Summary and Key Points: Russia’s Tu-160M “White Swan” bomber, a Cold War relic, receives a significant upgrade, boasting enhanced avionics, radar, and long-range missile capabilities.
-Putin’s personal test flight highlights its importance to Russia’s strategic arsenal.
-While not stealthy, its modernized systems and extended range pose a concern, especially with deployments near the Americas.
-Despite setbacks in Ukraine, Russia’s nuclear triad modernization continues, demonstrating its commitment to global power projection.
-The Tu-160M’s development underscores the need for continued vigilance, as Russia remains a nuclear-capable threat.
Summed Up in 2 Words: Big Upgrade
Here Comes Russia’s Tu-160M Bomber
Like any gambler the Russians have an affinity for Blackjack. No, I’m not referring to the card game, I’m talking about the Tu-160 Blackjack bomber that has a long history of being able to carry ordinance to targets around the globe. Now the Blackjack, also known as the White Swan, is getting a reboot to the Tu-160M version.
Vladimir Putin even embarked on a test flight on the upgraded bomber in February.
Putin Approves of the Tu-160 Blackjack or ‘White Swan’ Update
The Tu-160 Blackjack or White Swan is a supersonic nuclear-capable MACH 2-plus bomber based on the Cold War-era airframe. The strategic bomber has variable-sweep wings and is the world’s largest warplane with a heavy payload and long-range.
As you would expect from Putin, he was full of his standard braggadocio after the ride on the Tu-160M. “It’s [the Blackjack] a new machine, a lot about it is new. Armament also. It’s easier to control. It’s reliable.”
The Blackjack Has Always Been a Missile Truck
Variable-sweep wings can improve performance with better speed and maneuverability. This design is similar to the American B-1 bomber, which is also conventional and nuclear-capable. The Blackjack is known for carrying the Kh-55 cruise missile—up to 12 of the nuclear-capable models.
The upgraded bomber can field the Kh-BD missile, which is better than the Kh-101. Twelve AS-16 Kickback short-range nuclear missiles can be fired from the airplane.
What’s New with the Tu-160M
The Tu-160M has modernized avionics, radar, and navigation systems and a four-person crew. It had its first test flight in 2022, and Russian engineers have steadily improved the airplane’s guts. There are plans for an even more modern Tu-160M2. The current Tu-160M has vacuum welding for the titanium components of the airframe, improving the bomber’s performance. The design process was also digitized.
Long-range Weapons Delivery
The Tu-160M will have better fuel efficiency, plus improved weapons control and electronic warfare systems. The airplane’s home base in Engels, Saratov region of Russia, means the bomber would need ample aerial refueling to reach North America, but this long deployment is within the means of the Russian air force.
To show off this extended 7,800-mile range, the Tu-160M has flown to Venezuela.
Is It Seriously the Best Bomber in the World?
Russia thinks the Tu-160M is the best bomber in the world. This is debatable since the White Swan is not stealthy and cannot compete with the American B-2 Spirit or the new B-21 Raider. However, Russian designers and engineers should be commended for upgrading the blackjack during this time of sanctions.
It is not clear if the Russians can export the Tu-160M. China might be interested in the modernized Tu-160 despite its lack of stealth characteristics.
Take a Breath and Calm Down
Moscow is so confident in the updated bomber that they let their president hitch a ride. It shows they are always looking for prestige projects worth a news release from its defense industrial base. The United States should monitor this development, but panic is unnecessary.
The White Swan can still be spotted on the ground by overhead satellite imagery and in the air by early-warning aircraft. However, it is nuclear-capable with a long-range and has been deployed to Venezuela, which shows the Americas are in play for this warbird.
Another concern is that Russia, despite difficulties in Ukraine and even a recent outright invasion of the country by the Ukrainians, is still interested in improving its nuclear triad with modernized submarines and new ICBMs. This is why Moscow is so dangerous.
They are devoting more time, money, and resources to nuclear capabilities even though it appears they are now losing a land war. Yes, their army has been degraded handily by Ukraine, but nuclear strategy is still advancing. So, the Russian military is down but not out.
Their army can fail, but they must still be considered a global power due to the advances in the nuclear triad, and this makes them ever the more dangerous.
Beyond the Tu-160M: Meet the Tu-95, Russia Old Bomber
Tu-95 Bomber from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Tu-95MS. Computer generated image. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Tu-95. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
A Russian Tu-95 Bear ‘H’ photographed from a RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert aircraft (QRA) with 6 Squadron from RAF Leuchars in Scotland. RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were launched from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that approached the NATO Air Policing Area north of Scotland and could not be identified by other means. The aircraft were subsequently identified as Russian military reconnaissance (Bears). The Russian Bears aircraft remained in international airspace as they are perfectly entitled to do. Organization: RAF Object Name: LEU-OFFICIAL-20140423-0326-0015 Category: MOD Supplemental Categories: Equipment, Aircraft, Foreign Aircraft Keywords: QRA, Russia, Russian, Bear, Aircraft, Quick Reaction Alert, Intercept Country: Scotland
Tu-95 bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Tupolev Tu-95MS, Russian Air Force.
Russian Bomber. Image: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
