The development of the new generation Russian strategic bomber-missile carrier PAK DA (a promising long-range aviation complex) is under the personal control of the head of state. This was stated in the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).

Experts note that when developing a new aircraft, engineers relied on stealth, sacrificing supersonic speed. The new missile carrier is designed to significantly strengthen the air component of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces.

The development of a new generation strategic bomber-missile carrier PAK DA (a promising long-range aviation complex) is under the personal control of the head of state. This was told in the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The corporation also recalled other developments that will not only preserve, but also strengthen integral part nuclear triad - a corps of strategic bombers. Already, the potential of domestic long-range aviation is being strengthened thanks to the modernization of the Tu-160M ​​and Tu-95MS missile carriers. These legendary planes they will not work out their resource soon, but by that time they will be replaced by PAK DA, which is being designed on the basis of an aviation plant in Kazan.

Emphasis on stealth

Recall that the conceptual design of the future aircraft was agreed in 2013. The Tupolev Design Bureau project was recognized as the most promising. The designers proposed sacrificing supersonic performance for the sake of invisibility to radars; in PAK DA, it was decided to use stealth technology. The aircraft will be built according to the "flying wing" scheme. Of course, any army in the world would like to get into service a bomber that combines supersonic speed with stealth, however, according to experts, this stage development of science, such a solution is impossible to implement.

To move at supersonic, and even more so at hypersonic speed, the aircraft must have streamlined aerodynamics. However, such streamlining will not allow the device to remain invisible to enemy radars, since it is the angular shape of the hull that ensures stealth.

Another difficulty is related to the engine air intake, which is closed from radar radiation in stealth aircraft. But for flights at supersonic speeds, this solution is not suitable - aircraft need an open and wide air intake duct, since the oxygen consumption of the engine increases significantly.

“Why the emphasis is on stealth is understandable - the laws of physics themselves do not imply long-term flights at supersonic speeds,” RT explained in an interview. Chief Editor of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, reserve colonel Viktor Murakhovsky. “Yes, our Tu-160, which is still in service, is a supersonic aircraft, but it can fly at such a speed not the entire distance, but only some separate sections, for example, if necessary, overcome the air defense line.”

At the same time, there are no completely invisible aircraft, stealth aircraft are still visible on radar, but at much shorter distances than conventional vehicles, the expert added.

Strategic bombers are subject to increased requirements for the range and duration of autonomous flight, in this case, such a parameter as efficiency comes to the fore. The “air wing” design will help increase this parameter, the specialist is sure.

Despite the complexity of the task, work on the creation of the missile carrier of the future is actively moving forward. By March last year, a full-size PAK DA model was created at the Tupolev Design Bureau. Completed in May 2017 digital model PACK YES. Sergey Korotkov, UAC Vice President for Innovation, told the media about this. The digitization of the aircraft will allow Maintenance PAK YES at all stages of it life cycle, explained in the UAC.

In the summer, the corporation defended the PAK DA draft design, moving on to a new stage of work - experimental design. It is assumed that the first prototype of the aircraft will be able to take to the air in 2025, the construction of the apparatus is carried out by the Kazan Production Association named after Gorbunov (branch of Tupolev PJSC).

It is known that the PAK DA will carry a wide range of weapons, including hypersonic missiles. The flight range will be about 12 thousand km, the speed will be about 1000 km / h, the take-off weight will not exceed 110 tons.

At the beginning of October 2018, the estimated characteristics of the engine of the future bomber became known.

In particular, the journalists managed to find out that the engine will be protected from some of the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion, and the power plant will be able to operate at temperatures from -60 to +50 ° C. Without repair, the engine must work for at least 600 hours, the full resource will be 8 thousand hours, or 12 years of operation with the possibility of extending this period to 21 years. The relevant requirements were specified in the tenders posted on the public procurement website.

It is also known that the body of the PAK DA will be made mainly of light and durable composite materials, in particular, the option of using titanium is being considered - Russia is the leader in the extraction of this metal.

