Russia's Strategic Air Force in Decline: Soviet Bombers Turn into 'Shahed-Mobiles'.

The Decline of the Russian Strategic Aviation

According to TSN.ua: The Russian strategic air force, particularly the bombers Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160, is in a deep decline. Once feared as a symbol of military strength, these aircraft today serve primarily to terrorize the civilian population and resemble more of a 'Shahed-Mobile' in their operational use, according to military expert Olexandr Kowalenko. He also emphasizes that Russia is unable to produce new aircraft of this class, which severely limits their combat readiness.

Causes of Decline

The reasons for the decline of the Russian aviation are manifold. A central issue is the technical exhaustion of the aircraft. For instance, the Tu-95MS typically only launches four X-101 cruise missiles instead of the possible eight, while the Tu-22M3 almost always carries only a single X-22 missile instead of three. This drastic reduction in payload demonstrates the limited operational capability and significantly diminishes effectiveness in combat.

Moreover, there is a lack of serial production of new machines. The Kazan aircraft plant, once an important manufacturer, is currently only finishing aircraft fuselages from the Soviet era. Kowalenko comments on the situation, stating:

'The claims about resuming production at the Kazan aircraft plant I deem a fabrication.'

This statement underscores the profound problems within the Russian aviation industry. Against this backdrop, Ukrainian forces continue their attacks on strategic aviation companies in Russia, particularly targeting the 'Aviastar' plant. This highlights the significance of the situation at the front and the impact of military actions on the development of the Russian air force.

In summary, the decline of the Russian strategic aviation, which includes the Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160, is attributed to the following factors:

• technical exhaustion of the aircraft
• severely limited payload
• lack of capabilities to produce new machines

Together, these factors pose immense challenges to the Russian armed forces in modern warfare. The decline of the strategic air force could severely impair the country's military capabilities, particularly concerning its involvement in international conflicts. Limited resources and technical deficiencies threaten to lower the effectiveness of military operations, jeopardizing Russia's strategic plans. Given the active hostilities in Ukraine, the situation for the Russian army concerning its aviation is becoming increasingly critical.