Current Status Of Russian Nuclear Arsenal [Part 3]

http://defencedog.blogspot.com/2011/03/current-status-of-russian-nuclear_8122.html?pfstyle=w p March 14, 2011

Part 2 contd...

The Russian strategic aviation consists of 76 bombers that can carry up to 844 long-range cruise
missiles. The bombers are 13 Tu-160 (Blackjack) and 63 Tu-95MS (Bear H). The bombers can
carry various modifications of the Kh-55 (AS-15) cruise missile and gravity bombs.

Strategic aviation

Strategic aviation units form the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command (Strategic) of the
Russian Air Force. The commander of the 37th army -- Major-General Anatoli Zhikharev -- was
appointed by a presidential decree on 19 September 2009.

As of end of 2010, the 37th Air Army included 76 strategic bombers that can carry up to 844 long-
range cruise missiles.

Number of bombers Total cruise missiles

Number of cruise missiles and
Bomber their type
Tu-95MS6 (Bear H6) 32 6 Kh-55 (AS-15A) 192
Tu-95MS16 (Bear
31 16 Kh-55 (AS-15A) 496
H16)
Tu-160 (Blackjack) 13 12 Kh-55SM (AS-15B) 156
Total 76 844

Strategic aviation units

The 37th Air Army includes two heavy-bomber divisions of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS aircraft. In addition
to these, the army includes four divisions of Tu-22M3 (Backfire C) bombers.

The 22nd Guards Heavy-Bomber Division, based in Engels (Saratov oblast), includes two
bomber regiments: the 121st Guards regiment of Tu-160 bombers and the 184th regiment of Tu-
95MS bombers. The division currently includes 13 Tu-160 aircraft and 23 Tu-95MS bombers.

In addition to this, the 22nd division may include the 203rd Regiment of Il-78 tankers, which is based
in Ryazan. Ryazan is also a place of a training center, which can be used a base for bombers of
the division.

T h e 326th Heavy-Bomber Division is based in Ukrainka (Khabarovsk kray). The division

includes the 79th regiment and 182nd Guards regiments of Tu-95MS bombers. The total number of
bombers deployed in Ukrainka is 40.
Strategic bombers
The Tu-95MS (Bear H) strategic bomber was developed at the A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau.
Serial production of the bomber continued from 1984 to 1991 at the aviation plant in Kuybyshev
(currently Aviakor Aviation Plant, Samara). The bomber is equipped with turboprop engines. It can
carry six Kh-55 cruise missiles in the bomb bay. The Tu-95MS16 version of the bomber can carry
additional ten missiles under wings, but this significantly reduces bomber's range.

The Tu-160 (Blackjack) strategic bomber was developed at the A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau and
produced at the aviation plant in Kazan (currently S. P. Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Production
Association). The bomber can carry 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles in the bomb bay. During the
modernization program that is currently underway Tu-160 bombers will be equipped to carry gravity
bombs and non-nuclear cruise missiles.

Cruise missiles
The Kh-55 (AS-15, RKV-500A) long-range air-launched cruise missiles were developed at the
Raduga Design Bureau (Dubna, Moscow oblast). Production of the missiles began in 1983 at the
Dubna Machine-Building Plant. The Kh-55SM (AS-15B, RKV-500B) version of the missile, which
can be deployed on Tu-160 bombers, has extra fuel tanks and extended range. In 1999 Russia
tested an improved version of the Kh-55 missiles, which became known as Kh-555. Reportedly,
this missile is a non-nuclear version of Kh-55. It will be carried by Tu-160 bombers.

Russia is currently developing a new long-range cruise missile, which would probably replace Kh-
55. The conventional version of the new missile is known as Kh-101, the nuclear version is usually
referred to as Kh-102.