgraded Tu-160 power units: with a similar thrust, they are more durable and much more economical - the range of the upgraded Tu-22 will grow by one and a half times. The aircraft will receive a retractable bar for refueling in the air and an on-board electronics similar to the Tu-160M2. The crew will be reduced from four to two people.

In the arsenal of the missile carrier will enter as available weapons of destruction: cruise missiles X-55, X-555, X-32, X-101/102, and prospective: Kindzhal , X-50 and GZUR. The weapons compartment is likely to be enlarged. The aircraft will be equipped with a space link to obtain target coordinates in real time - including from portable land and sea terminals.

Collect the updated missile carriers and modernize the combat vehicles will be at the Kazan Aircraft Plant named after Gorbunov, where from the Soviet times at least four unfinished gliders have been preserved. The GPV provides for the modernization of 36 combat aircraft, mass production of the Tu-22M3M is planned to be deployed in the mid-1920s at a rate of three or four aircraft per year.

with new engines the flight range of the Tu-22M3M will be almost 10 thousand kilometers.

Nice... so a radius of about 5,000km... plus likely more with inflight refuelling that makes them very potent theatre strike aircraft...

The upgraded electronics will allow the aircraft to use the Kh-32, Kh-55, Kh-555, Kh-101/102 missiles, and prospective Kh-50, GZUR and Dagger .

Dagger... Kinzhal? Mach 10 2,000km range missile... impressive...

Collecting new cars and modernizing the drill will be in Kazan, where at the Gorbunov Aircraft Plant there are at least four Tu-22 gliders preserved from the Soviet reserve. In addition, the company has accumulated experience in restoring production of Tu-160. The first "White Swan" from the new series  climbed into the sky in early 2018.

If they can rebuild the Tu-160 then rebuilding Tu-22M3s would be easy as it is a smaller lighter aircraft...

The crew will be reduced from four to two people.

So two pilots makes sense because of long flight times, but it also suggests the issues with navigation and self defence have been fully automated to the point where the extra crew are clearly not needed anymore.

This is awesome.... the Tu-22M3 has always been an aircraft with huge potential and this upgrade makes it simpler and cheaper and much better to operate...

Even just unifying the engine so the Backfire and Blackjack have the same 25 ton thrust engine on its own is huge because it means when upgraded versions of the NK-32 are developed they can be used to upgrade the Backfire too...

With 50 new Blackjacks that means about 60-65 Blackjacks in total... x4 = 240 to 260 engines on aircraft plus a couple of dozen spares, and with 50 odd Backfires that means another hundred engines as well... makes the upgrades much more cost effective and savings in fuel are further increased...

The addition of inflight refuelling will be a huge bonus too...

I wonder if the Chinese might be interested in some now...

It would be a great replacement for their F-111s in Australia but politically that will never happen... one Backfire replacing two F-111s...

The Tu-22M3 has been useful as a bomb truck in Syria, so hopefully this will be successful and they will go beyond 36 aircraft so that the Blackjacks can focus on strategic nuclear roles... imagine all your 65 Blackjacks are out hunting US carriers and WWIII starts.... not time to rush back home and change into your ball gown for the Grand ball....

In comparison the Tu-22M3M would be ideal for dealing with any threats near the Russian coast... 5,000km radius for the aircraft plus 2,000km reach for the Kinzhal mach 10 missile... that is plenty of protection against any sort of ship...

GunshipDemocracy wrote:

GarryB wrote:Shame they don't list the upgrades...

They actually did


in short:
Crew: 2 pilots
Engines same as Tu-160M2 - NK-32
avionics - based on 160M2 (I presume netcentric with new navigation to chase CVBGs)

Weaposn: Kh-32, Kindzhal, X-50 (scaled down X-101) and Gzur ( Ma-8 missile) both x6 and with range   ~1500 km (this form BMPD)

Attention: air-frame also will be modified (didn't say to what degree though)
Build in refueling bar too      


refurbished: 36 units. Not bad to fend off NTO fleet. + 50 Tu-160M2.






Updated missile carrier Tu-22M3M will receive a rigging Tu-160

https://rg.ru/2018/04/28/reg-pfo/obnovlennyj-raketonosec-tu-22m3m-poluchit-osnastku-tu-160.html

The creation of a deeply modernized bomber-missile carrier Tu-22M3M is nearing completion, the head of the Tupolev company Alexander Konyukhov said.

- On the prototype of a deeply modernized missile carrier, assembly work and preparations for the first take-off are being completed . It is planned for the third quarter of 2018. In the same year, modernization of combat aircraft will begin, "Interfax quotes Konyukhov .

The updated Tu-22 will receive new, more economical and durable engines, as well as on-board electronics, unified with the "older brother", the strategic missile carrier Tu-160. In particular, the aircraft will have a system of space communications and the ability to receive in-flight target designation - including from mobile sea and land terminals. Given that the main task of the Tu-22 is still hunting for aircraft carriers, the ability to take on-the-fly operational information about their whereabouts will not be superfluous. Another innovation will be the bar for refueling the aircraft in the air - this option will increase the already considerable combat radius of the missile carrier - with new engines the flight range of the Tu-22M3M will be almost 10 thousand kilometers.

