The Russian supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160 “White Swan” is the most powerful and largest missile carrier in the world, writes the American magazine The National Interest.
The aircraft has practically no shortcomings, the only thing is that it does not use stealth technologies.
According to the publication, Russia did not use stealth technologies because of the high cost and complexity of development; instead, designers are engaged in a deep modernization of the aircraft.
“The fastest, largest, heaviest – it all relates to the Russian Tu-160,” notes the columnist for the publication, Caleb Larson.
The Tu-160 is called the “White Swan” because a white reflective coating is applied to its plane. This is to protect the crew. Tu-160 can carry nuclear weapons, which after the explosion creates a bright fireball.
“The thermal energy of nuclear explosions is huge, reflecting part of this thermal energy, the crew, at least theoretically, is more protected than otherwise,” writes Larson.
As features of the bomber, a variable sweep of the wing is noted, which provides him with better maneuverability at supersonic and low speeds.
The Tu-160 bomber-bomber was adopted in 1987. He made his first flight in December 1981. Russian military aviation currently operates 18 aircraft of this series. On the plane, 46 different world records were set.
“This is the only Soviet-designed bomber that does not carry any defensive weapons, although its enormous carrying capacity of 45 tons allows it to carry a dizzying array of conventional or nuclear weapons,” said Caleb Larson.
As we reported on November 28 last year Russia has assembled its first upgraded Tupolev Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber and started its trials.
“On November 28, the first heavily upgraded Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber was transferred from the production workshops to the flight testing station of the Kazan Aviation Enterprise for factory ground and flight tests,” the Russian MoD said in a statement
Few months later, on February 10 this year Russia announced plans to arm Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
“The possibility of deploying Kinzhal missiles on Tu-160 aircraft is being considered. The work on this option is due to be completed this year,” the source in Russian MoD said.
