History should teach the American military leadership that any, the most expensive and technically sophisticated project designed to put pressure on the USSR, and later the Russian Federation, causes a desire to create a countermeasure system or give a symmetrical response. An example is the Tu-160, "White Swan", a strategic intercontinental bomber-missile carrier.
Tu-160 is the answer to B-1
From the mid-seventies in the United States began testing a new miracle of technology. The Rockwell B-1 was indeed a formidable machine, built to the highest standards of modern aviation technology. Variable wing geometry, supersonic (Mach 2, 2), 34 tons of combat load, a ceiling exceeding 18 thousand meters, all these characteristics ensured the ability to carry 24 cruise missiles to a target located at a distance of 10 thousand kilometers. If it turns out that this is not enough, you can hang eight more outside. The project was advertised with a truly American scale,this flying cruiser was supposed to plunge the whole world into horror and despondency, but first of all the country of a potential enemy, citizens of the USSR and the Soviet military-political leadership. In the late seventies, the arms race intensified. New high-tech threats have emerged:
- a neutron bomb that destroys all life with a minimum blast wave;
- cruise missiles flying low and out of reach of Soviet radars;
- the newest carrier of the above weapons B-1.
Many magazines, both foreign and Soviet, published the data of the American "Lancer" and his photo. The Tu-160 "White Swan" in 1981 already made its first flights, but for the time being, no one was told about it and no images were printed in magazines.
Swan parameters
The two planes are similar in appearance, the Tupolev team took a proven American scheme as a basis. Four powerful engines, developing a total afterburner thrust of up to 100,000 kgf, are located under the wing on both sides of the fuselage. But the external similarity did not prevent the Tu-160 from being made much more powerful. The "White Swan", a strategic missile carrier, can carry 45 tons of combat load, its ceiling is 21,000 meters, and its flight range is almost 14,000 km without refueling. Like the B-1, the crew consists of 4 people, and since the vehicle can stay in the air for more than a day during combat duty, all comfort conditions have been created for it, including sleeping places, a galley and others.facilities. The Tu-160 "White Swan" aircraft received its unofficial, but accustomed name not only for its elegant aerodynamic contours, but also for the color that reflects solar radiation to avoid overheating.
How the "Swans" were slaughtered
In 1991, the USSR collapsed, which affected many aspects of the peaceful life of former Soviet citizens. To a large extent, this event also affected the defense capability of the republics that previously constituted a single state. The "White Swans" of the Tu-160 were divided into two "flocks", the 194th air regiment, which was armed with 19 units of strategic missile carriers, remained on the territory of Ukraine. For several years they stood idle, and in 1998 they began to be cut into scrap metal in the presence of US senators, who happily commented on this event. There were two main reasons for this decision of the Ukrainian leadership. Firstly, there was no money for the operation and maintenance of expensive and complex aircraft. Secondly, Ukraine, with its non-bloc military doctrine, did not need the Tu-160 "White Swan". Weapons of strategic purpose were massively disposed of, the same fate awaited mine launchers and other elements of the USSR missile shield. A dozen of the best and most powerful combat aircraft in the world managed to cut.
Heroes turned into White Swans
The same reason that killed ten units of magnificent Soviet-made aircraft, ironically turned out to be a saving factor for the remaining aircraft. They were changed to gas, paywhich Ukraine had nothing more. Six hundred cruise missiles, eight Tu-95 Bears and eight remaining White Swan Tu-160s were credited for $285 million of external debt. The strategic purpose of the technique received a new location. They became the city of Engels, the ancient Pokrovsk, located across the Volga from Saratov. One of the aircraft remained in Ukraine as a museum exhibit.
Having accepted their "birds", the Russian Air Force disposed of them in a businesslike way. The machines are in excellent technical condition, undergo modernization and from time to time make long-distance flights (as in 2008 to Venezuela, for example). Almost all of them, like sea cruisers, in addition to side numbers, have their own names in honor of prominent people, such as General Yermolov, Nikolai Kuznetsov, Valery Chkalov and others. Among them are Ilya Muromets and the great aircraft designer Andrey Tupolev.