In parallel with the modernization of the aircraft, a new weapon is being developed for him. The upgraded electronics will allow the aircraft to use the Kh-32, Kh-55, Kh-555, Kh-101/102 missiles, and prospective Kh-50, GZUR and Dagger .

"Modernization will significantly prolong the service life of Tu-22M family aircraft," Konyukhov stressed. According to open sources, Russia has more than 100 aircraft of this type.

Collecting new cars and modernizing the drill will be in Kazan, where at the Gorbunov Aircraft Plant there are at least four Tu-22 gliders preserved from the Soviet reserve. In addition, the company has accumulated experience in restoring production of Tu-160. The first "White Swan" from the new series  climbed into the sky in early 2018.

Russia will raise into the sky  a new missile carrier

The first flight of the upgraded long-range missile carrier Tu-22M3M is scheduled for August 2018, RIA Novosti reported at the Kazan aircraft plant.

https://rg.ru/2018/04/25/reg-pfo/rossiia-podnimet-v-nebo-novyj-raketonosec.html

"We intend to lift the Tu-22M3M in the air in August," the company representative said.

Photo: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti
Preparation of the Su-57 for the Victory Parade was shot on video
Deep modernization and the resumption of the mass production of the most massive long-range aircraft was laid in the State Program of Armaments for 2018-2027. The aircraft is updated according to the scheme used for the "older brother" Tu-160: from the old Tu-22M, there is only a glider (and the one is modified).

Instead of the regular NK-25 engines, the missile carrier will receive the upgraded Tu-160 power units: with a similar thrust, they are more durable and much more economical - the range of the upgraded Tu-22 will grow by one and a half times. The aircraft will receive a retractable bar for refueling in the air and an on-board electronics similar to the Tu-160M2. The crew will be reduced from four to two people.

In the arsenal of the missile carrier will enter as available weapons of destruction: cruise missiles X-55, X-555, X-32, X-101/102, and prospective: Kindzhal , X-50 and GZUR. The weapons compartment is likely to be enlarged. The aircraft will be equipped with a space link to obtain target coordinates in real time - including from portable land and sea terminals.

Collect the updated missile carriers and modernize the combat vehicles will be at the Kazan Aircraft Plant named after Gorbunov, where from the Soviet times at least four unfinished gliders have been preserved. The GPV provides for the modernization of 36 combat aircraft, mass production of the Tu-22M3M is planned to be deployed in the mid-1920s at a rate of three or four aircraft per year.

The new upgrades for Tu-22M3 (from M3 to M3M) almost puts its to the level of Tu-160M. I would even say to nigh-strategic level even (the refueling probe though ) .

Wow, 2 pilots down from 4, Tu-160 engines and avionics and every single fancy missile available, Kinzhal included?

This monster will be something epic. Hopefully they cranck up the whole fleet to this level not just 30, go nuts.

Any guesses on how many Kinzhals it will be able to carry? And what will they do with 2 extra seats now?

The weapons are realy impressive.
Maybe kh-mt?
Great post GunshipDemocracy!

There are some unfinished Tu-22M3 in Kazan, I imagine they could complete these airframes in M3M version, also these would be new airplanes as they have no cycles or flight hours and could operate longer than existing M3.

magnumcromagnon wrote:
The new upgrades for Tu-22M3 (from M3 to M3M) almost puts its to the level of Tu-160M. I would even say to nigh-strategic level even (the refueling probe though ) .

To me its main task is to keep CVSGs at bay. 36 is assumed in SAP till 2027 (but this again can be changed  by Putin as they say = depending on geopolitical setup) .

Svyatoslavich wrote:There are some unfinished Tu-22M3 in Kazan, I imagine they could complete these airframes in M3M version, also these would be new airplanes as they have no cycles or flight hours and could operate longer than existing M3.

Article claims 4 frames still are there

dino00 wrote:The weapons are realy impressive.
Maybe kh-mt?
Great post GunshipDemocracy!

not me it was just quoting 2 articles
BTW what is Kh-MT?

PapaDragon wrote:
Wow, 2 pilots down from 4, Tu-160 engines and avionics and every single fancy missile available, Kinzhal included?

This monster will be something epic. Hopefully they cranck up the whole fleet to this level not just 30, go nuts.

Any guesses on how many Kinzhals it will be able to carry? And what will they do with 2 extra seats now?

36 they say. I am a bit puzzled with Kindzhal though. Because there will be both Kindzhal AND Kh-32. Perhaps Kindzhal can be used also against smaller ships or land targets?
I 'd say also range will drop till some degree as neither range nor speed is same as for MiG-31.

I'd presume also that with missiles only in bomb bay (Gzur, Kh-50) range can increase or can fly faster to deployment point.