Tupolev Tu-160M (modernization & new production)

[Arjen]

Anti-flash white - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[uk 75]

I don't think its any coincidence that the sexiest looking and most talked about post-war aircraft were all painted white (Arrow, TSR2, B-70, B-1A, Concorde, Tu-160, Vulcan etc.).

every rule has the odd exception but you are otherwise right

 

[kaiserbill]

Does anyone have a picture of the large titanium wing/fuselage structure?
I swear I saw it somewhere before, but can't seem to find any pics online.
I seem to recall that it required a specialised fabrication process. (Possibly either in a special chamber or environment?)

 

[Trident]

Here's one I found in my files, I seem to recall I have at least one more, but it eludes me right now.

Titanium burns at high temperatures under exposure to air, so welding needs to be done either in an inert gas atmosphere or in actual vacuum. The latter is a requirement if the parts are to be joined by electron beam welding (which allows deep, high quality welds and was therefore popular for manufacturing VG wing carry through structures). On the second photo is what might be the chamber used for welding the Tu-160 wing carry through, though it might also be an oven for age-creep forming of the wing skins?

 

[kaiserbill]

That's a great post.
Thanks Trident.
I too seem to recollect seeing a different pic, I think in its entirety, from up high.

 

[Trident]

We are probably thinking of the same picture I do like this one for its sense of scale though - I mean I've seen the equivalent part of a Tornado IDS first hand, and it's minuscule by comparison!

 

[TomcatViP]

Are you sure that this picture is real?

 

[LMFS]

 

[QuadroFX]

Does anyone have a picture of the large titanium wing/fuselage structure?
I swear I saw it somewhere before, but can't seem to find any pics online.
I seem to recall that it required a specialised fabrication process. (Possibly either in a special chamber or environment?)

I will try to find some photos on paralay's forum when it back online. Or you can try to find it yourself )

 

[Trident]

Are you sure that this picture is real?

Yes. kaiserbill and I may be at an advantage here because we've seen a different image of the part and are satisfied that this one matches our recollection, but even if the sheer size has you skeptical, it's straightforward to verify. Take a good Tu-160 drawing and measure the distance between the wing pivots (which is the place where this thing goes inside the airframe) - you'll get almost 15m, which would seem to check out. A big unit for sure, but then we are talking about an aircraft the size of a A340-300 - what do you expect

Also, if you look closely at the background you will recognize the chamber from those other pictures, and last but not least, the label actually reads "central beam".

 

[uk 75]

I admit to being sufficiently impressed by the Tu160 to have treated myself to this little model

https://www.flyingmule.com/products/MP-5390

The attached chart of US and Russian bombers shows how big the Tu160 is

 

[QuadroFX]

Newly produced NK-32-02:

(c)Rostec

 

[GARGEAN]

Another geshtalt closed.

 

[Archibald]

wow. They are really serious about building new Tu-160s. How many of them do they intend to build ?

 

[haavarla]

wow. They are really serious about building new Tu-160s. How many of them do they intend to build ?

As it is, 150% more of that they now have.
Which is what, 15-16 airframes?

Russia : TU-160 into service in 2021

Russia is aiming for 2021 for the entry into service of its modernised Tu-160 M strategic bombers, equipped among other things with the new Kuznetsov NK-32-2 turbojet engine. Russia also wants to increase the number of four engine aircraft in service over the next seven years to come.

www.aircosmosinternational.com

 

[haavarla]

Newly produced NK-32-02:

(c)Rostec

With these suckers pushing, the new Tu-160 should now have the capability to stay supersonic dash much longer than before.

Ofc, it also mean they can run lower(or higher) temperature due to new designed fanblades with improved cooling, which in turn means better engine life.

It also has increased range, but how much that goes with the engines idk.
The much lighter airframe however does its magic. It has easily 1000km increased range.

 

[Anduriel]

Is there an info about NK-32 to Nk-32-2 improvements?

 

[TR1]

I guess this is Tu-160M2?

 

[kaiserbill]

This is apparently the modernised Tu-160 number RF94444 conducting flight tests with modernised NK32 engines that were recently put into production.

View: https://youtu.be/7c4xkExVieM

 

[kaiserbill]

Is there somewhere that lists the serial numbers of the Tu-160's that have been produced thus far?
I had a look around the internet for a few minutes, but couldn't find anything.
I'm trying to ascertain when an actual new-build Tu-160 eventually takes to the sky.
I do know it is complicated somewhat by the completion of previously unfinished airframes from the Soviet Union era, leading to a certain amount of confusion.

 

[Trident]

Ту-160 — Википедия

ru.wikipedia.org

Ту-160 - реестр, хронология, источники | MilitaryRussia.Ru — отечественная военная техника (после 1945г.)

Сборник справочной информации по отечественным системам вооружений выпуска после 1945 г., форум

militaryrussia.ru

Haven't checked whether they agree.

This is apparently the modernised Tu-160 number RF94444 conducting flight tests with modernised NK32 engines that were recently put into production.

Definitely the modified airframe, discernible by the blunt tail cone, yes.

 

[kaiserbill]

There are a couple of reports today stating that there are "rumours" that the first newly-built-from-scratch Tu-160 might make its maiden flight in mid December.
Obviously I have no idea of the veracity of this, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[FighterJock]

There are a couple of reports today stating that there are "rumours" that the first newly-built-from-scratch Tu-160 might make its maiden flight in mid December.
Obviously I have no idea of the veracity of this, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

It was 40 years ago in December 1981 that the original prototype of the Tu-160 first flew, so I can see why they are staging the first flight of the upgraded Tu-160M2s first flight in December. It would be great to see it happen on the exact date of the anniversary.

