Ukrainian strike on Russian airbase deals significant blow to Tu‑22M3 fleet

The Ukrainian attack on the Olenya base in Russia, located about 1,120 miles from the front line, was more damaging for the Russians than initially thought. Instead of just one, two strategic bombers, Tu-22M3, were damaged. This article explains why these bombers pose a significant problem for Ukraine.

Ukrainians had previously targeted locations deep inside Russia. Initially, there were attacks up to 620 miles away, and then Ukrainians managed to hit targets 745 miles away. Therefore, it was reasonable to assume that attacks on even more distant targets were a matter of when not if.

Reports indicated that one strategic bomber, Tu-22M3, was damaged in the attack. However, the latest reports from Jusova, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, indicate that a second bomber was also damaged. Their repair will take Russia several months, if not longer.

Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia had 60 Tu-22M3 strategic bombers. These bombers are critical assets in their warfare capabilities. They allow the Russians to attack Ukraine's critical infrastructure and devastate Ukrainian solid fortifications.

For this reason, the destruction or severe damage of even a single unit is valuable for the Ukrainians. So far, Russian losses confirmed by photos include three planes, and with the two newest damages, it makes five. Considering that perhaps only part of the 60-bomber fleet is operational (potentially just half), losing two units is a significant blow for Russia.

The Tu-22M3 is an upgraded version of the older Tu-22M models. Its biggest advantage is its ability to carry up to 53,000 pounds of armament. The combat load includes Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Kh-22 Raduga supersonic cruise missiles, 18 guided bombs FAB-500, and eight heavy bombs FAB-1500, each weighing 3,300 pounds. This allows the Tu-22M3 to hit numerous targets in a single raid.

Additionally, Tu-22M3 bombers are distinguished not only by their ability to carry a significant load of armament but also by a high cruising speed of almost Mach 1.9 (about 1,440 mph) and a sizeable operational ceiling reaching approximately 8 miles. These features enable them to effectively bomb targets in Ukraine while remaining out of reach of most anti-aircraft systems.

The exception is some medium-range systems, such as the Patriot or SAMP/T, which Ukraine possesses very few. It should be mentioned, however, that Ukrainians managed to shoot down one such bomber once using an obsolete S-200 Vega system.

Another advantage of the Tu-22M3 is its impressive operational range, reaching about 4,350 miles. This allows attacks from Russian territory, making it harder for them to neutralize on the ground using drones compared to Su-34 tactical bombers, which must be located closer to the conflict zone. However, as recent events have shown, the Tu-22M3s are vulnerable even from nearly 1,240 miles from the front line.