MOSCOW. Jan 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Long-range bombers to be delivered to India by Russia will be transferred from Russian Air Force maneuver units, a source in the international military technical cooperation area told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"India will receive TU-22M3 Backfire aircraft of the recent production series, i.e. the newest aircraft available," the source said.
"Before being shipped off to India, the aircraft will undergo corresponding preparations," he said, emphasizing that TU-22M3s to be transferred from Russian Air Force maneuver units do not need repairing or upgrading.
"Indian pilots and technicians, expected to operate the aircraft, will undergo training in Russia, while the aircraft are prepared," he added.
At least two TU-22M3 long-range bombers were reported as targeted for delivery to India.
The TU-22M3 has been designed by the Tupolev design bureau. It is designed to destroy visible, radar-detectable, single, area, ground, sea, mobile, and stationary targets with the help of supersonic missiles and guided bombs. It is in service with the long-range aviation and naval aviation.
Given the perfect aerodynamic airframe and the state-of-the-art variable-sweep wing, the aircraft boasts unique flight characteristics. It is powered by two 25,000-kgf NK-25 bypass afterburner turbojets. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 124 tonnes, a maximum combat payload of 24 tonnes, a combat range of 2,200 km, a maximum speed of 2,000 kmph, and a four-man strong crew.
The armament is housed inside the fuselage and attached to two external pylons. The bomber is armed with ten air-to-surface air-to-ship, and anti-radiation cruise missiles, as well as up to 24 tonnes of bombs and mines.
According to open sources, a total of 268 TU-22M3s have been built. At the present time the Tupolev Company is upgrading the TU-22M3 bomber. It is expected to be equipped with new precision guided munitions, and upgraded avionics (for instance, a new radar, enabling the aircraft to fly in an automatic terrain-hugging mode). The radar cross-section of the aircraft is also expected to be reduced.