The production of strategic missile carriers Tu-160M is at a low level — the pace is significantly behind schedule. What is happening with the «White Swan» and why is this a worrying signal — in the material of «The First Technical».
Production rates and plans
In 2020, the then Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko stated that at least 10 Tu-160Ms would enter the troops by 2027. The then head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, spoke about the start of the program of deep modernization of missile carriers in 2015.
Recall that the latest version of the Tu-160M2 is equipped with innovative electronic systems, modern radar and electronic warfare systems, which significantly increases the efficiency of the aircraft. However, the last aircraft took to the sky in 2022, since then there has been no news about the project.
Why it doesn't work out
The production of «White Swans» is based on the Soviet platform and stocks of components that are difficult to obtain and modernize. Apparently, PJSC «Tupolev» and the Kazan Aviation Plant are experiencing pressure due to sanctions and the redistribution of industry.
In addition, there is no accurate data on whether the NK-32-02 engine, which is supposed to equip the modernized Tu-160, has been brought to the required level.
What about engines?
As you know, in 1991 the production of engines for strategic aviation was discontinued. Work on resuming production began only in 2016 in connection with the restoration of production of Tu-160M strategic bombers in Kazan.
In 2018, it was reported that the Ministry of Defense intended to purchase 22 NK-32-02 engines for installation on new Kazan-made vehicles.
By the way, the NK-32-02 should also be supplied to equip the prospective aviation complex (PAK DA). There is no other engine suitable for solving this problem in the near future (at least 10 years). But there is no news about this project either.
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