over a target was quite an achievement.
However, the accuracy of such strikes
is still not independently corroborated,
and there were reports of Russian ALCMs
going astray. Furthermore, the ‘Back res’
relied solely on relatively inaccurate
unguided bombs. One could point to
Western bombers that use one small
bomb on one target thanks to GPS/laser-
guided weapons and advanced targeting
pods. Launching a formation of Tu-22M3s
to y thousands of miles to dispatch a
relatively crude load of iron bombs was a
very di erent approach. Indeed, with only
around 10 per cent of the Russian strikes
being precision-guided, ‘carpet-bombing’
was a tactic designed to mitigate weapons
delivery errors.
However, the actions have signaled a
rejuvenated bomber community. Before
the start of the Syria intervention in
2015, plans had been set in motion to
restart Tu-160 production, and continue
slow-paced modernization e orts for the
Tu-95s and existing Tu-160s, as well as a
new ‘Back re’ upgrade plan. The upgradedTu-160M2 has new avionics, electronics,
cockpit, communications and control
systems, as well as new weapons. New
NK-32 series 02 engines of increased
thrust are to be incorporated. Series
production of the improved Tu-160M2
for the VKS will begin in 2023. It’s planned
that two to three Tu-160M2s will be
produced annually by the Gorbunov
Aircraft Plant in Kazan under a contract
signed by UAC and the Russian Defense
Ministry. In October 2016, deputy
defense minister Yuri Borisov announced
that the VKS had a total requirement for
50 Tu-160M2s.
When President Putin spoke during
his December visit to Syria, he warned
against terrorists daring to ‘rear their
heads’ again. He said Russia would strike
them ‘as they have never seen before’.
Retaining a credible bomber force is part
of ensuring the Kremlin can deliver on
such threats — therefore the future of
Russian Long-Range Aviation is not just
guaranteed, but set to be enhanced to
meet an uncertain world.ammunition and armament depots of the
insurgents’. Over the following month the
Tu-22M3s ew some 84 sorties, on two
occasions co-ordinated with cruise missile
strikes launched from Russian submarines
in the Mediterranean.
During the nal assault on Abu Kamal,
Syrian forces and supporting militias
massed outside the town in a blitz of air
support and artillery re for the closing
battle. This time, drone imagery was
withheld, making it impossible to assess
the success of the bombers. However,
aerial imagery depicted Tu-22M3s
each dropping a stick of six FAB-500-62
unguided high-explosive bombs to shock
and disorientate IS enclaves.
President Putin ew to Khmeimim air
base on December 11 to declare victory.
He ordered a wind-down in the Russian air
campaign, and the following week several
squadrons made high-pro le returns to
their home bases. The ‘Back res’ were
a orded top billing by the Kremlin’s public
relations machine, being lmed taking o
from Mozdok and arriving at Shaykovka,
Irkutsk/Belaya and Olenegorsk. With
accompanying swathes of online footage,
the Tu-22M3’s role in the Syrian war was
well and truly out of the shadows.Important lessons
The fact that the VKS turned to Long-
Range Aviation shouldn’t come as a
huge surprise, given the history of its
operational rationale and the messaging
that accompanies the use of such strategic
assets. It is impressive that the bombers
were integrated to an extent with
unmanned aircraft and strikes from the
sea in a global ‘kill chain’. Demonstrating
the ability to launch a ‘Bear’ from the Arctic
to press home a cruise missile in Syria with
the use of real-time intelligence from a
UAS (and other intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance platforms) circlingAbove:
A Tu-22M3
complete with
mission marks
bangs down
as it returns to
its home base
after forward-
deployment to
Mozdok.
Dmitriy Pichugin
Below:
‘Backfi res’ look
set to receive
modest SVP-24
navigation
and mission
upgrades under
the Tu-22M3M
project, and
possibly the
new Kh-32
missile.
Dmitriy Pichugin49
44-51 Russian Bombers C.indd 49 19/01/2018 15:09