Source: DefenseNews

The Russian Air Force’s Strategic Aviation branch is looking into 10 proposals for a new-generation strategic bomber to replace the Tu-160 aircraft, an Air Force commander said.

“At present, we have about 10 drafts under consideration,” Lt. Gen. Igor Khvorov, commander of the 37th Army of the Supreme High Command (Strategic) of the Russian Air Force, told reporters at a Dec. 20 briefing.

Khvorov would not go into details but said that a number of defense companies are working on the new bomber concept, including manufacturers of fighter jets.

“The decision has not been taken yet, but for cost efficiency reasons, we are leaning towards creating a new craft on the basis of the Tu-160,” he said. “Given current financing ... we don’t see the need to create a principally new aircraft. What Tu-160 does today is only 60 percent of its [potential] capability.”

The long-range supersonic Tu-160, which first started flying in 1987, is the backbone of the Air Force’s strategic nuclear fleet. Khvorov said the craft is only about halfway through its life span.

Khvorov said an upgrade of the strategic aviation fleet, adopted in 2001 and including improved avionics and weapons, is proceeding as planned.

The existing 15 Tu-160s are to be supplemented by two more next year, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in November.

Khvorov said that stealth will not be a priority in the Tu-160 replacement.

“Ideally, the future aircraft has to be developed with stealth technology, but it is a very expensive undertaking and involves complicated maintenance requirements to preserve stealth,” he said. “We are looking at it, in principle. However, such craft should not be mass produced; there should be an attack unit for specific tasks.”