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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1259.PDF
Cover story ordered the closure of the Tu-160 produc tion line at Kazan. However, the line was re-opened in 1997 and in July 1999 plans were announced under the military pro duction programme to complete one of the remaining Tu-160s, which was left half-finished at the factory. This aircraft was delivered in May 2000. A second Tu-160 was under construction at the plant in December last year. Russia plans to have 25 operational Tu-160s, allowing the formation of a second regi ment by 2003. In addition to constructing new aircraft, Tupolev chairman and general designer Igor Shevchuk announced in April last year that a Tu-160 upgrade programme is planned to "maintain readiness and upgrade onboard equipment and arma ment options". Replacement Reports have circulated for some time that Russia will design and build a new bomber. In 1983, Sukhoi was given the task of designing a Tu-22M3 replacement. Sukhoi's T-60S, or Joint Continental Bomber, is thought to have been under development ever since. Little is known about the design, although it is thought to incorporate low observable technology and have two thrust-vectoring turbofans. The aircraft, should it ever enter service, will carry six Kh-lOls together with Kh-55s and Raduga Kh-15s (AS-16 Kickback), together with conventional precision- guided munitions. The project is officially secret, although some sources reported that a prototype was ready for flight test in 1996 and would enter service next year. There is no evidence, however, that the air craft has even left the drawing board. Galeotti says Russia's lack of hard cur rency means that its military aircraft are increasingly designed with a view towards exports. Russia's security considerations make it unlikely that a nuclear-capable bomber would be made available for export and "the difficulty in exporting a strategic bomber pushes such a project further down the queue". Russia is considering new weapons for its current aircraft, however, and several ALCM projects are under way. The 37th Air Army plans to procure a more advanced version of its Kh-55s. The Kh-55SE is understood to have an improved guidance system and a prototype was reportedly developed in 1996. Reports have also emerged about the new Kh-65 ALCM. The missile is thought to have an active-radar sensor, a range of several hundred kilometres and a 600- 800kg (1,320-1,7601b) launch weight. An anti-shipping variant, the Kh-65S, is also rumoured to be under construction. Docu ments released at the 1992 Moscow air show described the Kh-65 as a tactical derivative of the Kh-101 strategic system. The Kh-101 ALCM is believed to have been deployed, after a Tu-160 fired one of the missiles during an exercise in October 1998. The weapon has interchangeable warheads containing a direct-fuzed, high explosive device, or a variable-yield ther monuclear device. It is thought to be a sub sonic, capable of travelling at speeds of Mach 0.77 and weighing 2,200-2,400kg. The development of new ALCMs indi cates that the force is dispensing with free- fall nuclear bombs, although a small num ber of strategic and tactical weapons might still exist. The missiles offer the attraction of stand-off ranges and do not require the bomber to enter hostile airspace. The 37th Air Army's future is uncertain. The force is important for Russian prestige as Russia and the USA are the only two countries to maintain a strategic bomber force. Andrew Brookes, air analyst at the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies, says the 37th Air Army is one of Russia's "few remaining symbols of high office". The Russian air force's wish-list probably features more tactical, ground attack aircraft than strategic bombers. Galeotti says the air war in Chechnya has illustrated the for mer's importance, which, coupled with the requirement for exports, make it less likely that Russia will procure a new bomber. In any case, the 37th Air Army's procurement budget will be absorbed by its upgrade pro grammes and new weapons systems, while extra cash will be spent to keep at least part of the force combat-readv. • Time for a change: without huge investment, Russian bomber pilots face flying rapidly ageing aircraft www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 23-29 APRIL 2002 31
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