In a renewed effort to modernize its strategic air power, Russia is advancing its most sophisticated combat aircraft to date: the Promising Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation (PAK DA).
This next-generation strategic bomber is designed to replace the aging Tu-22M, Tu-95, and Tu-160 bombers. However, despite grand ambitions, the project is encountering substantial financial and technical challenges.
According to recent updates from UNIAN, the PAK DA is expected to boast a range of impressive specifications. It will accommodate a crew of four, have a maximum take-off weight of 145 tons, and a payload capacity of 35 tons.
The bomber will have a flight range of up to 15,000 kilometers and a cruising speed of 800 kilometers per hour, with a practical ceiling of 20,000 meters. It will be powered by two NK32-02 engines and armed with up to 12 X-BD cruise missiles, hypersonic X-95s, and air-to-air missiles.
The new bomber is being developed in response to advancements in American strategic bombers such as the B-2 Spirit and the forthcoming B-21 Raider. Its design will feature stealth technology and a flying wing structure, reminiscent of a stingray, which is intended to minimize radar visibility.
This design approach, while optimized for stealth, presents challenges in terms of flight stability, which will require an advanced flight control system.
Despite the ambitious goals, Russia’s approach to stealth technology is not groundbreaking. The U.S. has been operating stealth aircraft like the F-117 Nighthawk since the 1980s.
Russia’s own efforts in stealth technology have been limited, with the Su-57 being produced in small numbers and not achieving the full stealth capabilities of aircraft like the F-22 or F-35.
Compounding the project’s difficulties are systemic issues within Russia’s defense industry. The PAK DA is slated to be manufactured at the Kazan Gorbunov Aviation Plant, which has faced significant production problems. Reports suggest that only a few new or upgraded Tu-160M bombers have been completed, with many of the remaining aircraft being older models.
Financial concerns are also a major hurdle. The cost of the new bomber is expected to be prohibitively high, similar to the American B-2, which costs over $2 billion per unit.
Given Russia’s current economic constraints and the pressing need for other military assets, such as tanks and armored vehicles, this expenditure could be deemed excessive. The Tu-95, nearing its 70th anniversary, and other military needs may take precedence over the new bomber.
The PAK DA project mirrors other recent Russian defense endeavors that have faced delays and difficulties.
The Su-57, Armata tank, Boomerang, Kurganets-25, and various naval projects have encountered numerous setbacks. This pattern raises concerns that the PAK DA may also struggle to meet its development timeline and operational goals.
As Russia presses forward with its ambitious plans for the PAK DA, the defense sector will need to address these financial and technical challenges to ensure the project’s success.
Until then, Russia may continue to rely on its aging Soviet-era bombers, despite the occasional setbacks and crashes that have plagued models like the Tu-22M3.