The PAK DA navigation system will not be tied to satellite signals, but will be guided by astronomical data. This will make the car less vulnerable to electronic warfare.

In addition, as former commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Viktor Bondarev told reporters earlier, new missiles are being developed for PAK DA, the radius of destruction of which will reach 7 thousand km. The missiles are planned to be equipped with computer systems capable of analyzing the air and radar situation.

It is impossible to hurry with the development of such a machine as a strategic bomber, experts say.

“Creating a new strategic bomber is a long process,” Murakhovsky explained. - Firstly, we are talking about very complex advanced technologies. Secondly, both we and the Americans now have strategic bombers of the past generation in service, in the USA this is the B-52 aircraft.

Aircraft developed in the last century can still be successfully used, not to mention upgraded versions such as the Tu-160M2. Making an aircraft superior to these samples is an extremely difficult task, experts are sure.

“In any case, new aviation complexes will not soon replace their predecessors, it is not worth rushing things in this area,” Murakhovsky believes.

American "spirit"

PAK DA will be the fifth generation of aircraft, characterized, not least, by the use of stealth technologies. The stealth of an aircraft is directly related to its ability to reflect and scatter electromagnetic wave, which is achieved by applying a special radio-absorbing coating to the body and modifying the very shape of the aircraft.

To date, the only example of the use of stealth technologies in long-range aviation is the American strategic bomber B-2A Spirit. The first demonstration flight of the machine took place in 1989, only 21 aircraft of this series entered service with the US Armed Forces. Also in this machine, the "flying wing" design was first embodied. However, the price of the B-2A Spirit broke all records: at the time of 1998, one copy of the bomber cost $ 1.16 billion.

The need to create a replacement for the B-2A in the United States was discussed in the early 2000s. Initially, the program was called "2018 Bomber", it was planned that the new aircraft would be put into service by the end of the 2010s.

Subsequently, the program was renamed the Next-Generation Bomber (NGB), Boeing and Lockheed Martin took part in it. However, in 2008 the project was closed, instead the Pentagon announced a new program - Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). Its implementation was taken up by the company-developer B-2A Spirit Northrop Grumman.

In 2016, the development company presented a project for a promising aircraft LRS-B (B-21). According to the designers, the price of one machine will not exceed $564 million. It is assumed that the new bomber will repeat and develop the advantages of its predecessor, but get rid of the shortcomings of the B-2. To date, it is known that the aircraft will be subsonic and inconspicuous. Its main goal will be to destroy enemy air defense systems in order to open the way for tactical aviation. It is planned that serial B-21s will be handed over to the troops at the end of the first half of the twenties. No later than 2025, these machines will have to reach the stage of initial operational readiness.

It should be noted that the PRC is also working on the creation of strategic bombers of the future. The presentation of the low-observable Xian H-20 missile carrier of the Xi'an Aviation Industrial Corporation (XAC) is scheduled for the end of 2019, when the 70th anniversary of the national air force will be celebrated in China.

The development of the H-20 was launched in 2008 on the basis of the Shanghai Aviation Design Research Institute. Although the key characteristics of the bomber are classified, experts suggest that the range of the H-20 will be up to 8 thousand km with a combat load of 10 tons. In terms of timing, China is still ahead of both Russia and the United States - in August this year finished sample The H-20 was shown on China Central Television.

The speed with which Beijing is building its own long-range bomber has already raised concerns in the US. As noted in a recent Pentagon report submitted to the Senate, the PRC is seeking to expand the coverage of its military operations. As a result, American naval bases in the Asia-Pacific region may be within the reach of the Chinese Air Force - first of all, we are talking about a new low-profile long-range bomber.

The N-6 strategic bombers currently in service with the PLA can fly no more than 5,000 km without refueling, carrying less than 10 tons of weapons on board. For comparison, the Russian Tu-160 has a combat load of 45 tons.

Speaking about the Chinese project H-21, experts prefer not to rush into assessments. According to Viktor Murakhovsky, it is too early to talk about what the Chinese strategic bomber will be like.

“Some television shots, of course, are not enough to judge the quality and efficiency of these machines,” the expert believes.

