"White Swan" builds power
One of the most interesting and ambitious domestic defense programs of recent times is the resumption of the serial construction of the Tu-160 strategic bombers. At present, the aerospace forces of Russia have only 16 such aircraft, some of which have already undergone modernization under the new project. In the near future, the military department and aviation the industry plans to begin construction of new aircraft, and now Tu-160M2 modification cars will descend from the stocks.
The possibility of restoring mass production of Tu-160 aircraft was discussed for a long time, but the issue was finally resolved only a few years ago. In the spring of 2015, Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu spoke about the approval of plans to resume the construction of missile carriers. It was noted that the industry will produce aircraft of the latest modification of the Tu-160М2. Later it was repeatedly pointed out and emphasized that as part of the modernization of the “M2” project, the Tu-160 will receive a completely new electronic and other equipment, thanks to which its combat effectiveness will increase 2,5 times.
The construction of strategic bombers of the new modification has not yet begun, but by now some details of the project have become known. Representatives of the military and defense enterprises over the past years have repeatedly raised the topic of upgrading equipment and at the same time revealed certain details of the work. In particular, some approaches to the modernization of the existing aircraft have become known. In addition, in recent months, new plans have been disclosed, and the current state of affairs has been clarified. Consider the available information about a promising project.
Tu-160 "Vitaly Kopylov", b / n 08 - the last of the built aircraft. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
It should be noted that, to date, several serial rocket carriers of the VKS have managed to undergo a modernization project Tu-160M (the designation Tu-160М1 is also encountered). This project meant the repair and restoration of the structure with the replacement of a part of radio-electronic equipment. A similar approach is used in the project Tu-160М2. The specialists of the aircraft industry and the customer do not intend to significantly rebuild the aircraft, but at the same time they wish to replace the existing avionics with modern models.
Since that time, plans to significantly refine the airframe were not reported. Thus, there is every reason to believe that the Tu-160М2 aircraft will fully retain its recognizable appearance and, probably, the basic flight data. The same is true of the power plant: a possible resumption of the production of the NK-32 turbojet engines was previously reported. Thus, the growth of the most important technical and combat characteristics will be provided mainly due to the “stuffing”, but not with the help of a modified glider.
The first technical details were published in November 2015 of the year - just a few months after the announcement of plans to resume construction. Then, in the press release of the concern Radioelectronic Technologies (KRET), it was stated that this organization intends to create a number of new systems for the Tu-160М2 aircraft. First of all, there was a desire to take part in the development of weapons control systems and electronic warfare complex.
At the time of publication of the press release, KRET specialists were actively involved in shaping the on-board electronics. According to the results of the work carried out, it was stated that the aircraft would be equipped with a so-called. integrated modular avionics. In the course of further development of the project, it was planned to create new means of control, computing devices, an inertial navigation system, weapons control facilities, an EW complex, etc. According to the plans for the end of 2015, the work on the new on-board equipment complex was to be completed at the end of the current decade.
The leaders of the Ministry of Defense previously mentioned that it is planned to use the principles of unification when developing onboard avionics equipment. For this reason, the maximum possible number of Tu-160М2 devices will also be used in the project of the Advanced Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation (PAK DA). The advantages of this approach are obvious.
According to the available data, the updated Tu-160М2 will retain full compatibility with the standard armaments of the aircraft of the basic model, but at the same time they will be distinguished by greater efficiency of its use. In the ammunition of the bombers will remain strategic cruise missiles X-55 and X-555. In addition, the machines will be able to carry and apply the latest X-101 / 102 products. To solve some combat missions, aircraft will be able to be equipped with existing types of bomb armament. A promising aiming-navigation system based on the latest instruments will, to a certain extent, increase the efficiency of using all compatible weapons.
Relatively old messages and press releases provide an approximate picture of the planned modernization. No less interesting newspublished in the last few months. According to them, the aviation industry has already managed to advance far enough and complete some stages of preparation for the future construction of aircraft. In addition, certain plans have already been formed.
In mid-January 2017, the leadership of the Kazan Aviation Plant. S.P. Gorbunova, who will have to once again master the mass production of missile carriers, reported to the Minister of Defense about the completion of part of the preparatory work. The production facilities of the company are fully prepared for the serial construction of the Tu-160М2. Moreover, the plant is already receiving certain necessary components and will soon be able to start assembling the first production machine of a new type. In parallel with the preparation for the serial production of the МХNUMX version of the bombers, the Kazan Aviation Plant continues to repair and modernize the basic modification of the aircraft in the armed forces.
