Tu-22M3M Backfire Upgrade Program

[Austin]

via Combat Aircraft Monthly July /Piotr Butowski

Some snippets of the upgrade from the article "Backfire To The Future" Piotr Butowski

 

[Austin]

It appears modernised Tu-22M3M will have 3 missile designated , Modernised Kh-32M , new Kh-SD and supersonic Kh-MT

 

[fightingirish]

Tupolev has rolled out the first upgraded Tu-22M3M ‘Backfire’ at the Kazan Aviation Plant in Russia
Please notice, that the air refueling probe is back. The probe on the former Tu-22M3 was removed as a result of the SALT negotiations
The GSh-23 cannon in remotely controlled tail turret has been removed. The tail now incorporates rear facing avionics, IMHO an ECM avionic suite..
Video:
https://youtu.be/VJqTV7RRdUc

https://youtu.be/VJqTV7RRdUc

Sources:
(Russian):
https://kazanreporter.ru/news/27548_novyy_bombardirovschik_tu-22m3m_predstavlen_v_kazani-_fotoreportazh
https://www.business-gazeta.ru/news/392206
(English):https://combataircraft.keypublishing.com/2018/08/16/first-upgraded-tu-22m3m-rolled-out/
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-08-17/upgraded-backfire-rolled-out-kazan
http://tass.com/defense/1017452
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-supersonic-bombers-now-locked-loaded-new-supersonic-23268
Media gallery:
http://uacrussia.ru/en/press-center/mediagallery/#peredacha-pervogo-gluboko-modernizirovannogo-dalnego-raketonostsa-bombardirovshchika-tu-22m3m-na-eta

 

[LowObservable]

Apparently they don't think there's much of a rear-sector threat any more.

 

[Archibald]

This is the end of an era: the last gun turret has been retired !

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

It doubled as a flare/chaff dispenser.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Apparently they don't think there's much of a rear-sector threat any more.

The turret is apparently supposed to be replaced in part by rear firing air to air missiles, similar to those intended for the Su-34. However, it's not at all clear whether that particular program has yet recovered from the depredations of Serdyukov and his cronies.

 

[fightingirish]

A short video of the first Tu-22M3M takeoff flight on 28th December 2018.
The flight took place at an altitude of 1500 meters and lasted 37 minutes.
https://youtu.be/PkpkyZaj7RU

https://youtu.be/PkpkyZaj7RU

 

[fightingirish]

View: https://youtu.be/FAFohyEe4mk

 

[stealthflanker]

The new bombsight looks nice.