The Prospective Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation (PAK DA) is a competitor to the American B-21 and the Chinese H-20, according to military expert Maya Karlin in the article «Is the Secret Russian PAK DA Stealth Bomber a Flying Failure?» for The National Interest.
It is expected that the PAK DA will replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers.
On paper, the Russian bomber is a stealthy flying wing aircraft with a large payload and long range. But its development is behind target dates. Like some Russian-made military systems, the PAK DA may not be as formidable as the Kremlin describes it.
Initially, it was stated that the PAK DA would be created on the basis of the Tu-160. Later it became known that the aircraft would receive a completely new design.
The developers of the Russian bomber's main competitors, the B-21 and H-20, promise to introduce many advanced features into them. The US and China, like Russia, are focusing on range and ammunition volume.
Earlier, www1.ru wrote that the release of the PAK Da prototype was scheduled for 2023. Serial production of the bomber was expected in 2027. It is possible that the replacement of the Tu-160 will begin only in the 2030s.
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