A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic nuclear bomber crashed in the Irkutsk region in Siberia this week. The bomber took off from the Belaya airfield in the Usolsky district for a routine flight.
The crew steered the plane away from residential buildings. According to reports, the crash site was near the entrance to the village of Mikhailovka in the Cheremkhovsky district. The four aircrew ejected safely.
The plane crashed in an uninhabited area; there was no damage on the ground. The emergency services responded to the scene. All aircrews were picked up quickly and given medical assistance, and there was no threat to life. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the preliminary cause of the crash was a technical malfunction. Yet another report said that one engine of the Tu-22M3 had caught fire in mid-air.
The Tupolev Tu-22M3 has been an important strategic asset of the Soviet and now Russian military. Nearly 500 were built, and many remain in service with Russian Aerospace Forces.
It is interesting to understand the development and current status of the Tu-22M3 fleet.
Tupolev Tu-22M Strategic Bomber
The Strategic bomber/maritime strike aircraft Tu-22M “Backfire” was developed from the non-variable sweep Tupolev Tu-22 “Blinder,” which first flew on 30 August 1969. It joined service during the peak of the Cold War in 1972. The production run stopped in 1993, just after the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The aircraft is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing missile carrier and long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber. Soviet Naval Aviation used it in a long-range maritime anti-shipping role.
The only operator, the Russian Air Force, had 57 aircraft in service in 2024, according to the 2024 Military Balance report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. However, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence estimated that Russia had 27 aircraft in operable condition.
Initial Development
When the Tupolev Tu-22 was inducted in 1962, it was found operationally inadequate as a bomber. Even its handling qualities were considered unsafe. It had poor external visibility.
Tupolev immediately planned an upgrade with a variable-sweep wing and upgraded engines. The aircraft was designated Tu-22M. Its main weapon was the Kh-22 “Storm” long-range anti-ship cruise missile.
The concept of variable sweep was already evolving with the MiG-23 and Su-17 projects. It appeared attractive, allowing a combination of short take-off performance, efficient cruising, and good high-speed, low-level flight.
In 2007, work began on a new radar for the Tu-22M, the NV-45, which was first flown on a Tu-22M in 2008. The full mid-life upgrade, the Tu-22M3M, began in 2014. The aircraft got the upgraded NV-45M radar, new navigation equipment, a modified flight control system, and a new self-defense electronic radar suite.
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Many of the new avionics were shared with the upgraded Tu-160M2. Since 2018, as part of another upgrade, armaments included the new Kh-32 missile, a heavily modified version of the current Kh-22, a supersonic air-launched cruise missile with a range of 600–1000 km. It could also carry the hypersonic Kh-MT and the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles.
The Tu-22M3M deliveries began in 2022. It had a new computer, a new navigation system, and digital processing for the aircraft’s radar. In September 2023, it was reported that the Tu-22M3 had been modified to carry a missile with a payload capacity of 1,700 kg.
Tu-22M Variants
Nine pre-production base variants were initially produced. Nine Tu-22M1 limited-production aircraft were produced in 1971 and 1972. The first major production version, Tu-22M2, with longer wings and an extensively redesigned, area-ruled fuselage (raising the crew complement to four), twin NK-22 engines (215 kN thrust each) with distinctive intake ramps and a new undercarriage, began in 1972. 211 Tu-22M2 were built from 1972 to 1983.
The Tu-22M2 had a top speed of Mach 1.65 and was armed mostly with long-range cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles, typically one or two Raduga Kh-22 anti-ship missiles. Some Tu-22M2s were later reequipped with more powerful NK-23 engines and re-designated Tu-22M2Ye.
Later, the Tu-22M3 first flew in 1977, was introduced into operation in 1983, and officially entered service in 1989. It had new NK-25 engines with substantially more power, wedge-shaped intake ramps similar to the MiG-25, wings with greater maximum sweep, and a re-contoured nose housing a new Almaz PNA navigation/attack radar, and NK-45 nav/attack system, which provided much-improved low-altitude flight.
The aerodynamic changes increased its top speed to Mach 2.05 and its range by one-third compared to the Tu-22M2. 268 were built until 1993.
Around 12 Tu-22M3s were converted to Tu-22MR standard with the Shompol side-looking airborne radar and other ELINT equipment. Tu-344 was the canceled civilian supersonic aircraft based on the Tu-22M3, designed to carry 100-12 passengers.
The latest Tu-22M3 is fitted with a new sighting and powerful computing system, SVP-24-22 Gefest, replacing the NK-45 Vakhta-2 complex. Around 10 modernized aircraft are in service, and all the approximately 57 Tu-22M3s currently in service are being upgraded.