 

[QuadroFX]

Bad soviet tradition.

 

[kaiserbill]

Rumours going around that this is the first newbuild Tu-160.
I'm not sure if this is newly built from scratch, a completed earlier incomplete factory airframe, or an upgrade.
I don't speak Russian, but the internet translation calls it "brand new".
Can any of the Russian forum members assist?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1468613520669519872

View: https://twitter.com/AnatolyVlasov87/status/1468613520669519872

 

[LMFS]

I am not Russian, but the plane is indeed the first newly built

 

[FighterJock]

I am not Russian, but the plane is indeed the first newly built

I cannot wait for the first flight of the newly built Tu-160M2. Is there any official word yet as to when it will take place?

 

[Evgeniy]

Can any of the Russian forum members assist?

It is written: a completely new White Swan of Russia in the final assembly workshops of the Gorbunov aircraft plant in Kazan. The first flight is planned until the end of the year.

 

[Evgeniy]

The first flight is planned until the end of the year.

СобÑаннÑй Ñ Ð½ÑÐ»Ñ Ð¢Ñ-160РвпеÑвÑе поднимÑÑ Ð² воздÑÑ Ð² наÑале 2022 года

ÐÑпÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð¸Ñ Ð¸ пеÑвÑй Ð¿Ð¾Ð»ÐµÑ ÑобÑанного Ñ Ð½ÑÐ»Ñ Ð¼Ð¾Ð´ÐµÑнизиÑованного ÑÑÑаÑегиÑеÑкого ÑакеÑоноÑÑа ТÑ-160РпланиÑÑеÑÑÑ Ñже в...

www.aviastat.ru

 

[kaiserbill]

Thanks Evgeniy.
This is some achievement. I must admit I had some doubts in the beginning, but I'm impressed.

 

[LMFS]

I cannot wait for the first flight of the newly built Tu-160M2. Is there any official word yet as to when it will take place?

Was planed until the end of this year, but the last statement by Borisov was that it would happen beginning of next one.

 

[FighterJock]

I cannot wait for the first flight of the newly built Tu-160M2. Is there any official word yet as to when it will take place?

Was planed until the end of this year, but the last statement by Borisov was that it would happen beginning of next one.

Damn, so first flight won't be in the anniversary year after all, disappointed by that.

 

[GARGEAN]

I cannot wait for the first flight of the newly built Tu-160M2. Is there any official word yet as to when it will take place?

Was planed until the end of this year, but the last statement by Borisov was that it would happen beginning of next one.

Damn, so first flight won't be in the anniversary year after all, disappointed by that.

Better that than rushing over scedule to be finished for some cool date and crushing it.

 

[donnage99]

too capable of a plane to not continue building. Does the new build have any improved RCS techniques applied? coat, inlet, cooling etc.

 

[FighterJock]

too capable of a plane to not continue building. Does the new build have any improved RCS techniques applied? coat, inlet, cooling etc.

That is exactly what I want the Tu-160 to get for updates, it would therefore be more like the B-1B in that respect because the B-1B had some RAM coating on it to reduce its radar cross section as well as having that modification done to its engine inlets as well which helped with reducing the radar return from the engine blades.

 

[Josh_TN]

too capable of a plane to not continue building. Does the new build have any improved RCS techniques applied? coat, inlet, cooling etc.

That is exactly what I want the Tu-160 to get for updates, it would therefore be more like the B-1B in that respect because the B-1B had some RAM coating on it to reduce its radar cross section as well as having that modification done to its engine inlets as well which helped with reducing the radar return from the engine blades.

I'd argue the radar return change would be negligible for the expense. I don't believe the B-1s coatings are maintained anymore. Reducing the RCS of the engine intakes in the case of the B-1 meant removing the variable inlet ducts if I recall correctly - removing most of the high altitude performance. I think at this point the Tu-160 would be better off retaining the brute speed rather than being something its not. PAK-DA is intended for that role.

 

[TR1]

Tu-160 had RAM on its intakes already IIRC.

 

[Dr.Snufflebug]

Tu-160 is nowadays exclusively armed with long-range stand-off weapons as far as I know, including the stealthy Kh-101 cruise missile. Really no need to make the aircraft any stealthier as it's supposed to attack well outside SAM range. Long-wave EWR will see it at that range, but it will spot a B-2 too, so that matters not.

Same with the Tu-95 for that matter, also exclusively a cruise missile truck these days (and an inherently "unstealthifiable" machine, of course).

The Tu-22M is the only dedicated strategic bomber they operate that still has the ability to carry "normal" bomber-style ordnance (bombs, that is, and lots of them) and that could require a stealthier alternative for certain higher risk scenarios.

My (admittedly exceedingly amateurish) assessment is that the PAK-DA will be the actual "bomber" the Tu-160 and Tu-95 aren't, and an alternative to the Tu-22M when the latter isn't up to scratch in a high-threat environment.

 

[Josh_TN]

IIRC the Tu-22M3 is also largely a missile platform; I don't think it can carry anything but free fall ordnance and Kh-22s. The upgraded version (Tu-22M3M?) I believe have a much larger inventory of weapons available. Not sure how much of the fleet have bee so modified.

 

[GARGEAN]

having that modification done to its engine inlets as well which helped with reducing the radar return from the engine blades.

And ate huge portion of its speed. Bad variant for 160.