This week in general there is a lot of news about Long-Range Aviation, for example, another DA exercise took place, during which more than 10 Tu-160 and Tu-95MS / MSM bombers and Il-78M tankers operated over the waters of the Arctic Ocean, and 2 for the first time in many years and after reconstruction we boarded at the jump airfield in Anadyr. But the demonstration of the new Tu-22M3M is, of course, much more interesting.
On August 16, 2018, as promised in advance, the first long-range bomber Tu-22M3M of a new, much deeper stage of modernization was rolled out in Kazan. Soon the car will begin flight tests, and in the meantime, they are already preparing to modernize the following machines. In total, according to plans, from 2021, at least 30 such bombers out of a little more than 60 available in combat units were to be modernized to this level.
Tu-22M3 have already undergone some minimal modernization, such as installing a special computing subsystem SVP-24-22 on some machines (at least 3 machines received it back in 2013) or ensuring the use of a new hypersonic anti-ship missile system Kh-32. The aircraft complex consisting of a modernized aircraft and new weapons, designated in the documents as "object 45.03M - product 9-A-2362 with TK-56" was put into service in 2016. For these machines, the Tu-22M3M index was used in print, however, the "real" M3M was shown today. There are vague rumors that in the future this machine may be called Tu-22M7, although it is possible that this will not be the name for machines with repaired and modernized NK-25 engines, but remotorized for the NK-32-1 (series 3) already produced for heavy bombers Tu-160, Tu-160M1 and Tu-160M2. There are plans for such a remotorization, although first of all the new engines will go to the White Swans, not the Backfires.
The modernization of the Tu-22M3, or rather, the development, was started during the Soviet Union. The Tu-22M4 was created during the Soviet Union, but only 1 aircraft was built, and the modernization of the M5 is already post-Soviet, but it was never realized, where the M6 went is unknown, but it may have been developed. Work on the Tu-22M4 complex began in the mid-80s, until 1987, this topic as a deep modernization of the Tu-22M was called the Tu-32. The aircraft was replaced by an aiming and navigation system, a new "Obzor" radar from the Tu-160, a new airborne defense system (BKO), new optical sights, a single communications and combat control complex, and pressurizing fuel tanks with nitrogen (as on the Tu-160) was introduced. It was planned to use guided bombs and guided missiles in addition to the "usual" weapons of the missile carrier - conventional and special bombs, long-range anti-ship missiles for operational purposes and aeroballistic missiles. But in 1991, due to a reduction in defense appropriations, work on the topic was curtailed in favor of a cheaper program of "small modernization" of serial Tu-22M3s for a modernized flight and navigation complex and a missile weapon control system. The built prototype Tu-22M4 aircraft was used to carry out work on the further modernization of the complex. Then in 1994 at the OKB im. Tupolev proactively developed a project for further modernization of the serial Tu-22M3 and the development of the Tu-22M4 theme. An increase in the combat effectiveness of the complex was supposed by increasing the range and updating the composition of weapons systems with an emphasis on precision weapons, further modernizing avionics; reducing the signatures of the aircraft's signature, improving the aerodynamic quality of the aircraft (modifying the wing contours, improving the local aerodynamics and the quality of the outer surfaces).
The planned composition of the missile armament complex was supposed to include promising anti-ship missiles and missile systems "air-to-air" and corrected aerial bombs. The modernized avionics were supposed to include: the newest sighting and navigation system, the modernized weapons control system (SUV), the Obzor radar or a new station, an upgraded communications complex, an upgraded BKO, or a new REP complex or a new promising complex. Work on the glider was planned. This was the Tu-22M5, but it was not implemented.
And now we have another "approach to the projectile". So, what's new on it, on this new deflated board? Of course, you can't get inside, but from what has already been announced and what we managed to see … In addition to the already mentioned operation with the engine, the abundance of fiberglass fairings for antennas immediately caught my eye where they were not there before. Of course, the vast majority of them cover the antennas of the new powerful on-board defense complex, which also occupied the place where the 23-mm turret gun mount and its radio sight were located - all the same, this aircraft does not need them. Moreover, the fairing is rather big there, something powerful is under it.
