History should have taught the US military leadership that all the most expensive and technically sophisticated project designed to put pressure on the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation, is the desire to create a system to counter or to give a symmetrical response.Example - Tu-160 "White Swan" strategic intercontinental bomber bomber.
Tu-160 - the answer to B-1
Since the mid-seventies in the United States began testing a new miracle of technology.B-1 of the company Rockwell and really gave the impression of a formidable machine, this aircraft was built in compliance with all the requirements of today's advanced aircraft technology.Variable geometry wing, supersonic (Mach 2.2), 34 tons of payload, ceiling, exceeding 18 thousand meters, these features provide the ability to convey to the target located at a distance of 10 thousand. Kilometers, 24 cruise missiles.If you find that this is not enough, you can hang outside the eight.The project was advertised with a truly American scale, this flying cruiser had to plunge into the horror and gloom the whole world, but first and foremost to the probable opponent, citizens of the USSR and the Soviet military and political leadership.In the late seventies intensified the arms race.There are new high-tech threat:
- neutron bomb, destroying all life with a minimum blast wave;
- cruise missiles flying low and inaccessible for Soviet radar;
- new media aforementioned weapons B-1.
in many magazines, and foreign and Soviet, American publish "Lancer" and his photo.Tu-160 "White Swan" in 1981, has made its first flight, but the time about it did not tell anyone and images in magazines are not printed.
Settings "Swan»
Two planes look alike, Tupolev took a proven foundation for the American scheme.Four powerful engine, developing a total thrust in afterburner to 100,000 kgs, placed under the wings on both sides of the fuselage.But the resemblance does not stop to make a much more powerful Tu-160."White Swan" strategic bomber can carry 45 tons of payload, its ceiling - 21 thous. M, and its flight range without refueling is nearly 14 thous. Km.Like B-1, the crew consists of 4 persons, as well as during combat duty machine can stay aloft for more than a day, then it has all the conditions of comfort, including beds, galley and other amenities.The Tu-160 "White Swan" its unofficial but got accustomed name was not only elegant aerodynamic contours, but also the color that reflects solar radiation in order to avoid overheating.
how to cut "Swans»
In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, which affected many aspects of civilian life of former Soviet citizens.To a large extent this event affected the defenses of the republics formerly constituted a single state."White Swans" Tu-160 was divided into two "flocks" in the territory of Ukraine was 194 th Regiment, which had 19 units in service with strategic bombers.Some years they stood idle, and in 1998 they began to cut into scrap metal in the presence of US senators, happily commented on the event.The main reasons for this decision of the Ukrainian leadership had two.Firstly, on the operation and maintenance of expensive and complex aircraft had no money.Secondly, Ukraine, with its non-bloc military doctrine were not needed Tu-160 "White Swan."Strategic weapons massively disposed of, the same fate awaited silo launchers, and other elements of the USSR missile shield.Cut had a dozen of the best and most powerful in the world of combat aircraft.
Heroes become "white swans»
same reason that killed ten units a magnificent aircraft of Soviet production, ironically proved salutary factor for the remaining cars.They changed their gas, Ukraine will pay for that was nothing.Over $ 285 million of external debt score? Six hundred cruise missiles, eight "Bear" Tu-95 and the remaining eight Tu-160 "White Swan."Strategic Technology received a new home base.He was the city Engels, an ancient Pokrovsky, located across the Volga from Saratov.One of the aircraft remained in the Ukraine as a museum exhibit.
adopting their "birds", the Russian Air Force to dispose of them in a businesslike way.Machines are in good technical condition, undergo modernization and from time to time make long flights (as in 2008 in Venezuela, for example).Almost all of them are like the sea cruisers, except for board rooms, own names in honor of prominent people, such as General Yermolov, Nikolai Kuznetsov, Valery Chkalov and others.Among them are "Ilya Muromets" and the great aircraft designer Andrei Tupolev.
