Summary and Key Points: The Tupolev Design Bureau received the requirements for Russia’s first stealth bomber in 2007. Nineteen years later, the PAK-DA has no prototype, no mock-up, and not a single officially released image — only unofficial artists’ impressions and, possibly, a 2022 Tupolev patent for the engine intakes of a stealthy flying-wing design.
The PAK-DA Stealth Bomber Might Never Fly
In the early 2000s, the Russian aerospace industry was working on three prospective programs: the PAK-FA, the PAK-DP, and the PAK-DA.
The PAK-FA developed into the Su-57, while the PAK-DP is expected to become the MiG-41 (if the program is still underway).
The PAK-DA (Prospective aviation complex for long-range aviation), meanwhile, is expected to become Russia’s first stealth bomber.
However, the aircraft has faced multiple delays, and its prospects remain unknown. After almost ten years of development, the aircraft has yet to fly.
Unlike the Su-70, which has at least had several mock-ups built, the design of Russia’s next bomber hasn’t even been revealed, aside from some unofficial artistic renditions.
So, what’s going on with the PAK-DA program? What can be expected of this mysterious bomber, and does it have any chance of taking flight any time soon?
Development Timeline
The first mentions of the PAK-DA program appear in 2007, when the Tupolev Design Bureau was first handed the requirements for a new strategic bomber.
Originally, the program was thought to replace the Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber, but it was later confirmed that the PAK-DA would be a stealth bomber.
In 2008, then-commander of the Russian Air Force Aleksandr Zelin said work on the program had already begun. “The requirements are formulated, and many firms are now implementing plans,” he stated. Other officials from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated that the bomber would be expected to fly at heights of 50,000 meters and low to the ground, while avoiding enemy radar systems using stealth technology.
Russian Tu-160 bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Throughout the 2010s, development of the program continued to develop.
In 2013, it was officially announced that the PAK-DA would feature a stealth-oriented flying-wing design similar to the American B-2 Spirit.
In 2014, the Russians reportedly finalized the bomber’s design and were close to moving on to the next phase of the program: constructing a prototype.
The following year, Russian news reports said the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) was chosen to build the prototypes and serial aircraft.
The government allocated five billion rubles to build new industrial facilities in anticipation of the new bomber. The PAK-DA would be built alongside the newly upgraded Tu-160M2.
Stuck in Development Hell
From 2018 to the present day, the Russians have set several time frames for PAK-DA’s first flight, all of which have been missed.
In 2022, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov assured news outlets that the program would not be negatively affected by the invasion of Ukraine or the subsequent Western sanctions.
PAK DA Russian Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
PAK DA Stealth Bomber Russia.
PAK DA Stealth Bomber. Image Credit: Russian State Media/Creative Commons.
The prototype was originally planned to take its first flight as early as 2023, but that was pushed back to 2024, then to 2025, then to 2026, and so on.
In 2019, the state-owned news channel Zvezda reported that it would take five to seven years to build the prototype.
If we take the claim at face value, then the prototype could, in theory, be completed sometime this year. As of writing this, the Russians have three and a half months to live up to this expectation.
The last official mention of the PAK-DA program was in 2023, by Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec.
Artyakov said work on the program was still underway and that the project would be completed “by the approved schedule.” By now, the schedule has changed so often that it’s hard to say what the program’s current timeframe is.
Interestingly, in 2022, the Tupolev Design Bureau released a patent for a new set of engine intakes for a stealthy flying-wing bomber design.
It is unclear whether the patent is for the PAK-DA, but this may be the clearest official illustration of what the future bomber may look like, assuming it hasn’t been redesigned since then.
What Can Be Expected From the PAK-DA
Regarding the PAK-DA’s capabilities, many claims have been made, none of which can be confirmed, since the bomber isn’t even out yet.
Luckily, some MoD officials have spoken about the Russian Air Force’s expectations for the new bomber.
The PAK-DA will carry a 35-tonne payload in its internal weapons bays and have a crew of four.
The bomber will have a flight range of around 12,000 km.
Sources differ on what engines the aircraft will use. Some sources say the bomber will use new NK65 engines, while others say it will use NK32-02 afterburning engines currently used by the Tu-160M2.
This would be bizarre, as the PAK-DA is reportedly intended for subsonic flight, and afterburning engines are likely to raise its infrared signature.
The PAK-DA will also feature a heavy emphasis on stealth.
Its design will likely resemble the B-2 Spirit.
B-2 Spirit. 19FortyFive.com Image.
Given that the Russians’ only experience with stealth aircraft is the Su-57, the bomber’s stealth profile is likely to be much worse than that of its American counterparts.
However, it is far too early to say anything definitive.
As a strategic bomber, the PAK-DA will also be capable of carrying conventional and nuclear missiles. Aside from these sparse details, there really isn’t any other reliable information on Russia’s new Bomber.
Given the lack of information over the last two years, it’s hard to say what lies ahead for the program. The PAK-DA may have been put on hold since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Unfortunately, without official word, it is impossible to say for certain.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