In early April, the management of the United Aircraft Corporation announced current plans for the resumption of serial construction. The head of the corporation, Yury Slyusar, told the national press that, according to current plans, the development work on the Tu-160М2 project will be completed in the 2021 year, and in the 2022-m the upgraded machine will go into series. In total, it is planned to build from 30 to 50 bombers. The exact number of required equipment and the cost of the relevant contract have not yet been determined and were at that time discussed with the customer.
In early June, the Minister of Defense S. Shoigu told about the results obtained so far. According to him, a lot of preparatory work was carried out. The industry was able to recover unique technological processes for the manufacture of parts from titanium alloys. In addition, the Kazan Aviation Plant began assembling the prime units of the future of the first production Tu-160М2. Summing up the work already done, the Minister of Defense launched a conference call, during which specialists from the military and aviation industries discussed the implementation of instructions from the country's leadership in the development of the armed forces. In particular, the issue of further modernization of serial long-range bombers operated by the armed forces was discussed.
The most recent messages in the context of the Tu-160М2 program appeared just a few days ago. 14 June TASS news agency published statements of the first deputy general director of the concern "Radioelectronic Technologies" Vladimir Mikheev. The head said that by now the development work had been opened to create an onboard defense complex for the modernized aircraft. Successful completion of this project will protect the bomber from all types of enemy missiles. The defense complex will be a fundamentally new system and will be able to detect dangerous objects at a distance of several hundred kilometers.
According to V. Mikheev, the requirements for the means of navigation were completely changed in the framework of the modernization project, as a result of which fundamentally new solutions are required. The updated aircraft will receive a storied inertial system, astronavigation equipment and facilities for working with navigation satellites.
The exact dates for the completion of the construction of the first aircraft of the new type and the start of its tests are not yet known. However, there are already some estimates. So, in August last year, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of the All-Union Space Force, said that the first flight of the Tu-160М2 could take place already at the end of 2018. New information on this has not yet been received.
According to the latest reports, the Ministry of Defense and the United Aircraft Building Corporation are currently planning to complete development work on the Tu-160М2 in 2021, and about a year later to start the serial construction of new equipment. Thus, the first production aircraft of the improved version will arrive in aerospace troops only by the middle of the next decade. It will take several more years to create a fairly large group of bombers of the М2 model. This means that long-range aviation in the foreseeable future will be forced to continue operating existing equipment of existing models.
Similar consequences of the project being implemented are already known and even taken into account in the existing plans. For example, at the end of April, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov, who oversees industry and promising projects, said that all Tu-160 bombers in the army would have to be upgraded according to the Tu-160M project. As a result of such work, the 16 aircraft of the updated version will serve as part of the VKS. In the course of repair and modernization, the life of the aircraft will be increased, so that they will be able to continue their service until the launch of the new M2 missile-carrying bombers.
From the available information, announced by officials, it follows that the upgraded Tu-160М2 will not differ from existing machines externally. Basic flight performance can also remain at the current level. The nomenclature of armaments will also remain basically unchanged, although it is possible to create promising aviation means of destruction of one or another class.
As in the case of the existing Tu-160M project, the main issues of modernizing the Tu-160М2 aircraft will be solved with the help of new avionics. As already mentioned by the officials, the aircraft will receive new navigation and communications equipment, an improved aiming system, etc. Particular attention is paid to a promising airborne defense complex being developed at the present time. According to the developers of this project, the aircraft will be able to detect missile launches at long ranges and disrupt guidance. Probably, electronic warfare and optical-electronic suppression will be used for this.
For well-known reasons, since the mid-eighties, the Soviet and Russian aviation industry was able to build and transfer to the troops only 16 strategic missile-carrying bombers Tu-160. Over the past decades, this technique has lost some of its potential due to moral and physical obsolescence. To solve these problems, a modernization project has already been developed for the Tu-160M, and a new project for the Tu-160М2 is being created. If the first project involves only updating the existing aircraft, then "М2" offers the construction of new technology, initially having the required characteristics and capabilities.
As a result of the implementation of existing plans, aerospace forces will receive at least three dozen newly built Tu-160М2. In this case, it is possible to order a larger number of aircraft, and in addition, the grouping of new aircraft can be supplemented already existing in an improved version of the Tu-160M. Thus, over the next few decades, Tu-160 family aircraft can become the basis of Russian strategic aviation. Over time, they will be supplemented with promising machines of the PAK DA project, but even after that the share of such equipment will be quite large. This means that current works are of particular importance, since the armed forces will use their results at least until mid-century.