Aerial refueling in the aircraft had been disabled due to START treaty restrictions. The Tu-22M’s internal fuel capacity limits its unfuelled operational range. However, it can be reactivated if Russia desires.
Armaments & Aircraft Performance
This 126,000 kg max take-off weight, four-crew aircraft (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapon systems officer) can carry a 24,000 kg load on the wing and fuselage pylons and internal weapons bay.
It has a remotely controlled tail turret 23 mm GSh-23 cannon. It can carry an 18 × FAB-500 general-purpose bomb on two fuselage-mounted pylons. Up to three Raduga Kh-32 anti-ship missiles.
Up to 6 × Kh-15 missiles plus 4 × Raduga Kh-15 missiles, or up to 4 × Kh-47M2 Kinzhal. Various sea mines and free-fall bombs such as 69 × FAB-250 or 8 × FAB-1500 might be typical.
The maximum speed is Mach 1.88, 1,997 km/h. The ferry range is around 7,000 km, and the combat range with a typical 10,000 kg weapons load is 2,500 km.
Operational Deployments
The Tu-22M was first seen in a major Warsaw Pact exercise in 1980, carrying out anti-ship operations by mining parts of the Baltic Sea to simulate an amphibious landing. The first simulated attack by the Tu-22M against a NATO carrier group occurred in October 1982. Eight aircraft locked onto the U.S. task forces of USS Enterprise and USS Midway which were operating in the North Pacific. They came within 200 km of the task forces.
The Tu-22M was first used in combat in Afghanistan. It was deployed in 1988, during which the aircraft flew strike missions against the “Mujahideen.”
They were deployed at Maryy-2 air base in Turkmenistan. Later, sixteen Tu-22M3s were used to provide cover to Soviet forces pulling out of the country and attack incoming supplies from Iran and Pakistan. The aircraft had its last Afghan operation in January 1989 at Salang Pass, Afghanistan.
The Russian Federation used the Tu-22M3 in combat in Chechnya in 1995, performing strikes near Grozny. In August 2007, the Tu-22M and the Tu-95 began conducting long-range patrolling for the first time since 1992.
On 9 August 2008, a Russian Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft was shot down in South Ossetia by a Georgian air defense Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system during the 5-day Russo-Georgian War.
On 29 March 2013, two Tu-22M3 bombers flying in international airspace simulated an attack on Sweden. The Swedish air defense failed to respond. In 2015, Tu-22Ms made more forays towards Sweden. The Swedish Air Force sent Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters to mark their presence.
Operations In The Syrian Civil War
In July-August 2016, six Tu-22M3 bombers carried out a concentrated attack around Palmyra, Al-Sukhnah, and Arak while operating from airfields in Russia.
From mid-August 2016, the bombers began to fly missions in Syria using Iran’s Hamedan Airbase. In January 2017, six Tu-22M3s resumed airstrikes in the area of Deir ez-Zor, Syria, to prevent capture of the city by jihadists carrying out around 42 sorties. In May 2021, three Tu-22Ms were temporarily deployed to the Khmeymim airbase in Syria.
TU-22M3 In Invasion of Ukraine
On 15 April 2022, Tu-22M3 bombers were used for the first time since the start of the invasion of Ukraine to strike targets in Mariupol.
The FAB-3000M-46 dumb bombs had been reactivated for use with Tu-22M3 bombers to strike targets at the Azovstal iron and steel works plant. On 11 May 2022, a Tu-22M3 bomber launched two Kh-22 missiles at targets in Ukraine.
During the 29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine, some 300 Kh-22 missiles were launched by Tu-22M bombers.
Recent Tu-22M3 Damaged/Destroyed
On 5 December 2022, a Tu-22M3 bomber, identified as RF-34110, was seen damaged as a result of a long-range drone attack by Ukraine against the Dyagilevo air base.
On 20 August 2023, the Russian government confirmed a drone attack on an airbase in Novgorod and images of a Tu-22M3 engulfed in flames at Soltsy air base. Ukraine claims that one Tu-22M3 was destroyed and two damaged in an operation of a Ukrainian intelligence unit in August 2023.
On 19 April 2024, a Russian Tu-22M3 crashed near Stavropol, over 450 km away from the nearest Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ukraine claimed to have shot down the bomber using the S-200 missile system about 300 km from Ukraine as it was reportedly returning to base after a combat sortie.
Russian authorities claimed the aircraft crashed in Krasnogvardeysky District due to a technical malfunction, killing one crew member, with another missing.
