The Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack supersonic strategic bomber flew for the first time December 1981 and became operational with the Russian Air Force in April 1987. A total of 35 bomber were produced including 3 prototypes. The Russian Air Force started receiving upgraded version of the bomber in 2006.
Two Tu-160 Blackjack Supersonic Strategic Bombers flew a record-breaking training mission which lasted 23hours and covered distance of over 18,000 kilometres. Tu-160 can achieve maximum speed of Mach 2.05 (2,220 kilometres per hour) and have a range of 12,300 km without in-flight refuelling.
The Tu-160 Blackjack bomber can carry up to 40,000 kg of weapons. The bomber can carry upto 12 turbofan powered Kh-55MS cruise missiles which has a range of 3,000km when armed with a 200kt nuclear warhead.
india shud buy outright TU-BLACKJACK for the indian airforce from russia.
ReplyDeleteAt one time, India did planned to lease 4 long-range Tu-22M Backfire supersonic bomber which has Maximum speed of 2.300km/h and range of over 7,000km with capability to carry upto 24,000 kgs of warload (C-130 can carry around 20,000 kgs).
ReplyDeletehttp://globalmilitaryreview.blogspot.com/2011/04/russian-air-force-tu-22m-backfire-tu.html
Tu 160 can get 8 missile nuclear and back to base in russia
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