Russian Tu-160 Bomber Now Equipped with “Mystery” Cruise Missiles

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it has introduced a new air-launched long-range cruise missile (ALCM) that now equips the country’s strategic bomber aircraft, the Tu-160 “Blackjack.”

The mysterious long-range cruise missile is known as the “KH-BD” and has been developed by Russia for several years.

However, the Russian Ministry of Defense has not released any images of the cruise missile until now, making this latest long-range cruise missile from Russia a mystery to Western defense observers.

Initially, the KH-BD cruise missile was supposed to equip Russia’s newest bomber aircraft, the “PAK-DA.”

Still, since the bomber aircraft is still in the development stage, the long-range cruise missile is being used by the Tu-160.

The prototype of Russia’s newest strategic bomber aircraft is called PAK-DA or “Izdelie 80” (Product 80), and it is believed to be nearing completion, with its maiden flight expected before 2025.

According to Russian media, the latest Russian bomber aircraft has subsonic speed, two engines, and an operational range of up to 15,000 km.

The announcement that the Tu-160 bomber aircraft now carries this mysterious long-range cruise missile was made by the Commander of Russia’s Long-Range Aviation Unit, Lieutenant General Sergey Kobylash, who is responsible for the country’s strategic bomber aircraft.

He made this announcement while accompanying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a visit to the Knevichi Air Base in Russia’s Far East.

He also revealed that the KH-BD cruise missile is capable of striking targets up to 6,500 km away, putting nearly the entire continent of Europe within its range.

According to reports by the Russian news agency TASS, the Tu-160 strategic bomber aircraft has the capability to carry 12 KH-BD guided missiles in its internal bays.

Russian media reports began discussing the development of the long-range KH-BD cruise missile in 2017.

The KH-BD cruise missile is believed to have been developed by the Russian agency Raduga, which is well-known for its guided missile development.

The KH-BD cruise missile is expected to replace the KH-101 and KH-555 cruise missiles currently used by the Russian military for operations in Syria and Ukraine, as well as the KH-102, which is equipped with a nuclear warhead.

If the KH-BD cruise missile is launched by Tu-160 bomber aircraft departing from their bases in Anadyr in the far north of Russia, it has the capability to target a significant portion of North America. — DSA

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