Strategic bomber Tu-160 on the right is the pride of Soviet and Russian aviation. Considering, that "white swans" are increasingly began to appear in the most unexpected places, eg, in Venezuela, US media began to pay attention to this aircraft, introduces the reader to his harakteristikami.Tak, specialized magazine The National Interest has conducted its own analysis of the opportunities bomber. But it is necessary to trust his conclusions?
American experts do not skimp on compliments, which is quite unusual:The fastest bomber, ever built. The biggest bomber, ever built. Heaviest bomber, ever built.
The advantages of the aircraft The National Interest drifted his "stunning" load rating 40 tons and variable sweep wing. But there was one drawback and: "White Swans" are not stealth technology. It makes you want to cry, Georges Miloslavsky: "How can you make?!». Actually, pretty simple. The aircraft started to develop in the distant 1967 year. Then, about stealth technologies has never heard. specific task was given to the Soviet designers: create a supersonic bomber, able to deliver 40 tons of bombs on the enemy with supersonic speed, at the height of 18 000 meters at a distance of 11000-13000 km. It has been successfully ispolnena.Dazhe today, with the development of radar tracking technology, "Visibility" of the Tu-160 is not a critical issue. Birds of the air-launched missiles, which bears the "White Swan", able to strike at a distance, exceeding the range of the most advanced anti-aircraft missile systems. For a single nuclear strike "last war" that will be enough. Bombers also be used for actions against an irregular enemy, a non-developed air defense systems. Stealth technology against "Barmaley" not seriously nuzhny.No, that the Tu-160's true there is a problem, which is not in its "visibility". The whole point of their small size: our long-range aviation has only 10 Tu-160 and 7 Tu-160M1. The massive air strike such forces not nanesesh. for comparison, The US Air Force currently includes about 140 Strategic bombardirovschikov.Trebuetsya modernization of existing Tu-160. AT 2016 it was decided to resume the production of engines NK-32-02 for "White Swans", which will also be used for PAK DA. While in the air force entered one Tu-22M3M with such power-plant and the next year it is expected the first Tu-160M.
Author: Sergey Marzhetsky
