The Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced that the modernized Tu-95MSM strategic missile-carrying bomber was capable of carrying eight missiles instead of four, while the aircraft also received new flight control, navigation, and communication systems.
Its nuclear weapons are ready to go.
Here s What You Need to Remember: Despite the age of the bomber, it can still fly great distances and this year has made regular flights near American waters. While this most recent flight by the pair of Tu-95MS aircraft was closer to home, the bombers had been making patrol flights near the waters of Alaska.
The Cold War-era Russian Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of Russia s Aerospace Force (Air Force) continue to log the miles. Last week a pair of the upgraded bombers performed a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan and the north-western Pacific, according to reports from the Russian Defense Ministry.
Old Bomber, Old Tricks: Russia’s Tu-95MS Could Still Destroy the World
The four-engine propeller plane was developed in the 1950s after Soviet planners had requested a four-engine bomber that could fly five thousand miles and hit targets across the United States.
Here s What You Need to Remember: The Russian military has continued to enhance the abilities of the Tu-95MS with a further modernization effort, the Tu-95MSM variant. The primary purpose of the Tu-95MSM modernization is to give the Tu-95MS the ability to fire the Kh-101 and Kh-102 cruise missiles that are carried by the newer Tu-160 bomber. Because of the increased length of the missile, the Kh-10(X) cannot be carried on the internal rotary launcher of the Tu-95MS.