Tu-160 "White Swan" - a strategic missile-carrying bomber

History should teach the US military leadership that any, the most expensive and technically sophisticated project designed to pressure the USSR, and later the Russian Federation, causes a desire to create a counteraction system or to give a symmetrical response. An example is the Tu-160, the "White Swan", a strategic destination for the intercontinental bomber-missile carrier.

Tu-160 is the answer to B-1

Since the mid-seventies in the United States began testing a new technology miracle. B-1 firm Rockwell and in fact produced the impression of a formidable machine, this aircraft was built in compliance with all the requirements of modern advanced aviation technology. Variable wing geometry, supersonic (2.2 maha), 34 tons of combat load, a ceiling exceeding 18 thousand meters, all these characteristics ensured the ability to carry 24 cruise missiles to the target located at a distance of 10 thousand kilometers. If it turns out that this is not enough, you can hang eight more outside. The project was advertised with a truly American scope, this flying cruiser was to plunge the world into dismay and despondency, but first and foremost the country of a likely adversary, citizens of the USSR and the Soviet military-political leadership. In the late seventies, the arms race intensified . There were new high-tech threats:

- A neutron bomb that destroys all life at a minimum blast wave;

- cruise missiles flying low and unattainable for Soviet radar;

- the newest carrier of the above-mentioned means of destruction B-1.

In many journals, both foreign and Soviet, the data of the American "Lancer" and his photo were published. Tu-160 "White Swan" in 1981 already made the first flights, but for the time being no one was told about it and no images were printed in the magazines.

Parameters of the "Swan"

Two planes are similar in appearance, Tupolevs took the proven American scheme as the basis. Four powerful engines, developing a total thrust in the afterburner mode up to 100,000 kgf, are located under the wing on both sides of the fuselage. But the external similarity did not prevent to make the Tu-160 much more powerful. The White Swan, a strategic missile carrier, can carry 45 tons of combat load, its ceiling is 21,000 meters, and the range of its flight amounts to almost 14,000 kilometers without refueling. Like the B-1, the crew consists of 4 people, and since during the alert duty the car can be in the air for more than a day, all the comfort conditions have been created for him, including sleeping places, a galley and other amenities. The Tu-160 "White Swan" aircraft is its unofficial, but the accustomed name was received not only for exquisite aerodynamic contours, but also for the color reflecting solar radiation in order to avoid overheating.

How to cut "Swans"

In 1991, the Soviet Union disintegrated, which affected many aspects of the peaceful life of former Soviet citizens. To a large extent, this event affected the defense capacity of the republics, which previously formed a single state. "White swans" Tu-160 were divided into two "flocks", on the territory of Ukraine there was the 194th aviation regiment, which had 19 strategic missile carriers. For several years they stood idle, and in 1998 they began to cut them in the presence of American senators who happily commented on this event. The main reasons for this decision of the Ukrainian leadership were two. First, there was no money to operate and maintain expensive and sophisticated aircraft equipment. Secondly, Ukraine, with its nonblock military doctrine , did not need the Tu-160 White Swan. The strategic use of weapons was massively disposed of, the same fate was waiting for silo launchers and other elements of the USSR rocket shield. A dozen of the best and most powerful combat aircraft in the world managed to cut through.

Heroes turned into "White swans"

The same reason for the death of ten units of excellent Soviet-made aircraft equipment, ironically proved to be a saving factor for the remaining vehicles. They were changed to gas, which Ukraine had nothing to pay for. For $ 285 million of external debt, six hundred cruise missiles, eight "Tu-95 Bears" and eight remaining Tu-160 "White Swan" were considered. The strategic appointment of the technician has received a new place of basing. They became the city of Engels, the ancient Pokrovsk, located across the Volga from Saratov. One of the aircraft remained in Ukraine as a museum exhibit.

By taking their "birds", the Russian Air Force ordered them in a businesslike way. The machines are in excellent technical condition, undergo modernization and from time to time make long flights (as in 2008 in Venezuela, for example). Almost all of them, like naval cruisers, except aircraft numbers, own names in honor of outstanding people, such as General Ermolov, Nikolai Kuznetsov, Valery Chkalov and others. There are among them "Ilya Muromets", and the great aircraft designer Andrey Tupolev.