The design phase of the PAK-DA, the new generation Russian strategic bomber, has now been completed and in the coming months the Tupolev Design Bureau will start the construction phase of the first prototype. According to estimates, the first flight of the new bomber will take place between 2020 and 2021. Finally, in 2025, the PAK-DA will enter service. This is what is leaking from Moscow.
Russia began development of a new strategic bomber in 2014. The project, set aside for several years and known as PAK-DA (Russian acronym for "future long-range aircraft"), received the green light from the Russian leadership only at the end of 2013. Russian engineers would be targeting a subsonic aircraft in the shape of a "flying wing", which would guarantee superior "stealth capabilities".
The PAK-DA, according to the directives of the Ministry of Defense, will have to be equipped with advanced systems for electronic warfare and armed with the new long-range nuclear cruise missiles, as well as a variety of high-precision conventional weapons. The new bomber will most likely be built at a new aircraft assembly line at the Kazan plant. The PAK-DA will have to replace the current Russian strategic fleet consisting of 63 Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear and 13 Tu-160 Blackjack (photo).
The PAK-DA was also designed to be armed with hypersonic missiles which are expected to go into production in Russia within the next four years. According to Tactical Missile Systems Corporation, the missiles will go into production before 2020. Obviously the difficulties are not lacking. We are talking about missiles with a top speed of Mach six / eight with technology ramjet.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
