Latest news with #OSINTtechnical
Gulf Insider
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Russian Drones & Missiles "Rained Down" On Kiev In One Of The War's Most Devastating Attacks Yet
Russia launched one of the largest aerial assaults of the war on Ukraine overnight, unleashing more than 500 drones, with Kyiv as the primary target. The timing of the attack—just hours after a phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—yielded no success toward ending the war in Eastern Europe. On X, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha said, 'Hundreds of Russian drones and ballistic missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital.' He described the attack as 'one of the worst so far.' Here is Sybiha's complete statement: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: 'Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv. One of the worst so far. Hundreds of Russian drones and ballistic missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital. Right after Putin spoke with President Trump. And he does it on purpose. Enough of waiting! Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war. Moscow must be slapped with the toughest sanctions without delay. Ukraine must be provided with all necessary means to defend itself. Wrong decisions can only encourage the aggressor to escalate terror. Every criminal regime in the world is now watching closely Putin's actions and responses to them. If he gets away with all of this, everyone will get a very clear message. Stop waiting for peace. Act to achieve peace. Peace through strength.' Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv. One of the worst so of Russian drones and ballistic missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital. Right after Putin spoke with President Trump. And he does it on of waiting! Putin clearly shows… — Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) July 4, 2025 This is Kyiv in the overnight hours… Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, tonight after Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on the city. Numerous sites across Kyiv were hit, including multiple civilian and residential buildings, just days after the U.S. froze shipments of air defense munitions. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) July 4, 2025 This war is literally squeezing the blood out of Ukraine. What a heavy, horrible night for the entire country, especially for Kyiv. It's just a stunning coincidence how the residents of the capital are greeting this morning, right after yesterday's conversation between Trump and… — Katerina Horbunova (@blue_eyedKeti) July 4, 2025 The Russian drone and missile attack comes just hours after President Trump and President Putin held a call that yielded little to no progress toward ending the years-long war. Trump told reporters on Thursday before boarding Air Force One on his way to Iowa that he was 'not happy' with the conflict raging on, adding, 'I didn't make any progress with him at all.' Earlier in the week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a pause in sending a shipment of missiles and ammunition to Ukraine over concerns about rapidly depleting U.S. stockpiles. Axios noted that President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to speak with Trump later today to discuss the pause of the weapons shipments.
The Journal
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Explosions over Tel Aviv as Iran launches ballistic missiles towards Israel
LAST UPDATE | 13 mins ago Footage of an Iranian ballistic missile hitting downtown Tel Aviv, Israel, moments ago. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 13, 2025 IRAN HAS LAUNCHED a barrage of approximately 100 missiles towards Israel. Explosions were spotted over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, as the public was warned by Israel's Home Front Command to seek out the nearest bomb shelter to them. Israel's national ambulance service, Magen David Adom, said that five people have been injured in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, and are being taken to hospital. One is in a 'moderate condition' and the other four have been 'lightly injured' by shrapnel, it said in a statement. Israel's firefighting service said its teams were responding to several 'major' incidents resulting from an Iranian missile attack, including efforts to rescue people trapped in a high-rise building. Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Firefighters are working in a high-rise building to rescue trapped individuals and extinguish a fire, as well as responding to two additional destruction sites,' a statement said. Footage on Israeli television networks showed what appeared to be a building hit by a missile. Huge plumes of smoke can be seen rising around skyscrapers in Tel Aviv. Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Footage also shows the Israeli 'Iron Dome' missile defence system intercepting several missiles above the city. Bright lights were also spotted over Jerusalem, where the missiles appear to have been intercepted. Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The Iranian missile strikes are in response to several Israeli attacks on Iranian sites this morning , which Iranian sources claim killed 78 people. Advertisement Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed this evening that they had launched an attack on a number of targets in Israel. 