MWM: Tu-22M3 and B-52J Bombers Lack Replacements
MWM says Russia’s Tu-22M3 and the U.S. B-52J still lack full replacements after same-day crashes, citing payload, range and cost efficiency.
The Tu-22M3 and B-52J bombers lost by Russia and the United States on the same day belong to a category of aircraft that still have no full-fledged replacements, according to Military Watch Magazine.
The publication noted that the B-52 and Tu-22M3 have remained in service for decades for a clear reason: neither aircraft has a direct successor capable of fully matching its combination of payload capacity, range, versatility and cost efficiency.
According to the authors, large bombers require major investment in design, testing and production. As a result, both the United States and Russia made only very cautious investments in developing new models after the end of the Cold War.
On June 15, a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in the Bokhansky district of the Irkutsk region. Regional governor Igor Kobzev said preliminary data pointed to engine failure as the cause of the crash. The aircraft was carrying out a training flight without ammunition on board, and the crew managed to eject.
Later the same day, a U.S. B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed in the state of California. Eight people were on board, and all crew members were killed.