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 from "Perviy Tehnicheskiy".
Production Rates and Plans
In 2020, the then Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko stated that at least 10 Tu-160Ms would enter service by 2027. The start of the program for the deep modernization of missile carriers was announced by the then head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, in 2015.
It is worth recalling that the latest version of the Tu-160M2 is equipped with innovative electronic systems, modern radar and electronic warfare systems, which significantly increases the aircraft's efficiency. However, the last aircraft took to the skies in 2022, and there has been no news about the project since then.
Why is it not working out?
The production of "White Swans" is based on the Soviet platform and stocks of components that are difficult to obtain and modernize. Apparently, PAO "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 the engines?
As is known, 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 the 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 aircraft.
By the way, the NK-32-02 should also be used 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 also no news about this project.
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