0:01
the tu22 M3 is an aircraft that is
0:04
frequently overlooked in favor of its
0:06
larger counterpart the
0:08
tu60 nevertheless it is challenging to
0:10
describe a 42m combat aircraft as
0:13
discret given that it has a maximum
0:15
speed of 2,300 kmph and a takeoff weight
0:19
of up to 126 tons Western sources
0:23
maintain that the Russian Aerospace
0:25
forces retain a minimum of 55 tu22 M3
0:28
bombers with a portion of them having
0:31
been converted to the more sophisticated
0:33
tu22 m3m version the tu22 M3 has a long
0:37
development history the tu22 M3 is a
0:40
more sophisticated derivative of the
0:43
tu22m and tu22 M2 supersonic variable
0:47
geometry aircraft from the 1960s and
0:49
1970s preceded by the experimental tu22
0:53
M1 these bombers could be classified as
0:55
strategic due to their capacity to
0:58
provide inflight refueling and their
1:00
ability to reach a diverse range of
1:02
global regions including the United
1:05
States this capability was demonstrated
1:07
in 1976 when a tu22 M2 completed a 7,000
1:12
km one-way flight with refueling NATO
1:15
and its allies strongly opposed the
1:17
serial production of tu22 M2 bombers
1:20
with aerial refueling capabilities
1:23
referring to them as strategic bombers
1:25
the USSR removed the refueling devices
1:28
from these aircraft inorder in order to
1:30
reduce tensions although they could be
1:32
installed if necessary the tu22 M3 which
1:36
succeeded the tu22 M2 was similarly
1:39
unwelcome to Cold War adversaries the
1:41
nk2 engines which were a precursor to
1:44
the nk32 engines used in the tu60 were
1:48
more potent and modern when they were
1:50
introduced to service in the
1:52
1980s electronic control systems were
1:54
implemented in these engines the air
1:57
intakes were redesigned and the
1:59
aircrafts electrical systems were
2:01
modernized due to this extensive
2:03
modernization the bomber's weight was
2:05
reduced by nearly 3 tons resulting in
2:08
Superior performance despite the heavier
2:11
engines the tu22 M3 was officially
2:14
inducted in March 1989 amidst the
2:17
turmoil in the Soviet military
2:19
industrial complex during the perista
2:21
era Gorbachev's reforms had a
2:23
catastrophic effect on high-tech
2:25
Industries the tu22 M3 was a successful
2:29
production run r with a minimum of 250
2:31
units or 265 to 268 depending on the
2:35
source built before production ceased
2:37
under yelton's pro-western regime in
2:40
1993 despite the turmoil an experimental
2:43
tu22 M4 was developed in 1990 and was
2:47
outfitted with nk32 engines however it
2:50
was never produced the M3 version
2:52
functioned as a transitional element
2:55
between the variable geometry aircraft
2:57
of the 1960s and 1970 s and the modern
3:01
bombers that were capable of deploying
3:03
Precision weapons it is capable of
3:06
transporting a payload of up to 24 tons
3:09
12 tons standard which includes
3:11
longrange air to ground missiles like
3:13
the kh15 and K22 a 23mm rear cannon that
3:17
was remotely operated was used to
3:20
provide defensive capabilities a
3:22
four-person crew was responsible for
3:24
operating the cockpit which was equipped
3:26
with Advanced avionics the bomber was
3:29
capable of flying at a speed of 930 to
3:32
2,300 kmph and had a flight range of up
3:36
to 6,800 km it can fly 4500 to 5,000 km
3:42
with a 12ton cargo the wings were
3:45
engineered to optimize flight
3:46
performance in a diverse array of
3:48
conditions with a variable sweep angle
3:51
ranging from 20 to 65 degrees despite
3:54
the challenges of the 1990s and the
3:56
subsequent recovery the M3 remained a
3:59
crtical iCal element of Russian
4:02
Aviation the Soviet Union's dissolution
4:05
resulted in the transfer of certain
4:06
aircraft to Ukraine and barus from 2002
4:10
to 2006 Ukraine retired its M3 Fleet
4:14
while bellarus transferred its aircraft
4:15
to Russia by the 2010s Russia was the
4:19
sole Fleet operator of the M3 although
4:21
not all aircraft were
4:23
operational an effort was made to
4:25
modernize the fleet and reestablish
4:27
flight worthiness by incorporating
4:29
Concepts from the tu22 M4 project in
4:33
2018 the first m3m was converted in
4:36
Kazan and there are plans to upgrade an
4:38
additional 30 aircraft foreign
4:41
surveillance efforts are Complicated by
4:43
the external similarity between the M3
4:46
and the enhanced m3m and the program's
4:49
current status is classified during
4:51
Russia's 2015 campaign against
4:53
International militants in Syria the M3
4:56
was reintroduced into combat this was
4:59
preceded by its final combat missions
5:01
which were conducted during the 2008
5:03
5-day conflict with Georgia the M3 has
5:07
been actively used in special military
5:09
operations since 2022 with a primary
5:13
focus on the deployment of missiles such
5:15
as the kh32 which replaced the old K22
5:19
in marup it conducted a conventional
5:21
bombardment raid on enemy positions
5:24
despite the air defense threat in one
5:26
instance what is the M3s future given
5:28
the m3m modifications it appears that
5:31
the aircraft has several years of
5:33
service remaining however the production
5:35
of new M3s stopped in 1993 and is
5:39
expected not to be restarted within the
5:41
next decade it is expected that the
5:43
remaining Fleet of over 50 aircraft will
5:45
be reduced to 30 enhanced
5:48
m3m the Ken Aviation facility's primary
5:52
objectives are the production of new Tu
5:54
160 M2 models and the development of the
5:57
Next Generation Pac da bomber at present
6:00
there is no replacement for the 222 M3
6:03
now do you think Russia should
6:05
concentrate on Paca fifth generation
6:08
bombers let us know in the comments
6:10
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