How Africa
The supersonic aircraft – fitted with deadly new generation missiles – is a “deep modernisation” of the Tupolev Tu-22M3.
Russia’s upgrades means the bomber can be navigated up to eight times more accurately, and will target missiles up to ten times more precisely.
Known to NATO as Backfire, the 30 of the upgraded bombers will be in service by 2020 – with the other 70 in Putin’s air force to follow later.
It comes as relations between Russia and the West are at an all-time low since the Cold War.
“The most important thing is that the planes are being adapted for carrying modern Kh-32 heavy supersonic missiles.”
The Kh-32 is an air-to-surface missile, the heavily upgraded version of the Kh-22 missile.
It has an operational range of up to 620 miles and can reach a speed of up to 3,100 mph.
EAST2WESTSUPERSONIC BOMBER: The Tu-22M3M will speed at 1,280mph to strike enemies
EAST2WEST
MISSILES: Kh-32 heavy supersonic weapons will destroy targets at 3,100mph
And the missiles it carries will hurtle towards Putin’s enemies at 3,100mph at altitudes of up to 25 miles.
The Tu-22M3M long-range bomber will also be able to carry six more advanced Kh-50 missiles.
Previous versions of the warplane were actively used in Russian airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, taking off from Russia and flying over Iran and Iraq to hit targets.
“The Tu-22M3 long-range bombers proved highly efficient in Syria.”
Tu-22s originally came into service in the Cold War in 1972.
UN chiefs have now warned the Cold War is back “with a vengeance” amid growing tensions between the West and Russia.
US, UK and French forces launched on assault on Putin’s pal Bashar al-Assad in Syria over allegations of a chemical weapons attack.
Military action by the West prompted fears of a direct clash with Russia – that could end up sparking World War 3.
Russia and Syria deny any chemical attack ever took place, dismissing it as being “fake” or staged to bring the US into the war.
