At least 40 Russian strategic bombers were damaged or destroyed in a UAV attack carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•02/06/2025
On June 1, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone attack on many of its military airports, and several Tu-95 strategic bombers were damaged in the raid. According to SBU data, at least 40 Russian strategic bombers were hit in the daring attack on five air bases across Russia simultaneously, including Belaya air base in Irkutsk region, Olenya in Murmansk region, Diaghilev air base in Ryazan region and Ivanovo air base in Ivanovo region.
A series of videos released by Kiev show Russian bombers standing still as Ukrainian suicide drones rain down. According to the SBU, the attack disabled 34% of Russia's strategic air force. Among the damaged Russian bombers, the Tupolev Tu-95 squadron suffered the most damage. This is a long-range strategic bomber that has been equipped in the Soviet Air Force (later Russia) since the early 1950s. To date, the Tu-95 is the bomber with the longest service life in the world , followed by the B-52 Stratofortress bomber of the US Air Force. Although it was put into service in 1956, it was not until 2015 that the Tu-95 began to participate in a real conflict when Russia carried out an anti-terrorist campaign in Syria. Then, in the special military campaign in Ukraine, the Tu-95 played a major role in long-range missile strikes on Ukrainian territory.
Compared to the popular bombers in the world today, the Tu-95 is the only aircraft that still uses propeller engines. With four Kuznetsov NK-12MPM turboprop engines, the most powerful engine in the world today, the Tu-95 has a cruise speed of about 920km/h. Over time, the Tu-95 has undergone several upgrades to deal with new threats and keep up with technological advances. The latest version Tu-95MS continues this trend, incorporating new engines, avionics, advanced weapons systems and longer range. The Tu-95MSM can now carry a wider range of precision-guided missiles, including the Kh-101 and Kh-102 cruise missiles, some of the longest-range weapons in Russia’s arsenal. The upgrade includes four additional underwing hardpoints for eight missiles, as well as an upgrade to the main weapons bay to accommodate missiles up to 7.5 meters long. These missiles are capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 5,000 km, keeping the bomber out of reach of most air defense systems and avoiding risks. The ability to carry a large payload not only increases the Tu-95MSM's strike power but also increases its flexibility in all situations. That also allows the Tu-95MSM to perform a variety of missions, from conventional to nuclear deterrence.
In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, these missiles have demonstrated their ability to conduct long-range strikes against high-value targets, allowing Russia to strike deep into enemy territory while minimizing the risk to combat aircraft. In addition to their long-range strike capabilities, the Kh-101 can be used as a “decoy” to deceive enemy radars and missile defense systems. This countermeasure is considered an important tool for overcoming modern missile defense networks. From the above information, it can be affirmed that the Tu-95MS bomber is expected to be the key weapon of the Russian strategic air force until the 2030s. However, as the Russian Air Force gradually introduces newer bombers, such as the Tu-160M and the upcoming PAK DA stealth bomber, the role of the Tu-95MS in the fleet may decrease.
The strategic damage caused by the Ukrainian attack and the destruction of a significant number of Tu-95MS aircraft is unclear, but it may have symbolic significance. This seemingly obsolete aircraft is still considered one of the main weapons in Moscow's arsenal, especially in long-range air strikes.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•02/06/2025
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