Report: Tu-160M2 to Incorporate PAK-FA Avionics

In addition to a new engine, Russia’s elite Tupolev Tu-160M2 strategic bomber (“White Swan”) is capable of carrying cruise and nuclear missiles and will receive cutting-edge avionics, said Vladimir Mikheev, the adviser of the deputy head of Russia’s Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (RETC), according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The new avionics and electronic warfare system of the Tu-160, codenamed Blackjack by NATO military experts, will begin this year. Construction of the design materials and documentation of battle performance characteristics and technical specifications are currently underway, Mikheev informed.

The new avionics system is currently being tested on the Sukhoi PAK FA Tu-50, Russia's fifth-generation fighter. After that, military engineers will take best elements tested on the Tu-50 and use them to create an aircraft with fundamentally new capabilities, the official representative of RETC said.

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Tu-160M2 Production Significantly Delaying Russian PAK-DA Bomber

Russia's new-generation PAK DA bomber will be delayed past 2023 due to the development of the new-build Tupolev Tu-160M2 bomber, according to Russian deputy defence minister Yury Borisov.

"According to the plans, serial production of the [Tu-160] aircraft new version [the Tu-160M2] is to be implemented starting from 2023," Borisov said during a visit on 17 July to the Samara-based Kuznetsov Plant of the United Engine Corporation.

Answering a question about a possible shift in the PAK DA's timeframe because of the production of Tu-160M2s, Borisov said, "The PAK DA project will be somewhat shifted beyond [2023, when it is currently to begin entering service], otherwise there is no sense in it."

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To me, this says the PAK-DA was proving harder than they thought, so they are rewarming  the Tu-160 and then have an excuse as to why the PAK-DA is delayed.

Even Worse News for the PAK-DA Bomber: 50 Tu-160M2 Bomber Production to Resume in 2023

Russia is planning to resume production of Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers after 2023, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday.

"According to the current schedule, this will happen sometime after 2023," Borisov, who is on a visit to France, said.

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VERY Bad Sign for the PAK-DA Bomber Project: Russia to buy AT LEAST 50 Tu-160 Strategic Bombers

“No less than 50 (Tu-160) aircraft over time will be purchased in order to cover the costs that will go into production,” Russian Air Force Commander Col.Gen. Viktor Bondarev said.

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Bad Sign for the PAK-DA if True: Russia Resuming Tu-160 Strategic Bomber Production

Russia will renew the production of its Tu-160 (Blackjack) supersonic strategic bomber and missile carrier, Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

"Today it is already necessary to solve the task of not only maintaining and modernizing long-range aviation, we must also produce the Tu-160 missile carrier," Shoigu said during a visit at the Kazan Aviation Plant.

Shoigu said that the Tu-160 is "a unique machine, ahead of its time for many years and even until now has not been exploited to its full potential."

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This is really not a good sign for the PAK-DA.  Consider: Russia's resources have been significantly reduced with the reduction in oil price; they are paying for the Ukrainian War; and the PAK-FA/T-50 program is having problems.  They cannot afford all of the above.