Bombardeiro estratégico Tu-160, construído na União Soviética como resposta ao B-1 Lancer dos EUA, continua sendo o maior avião do mundo na sua classe.
The Soviet Air Force’s Tupolev Tu-160 “Blackjack” bomber was, and is, immense. It was built as the answer to America’s B-1 Lancer, but it remains the largest and heaviest Mach 2 bomber ever built, far exceeding its American nemesis.
It was revealed in late 2020 that the new Tu-160M a deep modernization of the original Tu-160 had already undertaken its maiden flight, suggesting that the aircraft is further along in the research and development cycle than previously anticipated.
Russia s Tu-160 Bomber: Just a Giant Missile Truck in the Sky?
While the B-1 is a smaller bomber in the classical sense – meaning it flies to targets to deploy its bomb load – the Tu-160 can operate as a stand-off weapons platform, where missiles are launched from bomb bay doors. After which, the White Swan would speed off at Mach 2+.
A pair of Russian Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers conducted a patrol flight over the northern waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas on a little over a week ago.
In the past year, Russia has increased its presence in the region with regular aerial sorties. The two bombers were escorted by Russian Navy MiG-31 fighter aircraft during the sortie.