HUR drones struck the Olenya air base in Murmansk Oblast, some 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, damaging two Tu-22M3s. On 15 August 2024, a Russian Tu-22M3 crashed and burned in the Irkutsk Oblast.
Operators & Export Contenders
The Russian Air Force is the only current operator. Former operators included the Russian Naval Aviation, whose aircraft were later transferred to the Russian Air Force in 2011.
The Ukrainian Air Force and Navy inherited a large number of Tu-22M2/M3 bombers. 60 Tu-22Ms (17 Tu-22M2 and 43 Tu-22M3) and 423 Kh-22 cruise missiles were scrapped under the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction agreement led by the US. The last bombers were scrapped in January 2006.
There have been mainly three export contenders: Iran, India, and China. Unlike the Tu-22 bomber, which was exported to some Middle Eastern countries, no Tu-22M has been exported.
In 1999, India reportedly signed a lease-to-buy contract for four Tu-22M aircraft for maritime reconnaissance and strike purposes. These aircraft, along with the Kh-22 cruise missiles, were to enter Indian Air Force (IAF) service in 2001. But to date, the same has not happened.
Tu-22M Airbases
In 2014, it was estimated that Russia had seven Tu-22M squadrons at three airbases: 40 aircraft at Belaya airbase in south-eastern Siberia, 28 at Shaykovka airbase southwest of Moscow, and 10 at Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan southeast of Moscow, which serves as the bomber’s training unit. The total number of aircraft currently totals 57.
Olenya airbase is a major Russian Navy reconnaissance base located on the Kola Peninsula 92 km south of Murmansk. As of 2020, units at the base are subordinate to the Long-Range Aviation branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The base has nearly 40 Tupolev Tu-22M bombers, many of which may be grounded.
Belaya Airbase is a significant Russian Aerospace Forces Long-Range Aviation base in Usolsky District, Irkutsk, Russia. It has significant ramp space and 38 bomber revetments. Since 2020, the Tu-22M3 bombers of the 200th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment have been deployed here.
Dyagilevo airbase is in Ryazan Oblast, Russia. It serves as a training center for Russia’s strategic bomber force. It has the Tu-22M3 and Tu-134 aircraft. On 5 December 2022, the base was attacked by Ukrainian drones, which damaged a Tu-22M3 bomber and destroyed a fuel truck; three personnel were killed and five injured.
Shaykovka is an airbase in Kaluga Oblast, Russia. It is a large airfield with hangars and an extensive alert area for fighters. As of 2020, the 52nd Heavy Bomber Regiment flying Tu-22M3 has been operating. It is 200 kilometers from the nearest Ukrainian border. On 7 October 2022, there were reports of a kamikaze drone attack on the air base, destroying two Tu-22M3 bombers.
Way Ahead
The aircraft is over 55 years old, and the upgrade of the Tu-22M3 has been stretched enough that its scope is limited. The production run stopped in 1993.
The numbers are depleting. The major contenders, China, India, and Iran, have all shown little interest. There have been cases of aircraft hull loss due to technical problems.
Production of its contemporary, the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, stopped in 1988, and only 104 were built. With the disestablishment of Strategic Air Command and the aircraft’s reassignment to the Air Combat Command in 1992, the B-1B’s nuclear capabilities were disabled, and it was outfitted for conventional bombing.
The B-1B saw combat action in Operation Desert Fox in 1998, during NATO action in Kosovo, and military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. As of 2021, the US Air Force has only 45 B-1Bs. The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider will begin replacing the B-1B after 2025. All B-1s are planned to be retired by 2036. Finally, future US bombers will be dominated by the stealth B-2 and B-21.
China, too, is working towards switching from vintage H-6 bombers to stealth H-20 bombers in a decade. Clearly, the bombers are large aircraft with high radar cross-section (RCS). With very long-range aerial and surface missiles evolving, these aircraft are highly vulnerable unless stealthy.
Russians themselves are working in the Tupolev PAK DA as a next-generation stealth strategic bomber. Three PAK DA prototypes are reportedly nearly ready. Flight tests are planned to begin in February 2026. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 8-10 years.
For countries like India, the first priority remains to acquire more squadrons of 4.5-generation fighters and master stealth technologies on fighter aircraft. Bombers are expensive to acquire and maintain.
Three Su-30 MKI can carry more weapon load than a Tu-22M3, cost nearly the same, and provide redundancy. India can contemplate buying or designing stealth bombers only around two decades from now.
- Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retired) is an Indian Air Force veteran fighter test pilot and former Director-General of the Center for Air Power Studies in New Delhi. He has been decorated with gallantry and distinguished service medals while serving in the IAF for 40 years.
- He tweets @Chopsyturvey
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