A similar point of view is shared by military expert Alexei Leonkov. In his opinion, China can really quickly build a large number of ships and aircraft - resources allow.

"However military equipment evaluated primarily in terms of tactical and technical characteristics. It will be clear later how effective Chinese developments are,” the expert emphasized.

The price of a mistake

World powers are not in vain making efforts to upgrade their long-range aviation - its role will only grow, experts believe. It is not always about strategic nuclear deterrence, although this is the main purpose of such aircraft.

“First of all, PAK DA is a means of strategic nuclear deterrence. For a certain list of purposes, such an aircraft can operate without even leaving its own airspace. However, tasks related to long-range sorties can always arise, especially when it comes to the use of non-strategic weapons, ”Murakhovsky explained.

Such a need, for example, arose during the Syrian campaign, when Russian Tu-95MS bombers attacked terrorists in the SAR with Kh-101 cruise missiles, the expert recalled.

As Leonkov explained, strategic aviation is designed to solve tasks of particular importance and complexity.

We are talking, for example, about strikes on position areas of enemy ballistic missiles or on fortified areas. Bombers must perform such tasks on their own, without the involvement of additional funds, while also returning to base without loss.

"The price of a mistake in this case is very high," the expert stressed.

That is why the development of such aircraft is carried out extremely painstakingly and thoughtfully.

“Moreover, the very situation in which long-range aviation should operate is changing. The development also makes its own adjustments hypersonic weapons, as well as, in the future, the creation of missile defense systems capable of intercepting them. It is obvious that in modern conditions the requirements for strategic bombers are increasing significantly,” Alexei Leonkov summed up.

Since the mid-2000s, there has already been a very dense veil of military and state secrets around the new developments of Russian weapons, which makes it much more difficult to build any reliable and final assumptions about the parameters and type of new, promising weapons.
Suffice it to recall all the previous assumptions about the appearance of the Armata tank, which was derived from a deep modification of the T-90, or from promising tank developments of the 1980s-1990s, but which in the end turned out to be a rather original concept on its unique chassis, which is at least one and a half times larger than the T-90.

From here, in general, follows a logical approach to the issue of discussing promising and new types of weapons that are still in development - we, from our public “jacket” point of view, discuss the very closed activities of “uniforms” as various probabilistic estimates. And then the "uniforms" show us in the end what they did and how they did it at a decent and modern level.
At the same time, even if a person is "in the subject" - then if he is not chief designer or the Minister of Defense, is unlikely to know everything and everything about the project. Due to which, for example, in response (certainly incomplete and approximate, since - see the thought above) you will most likely hear something like this.
This is the problem of a modern engineer or designer (if you are not the Chief) - a person is engaged in his piece of work and can, for example, tell you everything about hypersonic maneuvering units. Under a non-disclosure agreement, of course. But this simple engineer knows quite a bit about the parameters of the most developed rocket or aircraft - quite at the level of ordinary people. In short, the same sandpiper as you and I, just sitting closer to the center of the swamp.

Therefore, when talking about the possible appearance and parameters of PAK DA, as in the case of the Sarmat, I will rely on some general considerations, physics textbooks, technical reference books and the understanding that often the option of “getting ready from the archive and modernizing” in the engineering environment is not considered cowardice.
Although I will not argue that my reconstruction of the future appearance of PAK DA (a promising long-range aviation complex) is the only correct one.
Who knows, maybe in 2020 we will see something that will make our lower jaws fall off and we will say: “Well, sticks, we can do it when we want!”
Here, let's get started.

First, before starting to analyze the possible parameters of PAK DA, it is worth evaluating all the messages and statements of officials that the Russian press supplied us with throughout the process of preliminary work on the future appearance of PAK DA.
Work on R&D on the PAK DA complex was started by the Tupolev Design Bureau in 2009, already six years ago. In early 2011, Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin announced that the technical design of the PAK DA was to be ready by 2015.
Until March 2013, apparently, uncertainty remained in the concept of the bomber itself - the fundamental choice between the possibility of improvement " white swan» The Tu-160, which implemented the concept of a supersonic high-altitude bomber and the concept of an inconspicuous subsonic air defense breakthrough bomber at an ultra-low altitude, the concept of which was implemented, for example, by such machines as the American B-2 and B-1B, was still open:

Tu-160. Fast, high-altitude, supersonic.

