Global Security Newswire

A senior Russian official has expressed doubt over the necessity for his country to produce a new line of long-range nuclear bombers, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday (see GSN, Feb. 14).

"Look at the current level of air defense and antimissile defense -- these aircraft will not get anywhere. Not ours, not theirs," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in comments reported on Wednesday by the Izvestia newspaper.

Such aircraft are no longer a viable platform for conducting a nuclear strike on a hostile power, according to Rogozin, who supervises Russia's armed forces sector and is set to take complete responsibility over its funding for weapon-related design and experimentation.

Russia's fifth-model strategic military aircraft was slated for preparation by 2025 under a schedule established by Moscow three years ago. The plane would incorporate new structural and radar evasion components, and is intended to succeed Russia's Tu-95 MC, Tu-160 and Tu-22 M3 warplanes.

Preparation of the future aircraft is progressing as expected, Russian General Staff chief Gen. Nikolai Makarov told Izvestia.

“We have made some progress in the development of the new bomber,” the official said. “If we reach production phase, this plane will outperform any modern aircraft of the same class, including those built by the Americans” (RIA Novosti, June 6).

Meanwhile, Russia's navy is scheduled on July 29 to assume custody of the Borei-class ballistic missile submarine Yuri Dolgoruky, an armed forces industry insider said to ITAR-Tass on Wednesday (see GSN, June 6).

The vessel "will be taken in service together with the new Bulava missile system," the insider added (ITAR-Tass, June 6).