Global Security Newswire

A senior Russian air force official on Thursday said the nation might field a remote-controlled long-range bomber in roughly 30 to 40 years, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, July 19).

Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev said the "sixth-generation" military plane could enter use "around 2040-2050."

Russia's planned PAK DA bomber is slated to assume active duty close to 2025, taking over from the country's Tu-95MS "Bear," Tu-160 “Blackjack” and Tu-22M3 planes. The nation's bomber fleet today encompasses 63 Tu-95MS aircraft and 13 Tu-160 planes.

Moscow and Washington are presently the only governments in possession of bomber airplanes capable of traveling between continents. Other nuclear-armed countries generally rely on ground- and sea-based ballistic missiles as delivery vehicles (RIA Novosti, Aug. 2).