What You Need to Know: Russia’s Tu-22M bomber has seen renewed use in Ukraine, shifting from its Cold War-era role to a long-range missile platform.
-A Big Advantage: Much like the U.S. Air Force’s B-52, the Tu-22M has undergone decades of modernization with the ability to attack from distance, but questions remain about its effectiveness.
-Bottomline: While capable of launching Kh-22 cruise missiles from standoff ranges, the aircraft has also been vulnerable to Ukrainian air defenses, with reports of shootdowns.
Russia’s Tu-22M in Ukraine: A Supersonic Relic or a Real Threat?
Unlike the extensively upgraded B-52, which continues to evolve with new technology, Russia’s industrial limitations may prevent similar advancements. As modern air defenses improve, can the Tu-22M remain a viable strategic bomber, or is its future in doubt?
Russia’s use of the Tu-22M in Ukraine represents a tactical shift away from the concepts that first informed the creation and deployment of the bomber during the Cold War.
In a manner not inconsistent with the United States Air Force’s approach to the B-52, Russia has adapted the roles and missions of its classic supersonic bomber from a close-in conventional “area” bomber to more of a stand-off platform capable of firing long-range weapons without becoming vulnerable to advanced air defenses.,
Generally speaking, new generations of modern air defenses have increasingly made it next to impossible for non-stealthy aircraft to operate within range of being hit, particularly in Ukraine.
It is likely a key reason why the mystery of air support has continued in Ukraine, meaning neither side has been able to establish air superiority.
No Air Superiority in Ukraine
Early in the war, senior Pentagon officials were clear that they observed that Russian pilots were being “risk averse,” likely in response to the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defenses.
Similarly, Russian air defenses are no different and are thought to be among the most advanced in the world.
Some Russian media outlets have even suggested that Russia’s S-400 and S-500 were capable of hitting stealth aircraft, something which does not seem to have been verified.
Nonetheless, Russia appears to have made a tactical shift with its Tu-22m bomber in Ukraine, as it has both been effective and vulnerable. Numerous reports cite instances where Ukrainian forces have shot it down, yet it has also been effective in some instances in attacking Ukrainian targets.
A report from the Kyiv Independent in April 2024 stated that Ukrainian air defenses had shot-down a Russian Tu-22M for the first time.
B-52 vs Tu-22M Bomber
Also, much like the US Air Force B-52, Russia’s Tu-22 has been the focus of years of upgrades, sustainment, and modernization efforts as the Tupolev Design Bureau initially built it in the 1960s.
The most modern variant, the Tu-22M3s, emerged in 2018 and is reportedly capable of high-altitude, stand-off range bombing using Kh-22 cruise missiles, according to an interesting essay from Reuters.
Reuters reports that the plane’s hull is made of aluminum alloys and heat-resistant steel using titanium and magnesium. According to the London-based International Strategic Studies Institute, Russia operates as many as 57 Tu-22M3s, yet much like the B-52, its bombing missions are likely restricted to less-contested airspace, given that the large airframe presents a “hittable” target for advanced air defenses.
The use of a long-range cruise missile such as the nuclear-capable Kh-22, for example, parallels the B-52s Advanced Long-Range Cruise Missile (ALCM) and may drive part of the inspiration for the emerging US Air Force nuclear-capable Long Range Stand-Off weapon.
B-52 Changes
However, there are several key unanswered questions related to the scope of the Tu-22M3 modernization efforts as they may not in any way parallel the success of the B-52.
For instance, an essay in Russia’s TASS news in 2023 reported that the Tu-22M3s received upgraded payload capacity, which might align with the B-52’s massive internal weapons bay configuration and upgrade.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., breaks away after receiving fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England, over the Mediterranean Sea April, 9, 2018. A formation of four KC-135s refueled two B-52s. Each KC-135 offloaded more than 80,000 pounds of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Cooper)
At the same time, it seems unclear if the Russian bomber has integrated anything like the B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) system capable of providing real-time, in-flight intelligence updates.
The B-52 is also possibly configured as an arsenal plane capable of transporting and launching drones, ordnance, or weapons systems to forward locations.
It is also well within the realm of possibility that the B-52 will fire lasers, launch and recover drones, and operate unmanned systems from the cockpit as a kind of aerial command and control node.
The airframes themselves of the Russian Tu-22M3 have likely remained viable with some structural support, much like the B-52, yet it seems unclear if the bomber has modernized in a way that could truly rival the iconic B-52.
Part of this equation relates to the simple reality that Russia may lack the industrial capacity to enable the kind of sustainment and modernization that has been so critical to the B-52, according to a report from EuroMaidan press.
Tu-22M Bomber Photo Essay
Tu-22 carrying KH-22 missile.
Tu-22M3M fighter-bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Russian Air Force Tu-22M2M fighter-bomber.
Russian Air Force Tu-22M3M. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
TU-22M3M Bomber. Image from Russian Military.
Russian Tu-22M3M fighter-bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
