On the threshold of the 100-year
anniversary of the Russian Air Force, holiday events are steadily
increasing in number. A round table with the participation of the most
prominent Russian military analysts, devoted to the development of a
potential new bomber for the Russian Air Force, has taken place in
Moscow. However, while estimating the need for “aircraft of the future”,
the specialists have differed in their views.
There was at least one thing on
which all the participants of the round table, which was held in the
Rosbalt information agency, have agreed upon: Russia should continue
maintaining the existing fleet of strategic aircraft in a proper
condition and continue to upgrade them. The resources for the Tupolev
Tu-95MS, Tu-160, and Tu-22М3 allow these aircrafts to remain in service
for many years. In these conditions, the improvement of their equipment
and weapons is one of the key tasks.
Such works are
under way now. The Tupolev Tu-95MS and Tu-160 fighters are undergoing
modernization and the first upgraded Tu-22М3М has already been handed
over to the troops. Updated aircraft can use modern weapons, including
non-nuclear precision-guided munitions, which makes them very useful in
case of local conflicts. It is noteworthy that Russia currently has
approximately 200 long-range aircrafts, including 66 Tupolev Tu-95MS and
16 Tupolev Tu-160s (the rest are Tupolev Tu-22М3s), and it is at the
very least wasteful to leave all these heavy combat aircrafts without
the possibility of carrying out non-nuclear tasks in local conflicts.
Despite
the capabilities of the modernized Russian bombers, their resources are
not infinite. They are to be replaced in 2030-2050 due to wear and tear
on the airframes. Meanwhile, taking into account modern combat
aircraft’s terms of development and serialized production, it is
necessary to start development now in order to get a new aircraft by the
beginning of 2030s. However, some specialists do not support this point
of view. During the round table, Deputy Director of the Centre for
Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Andrey Frolov was the main
opponent of new strategic aircraft development.
“At
this stage, maintaining the full-fledged nuclear triad is very
burdensome for Russia. In this connection, developing a new long-range
aircraft of the fifth generation may become one of the programs that do
not make sense, but demand a lot of financial resources,” Frolov stated.
Other
participants of the discussion supported the development of new
aircraft. “Russia needs strategic bombers of the fifth generation, first
of all, in order to support its status of a nuclear power,” the
National Defense magazine Editor-in-Chief Igor Korotchenko said.
According
to the analyst, it is “the aviation component of the strategic nuclear
forces that is most adaptable to the task of sending signals to the
opponents in critical moments, reminding them of the fact that the
Russian armed forces are capable of solving any problems in case of a
war.”
The head of the Institute of Political and
Military Analysis Alexander Sharavin has also supported the new
development: “I do not oppose the idea of upgrading old aircrafts. But
what shall we do in 30 years? It is clear that such aircraft as the PAK
DA project cannot be produced in three, five, or even ten years. Such
tasks take many years to be fulfilled.”
The fate of
PAK DA – the Prospective Air Complex for Long Range Aviation – is not
clear yet. Arguments of all the participants contain a core of common
sense. It seems that the general conclusion from all the above can be
formulated as follows:
1. Today, maintaining the
classic nuclear triad – long-range aviation, land-based missiles, and
nuclear underwater missile carriers – is a topic for discussion.
2.
Nevertheless, the development of a new long-range combat aircraft seems
to be necessary. Given the length of Russian borders and the need to
respond to potential threats, which may occur in different regions,
Russia needs a unit of aircraft capable of readily hitting targets
beyond the range of tactical aircraft without refueling in the air.
3.
Until it comes to serial production of the new aircraft type, its
development is not unduly wasteful, and it may be stopped, slowed down,
and resumed at any point without special expenses.
4.
Until convincing proof is received that new types of weapons – such as
remotely piloted delivery systems and other aircrafts – can effectively
replace the classic long-range bomber, this work should be continued.
Development of an aircraft up to the moment of launching a series
usually takes 10-15 years. It is a sufficient term for determining the
prospects of the program.
i just love seeing russia becoming stronger and stronger
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