As one of the most threatening weapons in the world, the strategic value and deterrent power of the Tu-160 need no longer be repeated.
Both in the USSR during the Cold War, and now in Russia.
Tu-160, all are irreplaceable existences.
Its name is not only a code name, but also a symbol of military technology and strength.
How was the Tu-160 born?
After World War II, with the development of nuclear weapons and the advent of the Cold War, strategic bombers became an important symbol of the military strength of great powers.
As a long-range delivery platform that can carry nuclear warheads.
During that tense period, the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, in order to gain an advantage in the arms race, both invested a lot of resources in the research and development of a new generation of strategic bombers.
This also invisibly prompted the United States and the Soviet Union to start developing a new supersonic and long-range bomber.
In the 70s of the 20th century, with the intensification of the Cold War and the development of technology,
This kind of bomber not only needs to have traditional strategic bombing capabilities.
It is also necessary to make a qualitative leap in speed, range, and concealment.
In the early 1970s, the USSR officially approved the Tu-160 project development program.
The goal of the project is to design a nuclear weapon that can carry nuclear weapons.
But for the R&D team at that time, the conditions were very limited.
To achieve supersonic flight and long range, new types of engines and fuel systems need to be developed.
But the Tupolev Design Bureau, which was tasked with research and development, in cooperation with a number of scientific research institutes of the USSR, underwent numerous tests and adjustments.
The result was an engine that met these requirements.
In order to increase survivability,
The design team used the most advanced stealth technology at the time.
This includes a special coating and airframe design to reduce the radar cross-sectional area.
During the long and difficult development process, the Tu-160 underwent several design changes and experiments.
Every failure is a test of the design team's patience and innovation.
It was not until December 18, 1981 that the Tu-160 was successfully lifted off for the first time.
Marked the Soviet aviation industry, which reached new heights in the field of strategic bombers.
What are the features of the Tu-160?
The Tu-160 is a masterpiece of the Soviet aviation industry, bringing together the most cutting-edge aerodynamics and stealth technology of the time.
Since the first entry into service in 1987.
It is unique among the world's strategic bombers due to its huge size, weight and speed.
It is estimated that in the next ten years, no one will be beatable.
So, what exactly are its characteristics that support its dominance?
Why is it still possible to continue to soar in the sky until now?
One can imagine how spectacular it would be for such a huge body to travel through the blue sky at such an astonishing speed.
American B-1 Reims Cavalry strategic bomber, for comparison.
The flight speed was only Mach 1.2, less than half that of the Tu-160.
Even when comparing the latest F-35 fighter (flight speed of Mach 1.6) in service, the "Tu-160" looks at ease.
Many times during missions, it was easy to shake off the tracking Japanese fighters.
And the range of the Tu-160 is no less impressive.
This is equivalent to flying around the Japanese archipelago once, while the accompanying fighter may need to be replaced several times to complete the same range.
Flying from Moscow,
The bomb load of the "Tu-160" is no less striking, exceeding 27 tons.
It also allows it to carry a large number of weapons, including Russia's famous "Tsar Bomba", which is equivalent to 50 million tons of TNT, enough to deter any adversary.
Tu-160, which can also be loaded with conventional explosives and long-range cruise missiles.
Such as the KH-555, further enhancing its strike capabilities.
How powerful is the Tu-160?
In the face of this kind of mobile ultimate killer weapon, NATO countries have always been extremely fearful.
Once the Tu-160 lifts off, it will trigger a high degree of vigilance in neighboring countries.
Because after taking off from the Ukrainian base,
Even modern fighters have a hard time catching up with its high-speed maneuverability.
In the 2015 Syrian war, Russia sent such strategic bombers on an expedition to bomb rebels.
And in the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Tu-160 has repeatedly launched cruise missiles from Russian territory to attack Ukrainian targets.
Destroyed the latter's only remaining aircraft repair plant.
Every time this kind of deterrent attack is launched, it will greatly boost the morale of the Russian army, and at the same time, it will also put Ukraine under huge psychological pressure.
Although the strategic value is so high, the unit price of the Tu-160 is more than 200 million dollars.
For the USSR, too, it was a heavy burden.
However, because Ukraine did not need such high-performance aircraft at that time, the Russian side was worried that these planes would eventually be damaged.
In the end, at the strong request of Russia.
These bombers, which were originally planned to be dismantled, were transferred to the Russian Federation.
In the 21st century, Russia has been unable to produce independently due to limited funds.
Only partial upgrades can be carried out on existing models to continue the glory of the Tu-160.
Write to the end
Throughout history, strategic bombers have served as a platform for weapons with devastating lethality.
He has played a decisive role in many wars and conflicts.
In the promising game of great powers in the future, the new strategic bomber with high range and high mobility will undoubtedly remain a concrete embodiment of military strength.
The legendary history of the Tu-160 may continue in the future and become one of the symbols of Russia's military power.