B-1B. Transonic, low-altitude, inconspicuous.

AT 2. Subsonic, low-altitude, inconspicuous.

The final choice of the concept for the PAK DA, apparently, was not given so easily: in the USSR and in modern Russia, the technologies for reducing the visibility of aircraft by no means reached production vehicles in such a finished form, as happened in the USA - rather, one could talk about the fact that by the mid-1990s in Russia they were able to more or less bring to the experimental models the backlog that they did in terms of stealth aircraft (the notorious "stealth") in the late USSR. But, of course, there was no talk of any serial machines.

At the same time, it should be noted that the choice of "supersonic-high-altitude-observable" and "transonic-low-altitude-inconspicuous" is somewhat final and unequivocally certain: the sum of requirements for the implementation of both flight modes at the same time turns out to be practically unbearable for a real aircraft in modern conditions.
So, for example, when switching to the concept of an air defense breakthrough at an ultra-low altitude, when developing the V-1 bomber, it was necessary to abandon supersonic flight: in the lower layers of the atmosphere, near the ground, the V-1 “pulled out” only low supersonic sound (1.25 M instead of 2.2M in the first version of the B-1A, which was created as a promising supersonic replacement for the strategic subsonic B-52).

In addition, if you want to achieve low visibility of an aircraft and its late detection not only due to terrain avoidance at an ultra-low altitude, but also due to scattering and absorption of radio emission and / or low visibility for thermal imagers, then you need to make even greater sacrifices, really disfiguring the aerodynamics of the aircraft and turning it into a flying "goblin", as, in fact, happened with the F-117 fighter-bomber and the B-2 bomber:

Comparison of classic B-52 and "stealth" B-2

In addition to the fact that technologies for reducing the visibility of an aircraft inevitably deprive it of “high” supersonic (M = 2.0 ... 2.2), they also inevitably reduce its combat radius: even at subsonic speeds in the lower atmosphere, it is simply more inconvenient to fly: a lot of fuel has to be spent only to overcome air resistance.
As a result, "stealth", other things being equal, have a smaller combat radius compared to high-altitude supersonic aircraft. Well, you also have to pay for the "goblin look".

From here, we can safely dismiss any statements about the supersonic or even hypersonic nature of the PAK DA design, while also ensuring stealth, which sounded until the beginning of 2013: stealth and supersonic are still incompatible. Either one or the other.

For further analysis of the prospects and capabilities of the PAK DA, we need to consider its engines. In 2014, at the Oboronexpo-2014 exhibition, the selected technical solution for the PAK DA propulsion system was announced: the future bomber will receive modified engines from the Tu-160, NK-32-02, produced by the same Kuznetsov Design Bureau (now - JSC Kuznetsov ").

The issue of the propulsion system for the PAK DA today is, to be honest, the most important one - it’s all about how the lack of designed and finished engines killed in the early 1960s both the promising M-50 strategic bomber and, along with it, the entire Myasishchev Design Bureau.
At the same time, the situation with the restoration of production of the NK-32 does not look so rosy: the initial plans to transfer the modernized and modified NK-32 to customers, which in 2010 were announced as real for 2013-2015, have already shifted to 2016. Bye.

The situation with the NK-32 is also complicated by the fact that the new engines produced by Kuznetsov after 1993 will need to be literally distributed piece by piece to existing aircraft that require planned modernization and replacement of engines: about 30 Tu-22M3 (two engines per vehicle) and 13 Tu-160 strategic missile carriers (4 engines per vehicle).
Considering that all these aircraft were initially planned to be upgraded by 2020 (Tu-22M3) and 2023 (Tu-160), the plans to produce 20-22 engines per year “by 2023” look, to put it mildly, insufficient. Especially against the background of the fact that there is a real queue for the NK-32 from other customers.