'The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps… has executed its decisive and precise response against tens of targets, military centres and airbases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories,' the Guards said in a statement carried by state media. The announcement of the missile attacks on state TV came shortly after a televised speech by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which he promised that 'the Islamic Republic will prevail over the Zionist regime'. In a statement this evening, Iran's military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the missile attacks were 'in response to the aggression and criminal assault carried out this morning by the savage, terrorist, and child-killing Zionist regime'. They added that Israel's earlier attacks on Iran had killed 'several senior military commanders, prominent scientists, and innocent civilians, especially defenseless children'. 'The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as the defensive and offensive arm of the Iranian nation, has launched a forceful and precise retaliation,' a statement said. Statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): In response to the aggression and criminal assault carried out this morning by the savage, terrorist, and child-killing Zionist regime on areas within the Islamic Republic of Iran—resulting in the martyrdom of several… — Iran Military (@IRIran_Military) June 13, 2025 'With reliance on divine power, the wise leadership of the Commander-in-Chief (may his shadow be extended), and the united demand and support of the noble Iranian people, the IRGC has executed Operation 'True Promise 3″ against dozens of targets, including military centers and air bases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories. 'The operation was launched with the sacred call 'O Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS)' on the blessed night of Eid al-Ghadir,' the statement added. Earlier this evening, Iranian state media said the country's forces downed two Israeli fighter jets during an air raid. 'At least two Israeli fighter jets were shot down in Iranian skies,' the official IRNA news agency reported. In a video shared to social media shortly after the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Iranians to unite against what he described as an 'evil and oppressive regime'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: To the proud people of Iran, We are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history, Operation Rising Lion. The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for almost 50 years threatens to destroy our country, the State of Israel. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 13, 2025 He said that Israel was engaged in 'one of the greatest military operations in history'. 'Iran doesn't know what hit them, they don't know what will hit them. It has never been weaker,' Netanyahu said. Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Claims Swirl Around Russian Su-35S Flanker Shootdown
Unconfirmed reports claim that a Ukrainian F-16 was responsible for shooting down a Russian Su-35S Flanker fighter over the weekend. If the latest claim proves to be true, this would be the first time an F-16 has shot down a Russian aircraft, a mission it was originally designed to do some 50 years ago. While we don't know for sure what was responsible for bringing down the Russian jet, there's no doubt that the F-16 is becoming an increasingly important part of the Ukrainian Air Force's arsenal, for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Who did this? — Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) June 7, 2025 An official claim of the destruction of the Su-35S — one of Russia's most modern combat aircraft — was posted by the Ukrainian Air Force on June 7. On the social media platform X, the claim was accompanied by a silhouette of a Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft — a different but related jet. Meanwhile, a brief statement on the Ukrainian Air Force's Telegram channel said the Su-35S was downed 'as a result of a successful operation in the Kursk direction.' That the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) lost a Su-35S in a morning operation on the 7th seems beyond doubt. Imagery shared online shows a crash site, indicating the loss of a Su-35S, although the cause remains unclear. One video is taken from one of the helicopters involved in the search-and-rescue effort for the pilot. Based on open-source imagery, this would be the eighth example of the Su-35S lost in combat since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Footage of a Russian Air Force Su-35 fighter burning on the ground after a successful shootdown over Kursk by the Ukrainian Air Force. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 7, 2025 Flattened Russian Su-35 fighter sitting in a Kursk field after being shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force yesterday. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 8, 2025 It's notable that the Ukrainian Air Force, while claiming the destruction of the jet, didn't state the weapon that brought it down. While it may have been a crewed fighter, the Ukrainian Air Force is also responsible for long-range surface-to-air missiles that have previously taken a toll on Russian aircraft operating in their own airspace. According to unverified claims, which appear to have first been published in the German newspaper Bild, the Su-35S was shot down by an F-16. Furthermore, the same source claims that targeting data was provided by a Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, at a distance of around 200-300 kilometers (124-186 miles) from the Russian fighter. At this stage, there's no confirmation that the Saab 340 AEW&C, two of which have been pledged to Kyiv by Sweden, have actually arrived in Ukraine. Provided the claims are true, and once again, they are entirely unverified at this point, the F-16 would have worked alongside the AEW&C platform in a way that TWZ outlined when it was first confirmed that the radar planes were being supplied to Ukraine: '[The] Saab 340 AEW&C will be able to work as a fighter control asset, detecting targets, prioritizing them, and then assigning them to the fighters for interception. The same data can, of course, also be passed on to other air defense assets. However, the F-16 and Western-supplied ground-based air defense systems are most relevant in this regard, since the radar plane is fitted with the NATO-standard Link 16 datalink communications system.' 