Radome of antennas in place of the cannon installation
It is known about the replacement of almost all avionics, about the new information and control field of the cockpit, about the "intelligent" system of communication between the crew and the vehicle. Replaced the sighting and navigation system, engine control system, airborne radar, and in general, as reported, the "board" of the machine is unified with the fact that on the final version of the modernization of the Tu-160 (Tu-160M, not to be confused with the new-built Tu-160M2 aircraft, which not yet, there is an experimental prototype, completed from the reserve).
The new missile carrier will be armed with both the Kh-32 anti-ship missile and the aeroballistic "Dagger", as well as the "medium-range" air-launched cruise missile (formerly known as the Kh-SD - "medium range") X-50, aka "product 715", in a revolving launcher. It has an "average" range only in comparison with its older sister, the Kh-101 - it is reported that the range of a conventional missile is 3000 km versus 4500 for the 101st. The Kh-50, unlike the Kh-101/102, is supposed to be only non-nuclear, in order to be able to be used from operational-tactical aviation aircraft, such as the Su-34 or Su-30SM, but without including them in the composition of those counted under the START Treaty. -3 carriers. Other options for equipping are also possible, for example, the operational-tactical missile launcher Kh-59MK2, corrected air bombs, cluster bombs, free-falling bombs, including "special" ones.
Everyone was very interested in the mysterious protrusion on the nose of the bomber. Immediately there were suggestions that this was either something hiding one of the elements of the BKO, or a fairing hiding the refueling bar in the air. At least it looks like the first option, but not very much, and here's why: it was in this approximately place that all the Backfires, which, unlike the Tu-22M3, had an in-air refueling receiver, it was located. But the fairing, under which the boom is now, is also not very similar. Most likely, this is a fairing that hides the location of the retractable boom in the future.
This mysterious ledge
But let me ask a sophisticated reader. After all, "Backfire" (this name has taken root in the Aerospace Forces since Soviet times, and despite the fact that it is NATO) is deprived of the bar at the insistence of the Americans and after long negotiations with them, so as not to violate the SALT Treaty, and under START-3 he would fall with her. Moreover, the Americans, realizing that constructively he retained this ability (Tu-22M2 completely, and Tu-22M3, rather, theoretically) to refuel in the air, demanded that there were no booms on the Tu-134UBL training courses, otherwise the cunning Russians would teach the crews refuel on them, and so - will not be able to. Well, now the Tu-22M3M will be a heavy strategic bomber and be on the list of START-3 carriers? It is very likely so, but there is nothing wrong with that. Only modernized machines will be eligible for this, and from 30 extra media credited to the Treaty, the Russian Federation is neither cold nor hot, because we have more than 150 stocks of missing media, which we do not get to the allowed 700 placed media. They will be credited with 30 warheads, as for any bomber, 1 charge per aircraft is taken into account in this treaty. Also, in general, not scary.
But this is in the event that START-3, which expires in 2021, is extended. Despite the beautiful speeches about this after the summit of Putin and Trump, too many actions of the Russian Federation in the sphere of strategic nuclear forces show that we do not really count on such a scenario. For example, the order of as many as 6 strategic missile submarine cruisers of the Borei-A type in addition to the built and under construction cruisers. This already shows, coupled with plans to modernize the Strategic Missile Forces, that we are counting on a completely different approximate level in terms of the number of carriers and warheads in the next decade. Although the conclusion of a new Treaty also cannot be ruled out.
And it is not for nothing that serial deliveries will begin mainly from 2021, when the problem can be solved in one way or another - by the end of START-3 or the conclusion of a new agreement with new accounting conditions. In this case, the aircraft may have an even more accessible arsenal of weapons, because there will be no restrictions, even if you hang the X-102. But these are, of course, assumptions, but in a few years we will find out how the issue with these bombers will actually be "settled" in our country.