In addition, this implies a sad forecast regarding the first PAK DA gliders, which, most likely, may appear by 2020: up to the deployment serial production NK-32 at the Samara plant and before the implementation of a mass of burning, priority programs, the new long-range bomber will fly with some kind of propulsion "ersatz", like its "colleague in misfortune" - PAK FA.

However, the parameters of the NK-32 by themselves (because, to be honest, there is no other engine on the horizon), allow us to estimate the capabilities of the PAK DA.
The PAK DA design provides for the use of four NK-32 engines, but without the afterburner installed on the Tu-160: the PAK DA aircraft, as we have determined, does not need supersonic.
The maximum thrust without afterburner of four NK-32s is 4 x 18,000 kgf (about 72 tons). The thrust-to-weight ratio of a modern aircraft is usually around 0.25, which limits the maximum takeoff weight of the PAK DA to 280 tons. Taking into account the various "goblin" things to create the effect of stealth, which negatively affect the power available, the actual weight of the PAK DA will most likely be even less than the maximum take-off weight of the Tu-160, which is 275 tons. Most likely, we will talk about 220-250 tons.

What it will actually be - we'll see. But the requirement of stealth determines something like this appearance PAK DA.

If we ignore the fantasies about appearance(here, in fact, no one will tell you how it will look like in reality, as it happened, by the way, with the PAK FA or the Armata), then we again need to return to the engines.
With an aircraft weight of 220-250 tons, based on the structural perfection of modern aircraft and at least 30 tons of combat load, the fuel weight will be about 100 tons. Here, again, I proceed from the fact that 148 tons of fuel fit into the Tu-160 with an empty aircraft weight of 110 tons and a maximum take-off weight of 275 tons.
That is, taking into account the subsonic and stealth, something will turn out at the level of the Tu-160 and I would like it not to be much worse.

The specific fuel consumption of the NK-32 is 0.535 kg / kgf per hour, the cruising thrust of four NK-32 engines will be 4 x 2900 kgf = 11400 kgf, the fuel consumption is about 6.1 tons per hour, the flight time is about 16 hours, the flight range at normal subsonic speed of 800 km / h * 16 h = 12800 km. Combat radius, respectively - 6400 km.
In principle, it is comparable with the parameters of both supersonic strategists of the 1980s, and subsonic, noisy and easily noticeable bombers of the Tu-95 and V-52 type from the 1960s.
With this approach to calculations, by the way, PAK DA will have a combat radius of about 1000 km more than inconspicuous American counterparts B-1B and B-2 with a comparable combat load, which is also very good.

Well, the installation on the PAK DA of the X-101 cruise missile complex with a firing range of 4500-5500 km brings the combat radius to the desired 11-12 thousand kilometers, which is quite enough for a guaranteed strike on the continental territory of the United States, regardless of the chosen route: through the North Atlantic , through Alaska or across the North Pole.

Photo of Tu-95 with Kh-101 cruise missiles on external sling. Presumably - prototype testing, 2012.

Thus, in the event of a positive decision on the issue of engines, the PAK DA project completely brings the issue of using long-range aviation to a new level, taking into account the “retirement” of the old Tu-95 in the region of 2040 and the modernization of the existing fleet of Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 .
In this case, PAK DA covers the penetration of the Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 to targets on the territory of a potential enemy with its strike, in case of supporting the use of these supersonic aircraft by a massive launch of Kh-101 missiles from a range of about 5000 km, which in this case "catch up" shock wave Tu-160 and Tu-22M3.

For the Tu-95, such a surprise launch tactic, of course, becomes unfeasible: a potential enemy detects these bombers as they approach the firing line, long before the missiles are launched.

What principles can be used to reduce the visibility of the PAK DA?
Most likely, in this regard, both the Tupolev Design Bureau's own developments and the unfinished projects of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, which were carried out in the USSR in the 1980s and closed in the wake of the crisis of the 1990s already in the days of the Russian Federation, will be used.
This is the T-60S project and the so-called "object 54S". Unfortunately, even now information about these experimental aircraft not fully declassified, which is why most of the conclusions are based on public leaks that occurred during the general mess in the 1990s.