On the materials of the sites:
http://ria.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://interfax.ru/
https://rg.ru/
http://mil.ru/
http://arms-expo.ru/
The possibility of restoring mass production of Tu-160 aircraft was discussed for a long time, but the issue was finally resolved only a few years ago. In the spring of 2015, Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu spoke about the approval of plans to resume the construction of missile carriers. It was noted that the industry will produce aircraft of the latest modification of the Tu-160М2. Later it was repeatedly pointed out and emphasized that as part of the modernization of the “M2” project, the Tu-160 will receive a completely new electronic and other equipment, thanks to which its combat effectiveness will increase 2,5 times.
The construction of strategic bombers of the new modification has not yet begun, but by now some details of the project have become known. Representatives of the military and defense enterprises over the past years have repeatedly raised the topic of upgrading equipment and at the same time revealed certain details of the work. In particular, some approaches to the modernization of the existing aircraft have become known. In addition, in recent months, new plans have been disclosed, and the current state of affairs has been clarified. Consider the available information about a promising project.
Tu-160 "Vitaly Kopylov", b / n 08 - the last of the built aircraft. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
It should be noted that, to date, several serial rocket carriers of the VKS have managed to undergo a modernization project Tu-160M (the designation Tu-160М1 is also encountered). This project meant the repair and restoration of the structure with the replacement of a part of radio-electronic equipment. A similar approach is used in the project Tu-160М2. The specialists of the aircraft industry and the customer do not intend to significantly rebuild the aircraft, but at the same time they wish to replace the existing avionics with modern models.
Since that time, plans to significantly refine the airframe were not reported. Thus, there is every reason to believe that the Tu-160М2 aircraft will fully retain its recognizable appearance and, probably, the basic flight data. The same is true of the power plant: a possible resumption of the production of the NK-32 turbojet engines was previously reported. Thus, the growth of the most important technical and combat characteristics will be provided mainly due to the “stuffing”, but not with the help of a modified glider.
The first technical details were published in November 2015 of the year - just a few months after the announcement of plans to resume construction. Then, in the press release of the concern Radioelectronic Technologies (KRET), it was stated that this organization intends to create a number of new systems for the Tu-160М2 aircraft. First of all, there was a desire to take part in the development of weapons control systems and electronic warfare complex.
At the time of publication of the press release, KRET specialists were actively involved in shaping the on-board electronics. According to the results of the work carried out, it was stated that the aircraft would be equipped with a so-called. integrated modular avionics. In the course of further development of the project, it was planned to create new means of control, computing devices, an inertial navigation system, weapons control facilities, an EW complex, etc. According to the plans for the end of 2015, the work on the new on-board equipment complex was to be completed at the end of the current decade.
The leaders of the Ministry of Defense previously mentioned that it is planned to use the principles of unification when developing onboard avionics equipment. For this reason, the maximum possible number of Tu-160М2 devices will also be used in the project of the Advanced Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation (PAK DA). The advantages of this approach are obvious.
According to the available data, the updated Tu-160М2 will retain full compatibility with the standard armaments of the aircraft of the basic model, but at the same time they will be distinguished by greater efficiency of its use. In the ammunition of the bombers will remain strategic cruise missiles X-55 and X-555. In addition, the machines will be able to carry and apply the latest X-101 / 102 products. To solve some combat missions, aircraft will be able to be equipped with existing types of bomb armament. A promising aiming-navigation system based on the latest instruments will, to a certain extent, increase the efficiency of using all compatible weapons.
Relatively old messages and press releases provide an approximate picture of the planned modernization. No less interesting newspublished in the last few months. According to them, the aviation industry has already managed to advance far enough and complete some stages of preparation for the future construction of aircraft. In addition, certain plans have already been formed.
In mid-January 2017, the leadership of the Kazan Aviation Plant. S.P. Gorbunova, who will have to once again master the mass production of missile carriers, reported to the Minister of Defense about the completion of part of the preparatory work. The production facilities of the company are fully prepared for the serial construction of the Tu-160М2. Moreover, the plant is already receiving certain necessary components and will soon be able to start assembling the first production machine of a new type. In parallel with the preparation for the serial production of the МХNUMX version of the bombers, the Kazan Aviation Plant continues to repair and modernize the basic modification of the aircraft in the armed forces.
