Eager to strengthen its defense relationship with India, Russia has offered to supply advanced strategic bombers to the latter. This aircraft could greatly improve India's air power and military strength.
Recently, Russia has also agreed to provide important metal supplies to help India upgrade and modernize its fleet of Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets.
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Media reports mention that Russia has renewed its proposal to India, offering its strategic heavy bombers, including the Tu-22M3 and the upgraded Tu-160, often called the 'White Swan'.
Around 20 years ago, the Tu-22M3 was offered to the Indian Navy, but the deal fell through because the cost of leasing and upgrading the aircraft was too high.
Russia's latest offer now includes the Tu-160M, an upgraded version of the original Tu-160, which could greatly boost India's ability to carry out long-range strikes.
The Tu-160M, often called the 'White Swan', is a large strategic bomber with an impressive ability to fly up to 12,000 kilometers without needing to refuel. This makes it highly capable of covering long distances during missions.
Designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1970s during the Soviet era, the Tu-160M is still the largest and heaviest combat aircraft in the world. It can also fly at supersonic speeds, making it extremely powerful and fast.
Supersonic speed refers to traveling faster than the speed of sound, which is about 1,236 kilometers per hour (767 miles per hour) in air. It allows aircraft to move extremely quickly.
The Tu-160M has special wings that can change their angle, known as variable-sweep wings. This feature helps the plane adjust to different speeds and types of missions, making it the fastest bomber currently in service.
Variable-sweep wings allow the aircraft to fly efficiently at both low and high speeds by changing the shape of the wings during flight.
The Tu-160M uses advanced NK-32-02 engines, which are known for being easier to maintain, offering better performance, and lasting longer. Each aircraft costs around 15 billion Rubles, or about $163 million.
India has typically prioritized multirole fighter jets over heavy bombers and, as of now, it does not have any strategic bombers in its entire fleet.
Adding the Tu-160M to its fleet could give the Indian Air Force the ability to carry out strong deterrence missions and long-range strikes throughout the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
If the Tu-160M deal goes through, it would greatly boost India's strategic air power and further strengthen defense cooperation between India and Russia. This could help deepen their partnership in advanced military technology.
The Tu-160M, operated by a crew of four, can carry up to 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles. The Tu-160M can reach a top speed of 2,220 kilometers per hour and can fly at altitudes of up to 16,000 meters.
Published: 12 Nov 2024, 10:23 am IST
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