The T-60S project was a deep modernization of the Su-24 front-line bomber and was carried out at the Sukhoi Design Bureau from 1984 to 1991 and, apparently, represented the first Soviet attempt to make a real "stealth". The T-60S project had a very interesting chief designer - Naum Semyonovich Chernyakov, who can rightly be called both a "great innovator" and a "great loser": all of his major independent projects never reached the stage of mass production.
Chernyakov “did strange things” all the time, creating the Burya strategic cruise missile in the 1950s, and then designing the famous T-4 “hundredth” - a strike supersonic reconnaissance missile carrier, which was supposed to single-handedly destroy enemy aircraft carrier groups.
Unfortunately, the T-60S project did not escape the sad fate either: already at the design stage, several unsuccessful ideas got into it, which eventually stopped its development in 1991. T-60S became latest project Chernyakov.

There are a lot of reconstructions of the T-60S on the network, for example, I like this one, but, in general, judging by the available information, it never came to the production of a prototype - blowing aircraft models in TsAGI wind tunnels has already revealed a lot of problems, " incompatible with life "T-60S:

However, based on the work on the T-60S, the Sukhoi Design Bureau at about the same time began work on a parallel project - the "54S object", work on which continued even after the collapse of the USSR, until 1994.
In particular, the “object 54” is remembered, for example, in the book “OKB P. O. Sukhoi. Notes in the annals: the armed men "(Alferov K. E., Moscow, 2014):

“The main developer of in-fuselage weapons systems for product 54 was the MKB Start. He also happened to develop, manufacture and even test the MKU-6-170 drum ejection launcher on the ground for use as part of the redesigned product 54. However, after 1994, due to a significant decrease in funding for the state defense order, the development of product 54 and weapons for it was practically curtailed ."

"Unknown Sukhoi" (Antsielovich L. L., Moscow, 2008)

“Taking into account the comments of the military design bureau, it was proposed to carry out work in the direction of further improving the combat characteristics of the Su-24BM, but subsequently an unambiguous instruction was received from the MAP: to start a new development. As a result, since 1981, the design of the aircraft was already carried out in a new layout, the theme received the designation Su-24BM2 (T-6BM2). In 1982, the defense took place draft design, and in 1983 - the layout commission. Since 1984, a new design stage began - the development of a front-line strike aircraft under the factory code "ed. 54". Work on this program continued at the design bureau for a total of more than 10 years. During this time, the layout of the machine changed several times, two full-scale design cycles went through, including the sequential development of a preliminary design, draft design, mock-up commission and production of working documentation, and at the plant in Novosibirsk even carried out building a prototype aircraft. However, after 1994, due to a significant reduction in funding for the state defense order, the work was practically curtailed.

Hypothetical view of "object 54C".

In more detail, fragments of information about the T-60S and the “54S object” are analyzed at the link to which I refer you.
In general, apparently, for the Soviet stealth programs in the Sukhoi Design Bureau, a converted Su-27 aircraft was used, on which a stealth nozzle from a future project was installed:

The current state of this experimental machine, in general, is deplorable (the aircraft is on the left, the stealth nozzle is removed):

Therefore, the question of using the stealth developments of the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the promising PAK DA for me has as many pitfalls as the process of deploying a new production of the modernized NK-32 in Samara.

In general, the problems of the hypothetical "object 80" so far, most likely, are much more than good design solutions.
And whether it will be a “sponge modernization of the Tu-160”, as it is written at the last link, or still a “Russian stealth” with subsonic speed, built according to the “flying wing” scheme - we will see, I hope, already in 2020 .
If, of course, everything is in order.

In the distant future, the first prototype aircraft, created as part of the Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex (PAK DA) project, should take to the skies. This project is currently at the stage design work and therefore most of the information about him is not yet subject to disclosure. However, from time to time new reports and assessments appear in the domestic and foreign press. In recent months, the total amount of available information about PAK DA has increased markedly.

