Russian Tu-160 strategic sombers complete Venezuela-Nicaragua flight

[vostok]

Under the framework of the Long-Range Aviation and Operational Training programs of the Russian Air Force, two supersonic Tu-160 strategic bombers completed a flight from the Maiquetia Airfield in Venezuela to the Managua airfield in Nicaragua.

An official spokesperson of the Russian Defence Ministry said the two aircraft; "flew over the neutral waters of the Caribbean Sea, after which they entered the air space of the Republic of Nicaragua and made a routine landing".

During the transit mission, the aircraft covered a distance of more than 2,500 kilometers with a flight time of approximately three hours.

All flights by the Russian Air Force are made strictly in line with international rules governing the use of air space, the official said.

The missile-carrying Tu-160 aircraft began their mission from the Engels airbase in the Saratov Region and flew over the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, then along the south-western coast of North America and made their first landing at Maiquetia airfield in Nicaragua with the 13-hour nonstop flight from Russia, covering a distance of 10,000 km.

When flying over the territory of Norway, the aircraft were escorted by two Norwegian F-16 fighter jets out of the Norwegian Bodo air-force base.

At Maiquetia airfied, the crews of the aircraft were greeted on behalf of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the Republic's Defense Minister Carmen Melendez.

 

[vostok]

Russian Bombers to Continue Patrols Over South America

MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) – Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers currently on a tour-of-duty in South America will carry out a series of patrol missions over the region in line with the program of combat training, the Defense Ministry said.

The nuclear-capable bombers arrived in Venezuela on October 28 and conducted patrols over the Caribbean before landing in Nicaragua on Thursday.

“The crews are now resting and preparing for new missions. They are scheduled to carry out several patrols over the region,” Commander of the Russian Long-Range Aviation, Lt. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, said at a Defense Ministry meeting on Thursday.

The general did not provide details of the future missions or specify the patrol routes.

Russian strategic bombers previously conducted patrols over the Caribbean in 2008.


The meeting at the Defense Ministry summed up the results of the Wednesday snap check of Russia’s nuclear deterrent on orders by President Vladimir Putin.

 

[IND151]

@vostok > how many Blackjacks RuAF has now?

 

[vostok]

@vostok > how many Blackjacks RuAF has now?

only 16 units

 

[IND151]

For those who don't know, TU 160 can carry load of 46 tons (B-52 can carry load of 32 tons)

 

[Oldman1]

For those who don't know, TU 160 can carry load of 46 tons (B-52 can carry load of 32 tons)

So? B1 can carry about 60 tons.

 

[vostok]

So? B1 can carry about 60 tons.

But flies much slower

 

[elis]

Please don't let Venezuela falls on the hands of the terrorist zionist Henri Capriles

He has already assassinated the good man Chavez with his CIA henchmen

 

[IND151]

So? B1 can carry about 60 tons.

57 tons but it's max speed is 1.25 mach compared to that of Mach 2 of Tu-160.

Plus combat radius of B-1B is much less than Tu 160- 5544 km against 7,300 KM (Tu-160).

Old wiki article about Tu-160 mentioned that it can carry 3,000 kg of ordiance on each wing while new one does not mention so.

However I think the old article was right bu I believe the figure of 3,000 KG is wrong, if B-1B which is smaller than Tu-160 can carry 23,000 kg of ordnance on wings how can Tu 160 carry only 3,000 kg on each wing (6,000 KG)?

@sancho @Oscar

 

[jhungary]

Actually B-1A production version can each speed of Mach 2.22 but it was refuted by pentagon as the new air defence directive dictate for less speed vs lower RCS, hence the B version of B-1 was born

Funny thing about the B-1 was, it was originated to supplement the gap between B-52 until the B-2 enter service, by the (late 80 to early 90) with the induction of mig-31 and SA-10, speed alone is not a primary surviving factor, the B-1 comes witha new requirement as the condition, that would be stealth

But luckily for B-1 (unluckily for the USAF), the massive introduction of ATB (B-2) felt thru, hence it is an happy accident that B-1 is allowed to enter service and it became the main stay of US bomber fleet 

57 tons but it's max speed is 1.25 mach compared to that of Mach 2 of Tu-160.

Plus combat radius of B-1B is much less than Tu 160- 5544 km against 7,300 KM (Tu-160).

Old wiki article about Tu-160 mentioned that it can carry 3,000 kg of ordiance on each wing while new one does not mention so.

However I think the old article was right bu I believe the figure of 3,000 KG is wrong, if B-1B which is smaller than Tu-160 can carry 23,000 kg of ordnance on wings how can Tu 160 carry only 3,000 kg on each wing (6,000 KG)?

@sancho @Oscar

Both bomber have a totally different design, while the Blackjack is designed like the original B-1 for high alt speed penetration, B-1B were designed to punch thru with low alt, low visibility with heavy payload, the wing on B-1B were hardened as it was intent to speed along low alt with speed
(Low alt have higher drag than high alt) and hence you can see a totally different combat radius as you waste heck a lot of fuel loitering in low altitude on the B-1 and you burn much less fuel in a blackjack higher up

 

[Anubis]

A new bomber program has already started..LocheedMartin-Boeing vs. Northtrop....Skunkworks is full of wizards!

 

[vostok]

A new bomber program has already started..LocheedMartin-Boeing vs. Northtrop....Skunkworks is full of wizards!

In Russia, too, began to develop a new generation of strategic bombers. Tupolev is involved.

 

[IND151]

Actually B-1A production version can each speed of Mach 2.22 but it was refuted by pentagon as the new air defence directive dictate for less speed vs lower RCS, hence the B version of B-1 was born

Funny thing about the B-1 was, it was originated to supplement the gap between B-52 until the B-2 enter service, by the (late 80 to early 90) with the induction of mig-31 and SA-10, speed alone is not a primary surviving factor, the B-1 comes witha new requirement as the condition, that would be stealth

But luckily for B-1 (unluckily for the USAF), the massive introduction of ATB (B-2) felt thru, hence it is an happy accident that B-1 is allowed to enter service and it became the main stay of US bomber fleet 


Both bomber have a totally different design, while the Blackjack is designed like the original B-1 for high alt speed penetration, B-1B were designed to punch thru with low alt, low visibility with heavy payload, the wing on B-1B were hardened as it was intent to speed along low alt with speed
(Low alt have higher drag than high alt) and hence you can see a totally different combat radius as you waste heck a lot of fuel loitering in low altitude on the B-1 and you burn much less fuel in a blackjack higher up

So according to you how much ordinance Tu 160 can carry on its wings?

 

[jhungary]

So according to you how much ordinance Tu 160 can carry on its wings?

Seems like the 3000 each figure is correct, you cannot carry much if your wing does not have the weight to support it, and to have a fast plane on high altitude, you need a light wing, otherwise the drag coefficient will be too high to stay at speed.

Unless there are explicit proof that blackjack can carry more than 6 ton on wing, I would say the figure is very much on par

Bear in mind B-1A have an external load of 14 ton, half of what B-1Bcan carry

 

[Informant]

Aint no comparison to B1 Lancers. US got no match in the skies. Amazing planes the SR-71, the B-2, F-117 all ahead of their times.