In early April, the management of the United Aircraft Corporation announced current plans for the resumption of serial construction. The head of the corporation, Yury Slyusar, told the national press that, according to current plans, the development work on the Tu-160М2 project will be completed in the 2021 year, and in the 2022-m the upgraded machine will go into series. In total, it is planned to build from 30 to 50 bombers. The exact number of required equipment and the cost of the relevant contract have not yet been determined and were at that time discussed with the customer.
In early June, the Minister of Defense S. Shoigu told about the results obtained so far. According to him, a lot of preparatory work was carried out. The industry was able to recover unique technological processes for the manufacture of parts from titanium alloys. In addition, the Kazan Aviation Plant began assembling the prime units of the future of the first production Tu-160М2. Summing up the work already done, the Minister of Defense launched a conference call, during which specialists from the military and aviation industries discussed the implementation of instructions from the country's leadership in the development of the armed forces. In particular, the issue of further modernization of serial long-range bombers operated by the armed forces was discussed.
The most recent messages in the context of the Tu-160М2 program appeared just a few days ago. 14 June TASS news agency published statements of the first deputy general director of the concern "Radioelectronic Technologies" Vladimir Mikheev. The head said that by now the development work had been opened to create an onboard defense complex for the modernized aircraft. Successful completion of this project will protect the bomber from all types of enemy missiles. The defense complex will be a fundamentally new system and will be able to detect dangerous objects at a distance of several hundred kilometers.
According to V. Mikheev, the requirements for the means of navigation were completely changed in the framework of the modernization project, as a result of which fundamentally new solutions are required. The updated aircraft will receive a storied inertial system, astronavigation equipment and facilities for working with navigation satellites.
The exact dates for the completion of the construction of the first aircraft of the new type and the start of its tests are not yet known. However, there are already some estimates. So, in August last year, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of the All-Union Space Force, said that the first flight of the Tu-160М2 could take place already at the end of 2018. New information on this has not yet been received.
According to the latest reports, the Ministry of Defense and the United Aircraft Building Corporation are currently planning to complete development work on the Tu-160М2 in 2021, and about a year later to start the serial construction of new equipment. Thus, the first production aircraft of the improved version will arrive in aerospace troops only by the middle of the next decade. It will take several more years to create a fairly large group of bombers of the М2 model. This means that long-range aviation in the foreseeable future will be forced to continue operating existing equipment of existing models.
Similar consequences of the project being implemented are already known and even taken into account in the existing plans. For example, at the end of April, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov, who oversees industry and promising projects, said that all Tu-160 bombers in the army would have to be upgraded according to the Tu-160M project. As a result of such work, the 16 aircraft of the updated version will serve as part of the VKS. In the course of repair and modernization, the life of the aircraft will be increased, so that they will be able to continue their service until the launch of the new M2 missile-carrying bombers.
From the available information, announced by officials, it follows that the upgraded Tu-160М2 will not differ from existing machines externally. Basic flight performance can also remain at the current level. The nomenclature of armaments will also remain basically unchanged, although it is possible to create promising aviation means of destruction of one or another class.
As in the case of the existing Tu-160M project, the main issues of modernizing the Tu-160М2 aircraft will be solved with the help of new avionics. As already mentioned by the officials, the aircraft will receive new navigation and communications equipment, an improved aiming system, etc. Particular attention is paid to a promising airborne defense complex being developed at the present time. According to the developers of this project, the aircraft will be able to detect missile launches at long ranges and disrupt guidance. Probably, electronic warfare and optical-electronic suppression will be used for this.
For well-known reasons, since the mid-eighties, the Soviet and Russian aviation industry was able to build and transfer to the troops only 16 strategic missile-carrying bombers Tu-160. Over the past decades, this technique has lost some of its potential due to moral and physical obsolescence. To solve these problems, a modernization project has already been developed for the Tu-160M, and a new project for the Tu-160М2 is being created. If the first project involves only updating the existing aircraft, then "М2" offers the construction of new technology, initially having the required characteristics and capabilities.
As a result of the implementation of existing plans, aerospace forces will receive at least three dozen newly built Tu-160М2. In this case, it is possible to order a larger number of aircraft, and in addition, the grouping of new aircraft can be supplemented already existing in an improved version of the Tu-160M. Thus, over the next few decades, Tu-160 family aircraft can become the basis of Russian strategic aviation. Over time, they will be supplemented with promising machines of the PAK DA project, but even after that the share of such equipment will be quite large. This means that current works are of particular importance, since the armed forces will use their results at least until mid-century.
On the materials of the sites:
http://ria.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://interfax.ru/
https://rg.ru/
http://mil.ru/
http://arms-expo.ru/
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