In mid-November last year, the TASS news agency, citing an unnamed source in defense industry spoke about the progress of ongoing work and plans for the near future. In addition, that message spoke about the goals and objectives of the new PAK DA program. According to the source, by that time the project had advanced far enough and approached the beginning of new important stages.

First of all, TASS wrote that the military approved the tactical and technical specifications for the new aircraft. Due to this, the development organization represented by the Tupolev company was soon to begin preparing working design documentation for the new aircraft. After completion of the documentation work, the assembly of the first prototypes of the new technology starts. Also mentioned was the reduction in the cost of the aircraft due to the rejection of the possibility of flying at supersonic speeds. With the help of long-range cruise missiles, it was planned to ensure high combat effectiveness.

The appearance of the PAK DA aircraft according to the Air & Cosmos magazine

According to a TASS source, the new PAK DA aircraft is designed to solve the same tasks as the existing Russian long-range bombers. At the same time, it should surpass the Tu-160 missile carrier in terms of construction and operation costs. However, the source did not specify the cost of the future aircraft and the price of a flight hour.

On December 23, the domestic media published statements by Viktor Bondarev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, who previously held the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces. According to him, our country has come close to creating an experimental PAK DA. At that time, research work was being completed. Their goal is to create an aircraft capable of replacing all existing Russian long-range aircraft. According to the representative of the Federation Council, the promising bomber will be put into service and will enter the troops in the second half of the twenties.

The data of an unnamed TASS source, published in November last year, received confirmation at the end of January. In his interview for Komsomolskaya Pravda, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin touched upon the topic of the PAK DA project, indicating the current stage of work and plans for the near future. According to him, already this year the Tupolev company is starting the active design phase. The official expressed the hope that the prototype aircraft will be tested in 2023-24. D. Rogozin also touched upon some of the technical aspects of the project. He noted that the new bomber will not look like traditional aircraft. It will be a "flying wing" - "aircraft of the 21st century".

Newest Russian project naturally attracts the attention of foreign experts and the press. So, in early February, the French weekly magazine Air & Cosmos published an article about the Russian PAK DA program, in which, among other things, he cited a lot of interesting information. Together with the already known data from officials, the publication contained new data allegedly obtained from trustworthy sources.

According to Air & Cosmos, the Tupolev company in 2013 completed the creation of a draft design of a new aircraft, which received the working designation "Product 80". At the end of the same year, Tupolev and the United Aircraft Corporation signed a contract for the development of a technical project. This stage of work took less than three years, and in 2016 the technical design was approved. Since the end of 2014, the UEC-Kuznetsov company has been creating a new engine designed for PAK DA / Izdeliya 80.

It is alleged that the new "Product 80" will be built according to the "flying wing" scheme. It should have a takeoff weight of about 145 tons. Thus, the new aircraft will be almost twice as light as the Tu-160, but at the same time occupy an intermediate position between the lighter Tu-22M3 and the heavier Tu-95MS. The power plant will consist of two turbojet engines under the working title "Product RF", created on the basis of the "Product R" - NK-32-02. The total thrust of the two engines will be 46 tons. Due to this power plant the aircraft will be able to fly at subsonic speeds for a range of up to 15,000 km.

It should be recalled that various estimates of the technical characteristics of the future PAK DA have appeared since the announcement of the launch of this program. Some figures were subsequently mentioned by officials, but the full picture, based on information from reliable sources, is still missing. To what extent the Air & Cosmos data correspond to the real PAK DA project is still anyone's guess. A confident answer to this question can only be given in a few years, when the necessary information appears.

At the end of February, already known data on the future construction of promising aircraft for long-range aviation were confirmed. The site for the assembly of such equipment will be the Kazan Aviation Plant. Gorbunov. Deputy CEO enterprise Nikolay Savitskikh told the press that the technical appearance of the PAK DA aircraft has already been protected, and an agreement has been concluded for carrying out development work with the subsequent construction of a prototype. In this document, KAZ is indicated as the manufacturer of the prototype.

