The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to load hypersonic weapons onto the under development perspective aviation complex for long-range aviation (PAK-DA) bomber aircraft.
An unnamed defence ministry source was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that ”PAK-DA will be equipped with all advanced types of precision guided weapons, including hypersonic.”
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe source, however, did not provide any information regarding the weapons to be installed, but noted that the aircraft ”itself will be subsonic.”
Tactical Missile Systems director general Boris Obnosov was earlier quoted by the news agency as saying that Moscow has already produced a hypersonic missile that can currently fly only for a few seconds.
Russia has long pursued hypersonic technology development so as not to fall behind the US’s production of similar weapons.
Speaking to the Rossiya 24 TV network last year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has said that, ”I think we need to go down the route of hypersonic technology and we are moving in that direction and not falling behind the Americans.”
Hypersonic missile is a more powerful variant of sonic missile, and can travel up to ten times faster than the existing conventional missiles.
Jointly manufactured by Tupolev Design Bureau and United Aircraft Corporation(UAC), PAK-DA is a next-generation strategic bomber, and is expected to replace the Russian air force’s existing Tu-95MC Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bomber aircraft.
Equipped with a new airframe and stealth technology, the aircraft is expected to enter operational service with the air force by 2020.
Image: The new PAK-DA bomber will replace the Russian air force’s existing Tu-95 Bear bombers. Photo: courtesy of Dmitriy Pichugin.
