ENGELS, Saratov region, March 24 (AVN) - 22nd Donbass heavy bomber aviation division, which is located at the Engels airbase started forming TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers regiment, in accordance with the General Staff decision, the Military News Agency learned Friday.
The regiment will number 14 bombers, including those eight transferred from Ukraine. The planes have an 80-90 percent of resource and can be used for several dozens of years. It is not excluded that the regiment will be enforced by another 2-4 aircraft.
TU-160 Blackjack strategic bomber is the most powerful strike plane in the world, a source in the Tupolev R&D complex told the Agency.
It can use the whole spectre of aviation weaponry, ranging from conventional and corrected aviation bombs to cruise missiles and thermonuclear bombs. The Blackjacks are equipped with 12 Kh-55SM cruise missiles. They can terminate targets at 3,000km distance, the deviation does not exceed 30 metres.
TU-160 is a multirole plane with the variable geometry of the wing. It can achieve the speed two times higher than sonic at the altitude of 10-15 kilometres. At the same time, this almost 3t pane can also fly at extremely low altitudes in regime of automatic relief bending.
The Blackjack take-off weight is 275,000 kg. Maximum speed is 2,230 km/h. Climb rate is 70 metres per second, practical ceiling - 18km. Maximum flight range without refuelling - 14,600km. The time of flight - 15 hours. Combat load weight - 45,000kg.