According to N. Savitskikh, the work under the program "Promising Long-Range Aviation Complex" will load the production capacities of the Kazan Aviation Plant for the next decade. At the same time, the company is experiencing noticeable problems with the training of personnel. Last year, KAZ specialists prepared a comprehensive targeted program for training and retaining personnel who will work in the construction of Tu-160 and PAK DA aircraft. The cost of the program is 2.6 billion rubles.

At the time of the Deputy General Director's statements, the program was being coordinated by the Russian government. In addition, within the framework of the relevant federal program, modernization is being carried out production capacity, including those who will participate in the construction of PAK DA aircraft.

The latest at the moment about the PAK FA program sounded just a few days ago. On May 24, President of the United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar, speaking at the international economic forum in St. Petersburg, touched upon the topic of the name of the future long-range bomber.

The head of the UAC recalled that the development of the aircraft is carried out by the Tupolev company. In this regard, the new car should bear the "historical" Tupolev name. At the same time, however, the head of the corporation did not specify which numbers would be combined with the traditional designation "Tu".

The Russian project "Promising long-range aviation complex" is currently one of the most interesting topics in the context of current and future rearmament. At the same time, due to its special importance and significance for national security, this project is one of the most secret. Officials from time to time raise the topic of ongoing work and announce this or that information, but at the same time they do without much detail. As a result, even a few years after the start of work, only the most general features of the future strategic bomber are known.

Earlier it became known that the promising PAK DA bomber, developed by Tupolev, is intended to replace two modern models at once. In the distant future, machines of this type will replace the relatively old Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 from long-range aviation, taking over all their tasks. In the past, the possibility of replacing the Tu-160 aircraft was discussed, but the planned mass production of Tu-160M2 type machines probably led to the cancellation of such plans. Thus, from a certain time, the basis of long-range aviation will be deeply modernized Tu-160M2 and completely new PAK DA.

It is already known that the PAK DA project is based on a new for the domestic strategic aviation concept. It is proposed to build a "flying wing" aircraft with subsonic flight speed and reduced visibility for enemy surveillance equipment. The special layout of the airframe with the largest possible fuel tanks and efficient engines of sufficient power will ensure the possibility of flying at a distance of up to 15 thousand km.

The main armament of such an aviation complex will be long-range cruise missiles with conventional or special warheads. A significant range of missiles will allow PAK DA to attack the indicated targets without entering the enemy air defense coverage area. Certain stealth technologies used both on the aircraft and on its missiles should drastically reduce the likelihood of timely detection of incoming bombers or their weapons. All this will positively affect the effectiveness of the strike.

According to known data, research and development work on the PAK DA theme started about ten years ago, at the end of the 2000s. For several years, Tupolev and related enterprises have formed the main provisions of the future project. At that time, there were reports of the possibility of building and testing the first prototype aircraft as early as the end of the 1910s.

However, plans later changed. In 2015, it was decided to resume serial production of the existing Tu-160s with the subsequent creation of a new modification of such an aircraft. In this regard, the work schedule for the PAK DA program was revised. Start of preparation technical documentation on the new plane moved a few years to the right. The first flight of the prototype was postponed to the first half of the twenties. It should be noted that there is another interpretation of the events of recent years. According to her, the decision to build new Tu-160s was the result of certain problems with the PAK DA and the impossibility of producing promising production vehicles in the desired time frame.

Despite all the expected and possible difficulties, the development of the "Promising Long-Range Aviation Complex" continues. It has already become known about the transition of the project to a new stage, preceding the construction and testing of experimental equipment. The moment of adoption of the PAK DA into service and acceptance of the first serial samples still belongs to the distant future, but it is getting closer every day. Available information about ongoing work allow us to look to the future with restrained optimism. Everything suggests that in the second half of the next decade, Russian long-range aviation will replenish its fleet of equipment with completely new models.

According to the websites:
http://tass.ru/
http://rg.ru/
http://kp.ru/
http://air-cosmos.com/
http://ria.ru/
http://mil.ru/
https://tvzvezda.ru/
http://tupolev.ru/
https://bmpd.livejournal.com/