'Link 16 will allow the operators onboard the twin-turboprop Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft to provide a real-time air defense 'picture' and targeting data to compatible systems in the air and on the ground, essentially filling a critical node in a modern integrated air defense system (IADS).' The characteristic 'balance beam' radar fairing on the upper fuselage of the aircraft carries the Saab (previously Ericsson) Erieye active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. This can detect a variety of air and sea targets at ranges of up to around 280 miles, with the aircraft typically operating at an altitude of 20,000 an F-16 downed a Su-35S without AEW&C support, that would arguably be even more impressive. This would also mark the first air-to-air kill by an F-16 in Ukrainian service (other than drones and cruise missiles). Meanwhile, Ukraine has so far lost three F-16s, although it's not clear how many of these were due to enemy engagements. The most recent loss was last month, in an 'emergency situation' that the Ukrainian Air Force said happened after the pilot 'destroyed three air targets and was working on the fourth, using an aircraft cannon.' The pilot is said to have taken the fighter away from a settlement before successfully ejecting. 'Thanks to the prompt work of the search and rescue team, the pilot was quickly found and evacuated,' the Ukrainian Air Force added. 'The pilot's well-being is satisfactory, he is in a safe place, his life and health are not in danger. A commission has been appointed to objectively clarify all the circumstances, and it has already begun work.' In April, Ukrainian F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov, 26, 'was killed in battle defending his native land from the invaders,' the Ukrainian Air Force stated at the time. In August 2024, F-16 pilot Oleksiy Mes died during what was, at that time, Russia's largest aerial barrage of the war. Before his F-16 went down, Mes, who went by the callsign 'Moonfish,' shot down three Russian cruise missiles and a one-way attack drone, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed at the time. Oleksii Mes', a pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force, heroically fought his last battle in the skies. On August 26, during a massive russian missile and air strike, Oleksii shot down three cruise missiles and one strike UAV. He saved countless Ukrainians from deadly russian… — Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) August 29, 2024 In all, around 85 operational F-16s have been promised to Ukraine. That total includes 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, and 12 from Norway (with the same country providing 10 more that will be used for spare parts), while Belgium says it will supply 30. Of this grand total, it should be noted that at least some of the jets are not being sent to Ukraine but are instead being used for training Ukrainian pilots, primarily at the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. The U.S. is now donating airframes it says are not airworthy, which you can read more about here. Generally, few details have been released about how Ukraine is using its F-16s, although official and unofficial imagery reveals specific details of load-outs used in operational air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The type has also been flying combined air operations and has been noted on various occasions lobbing Small Diameter Bombs (SDB). Provided that an F-16 downed the Su-35S, it would have almost certainly used an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). This is the aircraft's primary air-to-air weapon, carried alongside the AIM-9X Sidewinder and the earlier AIM-9L/M Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles. The same missiles are also used by Ukrainian F-16s flying regular counter-drone and counter-cruise-missile sorties. As regards AMRAAM, even before F-16s were delivered to Ukraine, TWZ noted some of the advantages this missile would bring for the Ukrainian Air Force: 'Considering Ukraine's air force is being haunted by the long-range R-37 air-to-air missile, which Russian aircraft are firing at Ukrainian aircraft at great distances to limit their own risk, giving Ukraine a longer stick — any longer stick — would certainly be prized. It is what Ukrainian fighter pilots seem to believe would make the biggest difference, too.' Ukrainian Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon returning from a combat air patrol, having expended one of its AIM-120C-series AMRAAM missiles. Appears to be the first confirmation that Ukrainian Falcons are sporting the more advanced and longer-ranged C-series AMRAAMS. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 11, 2025 There is also the very real possibility that it was a ground-based air defense system used by the Ukrainian Air Force to bring down the Russian jet. In the past, the Patriot air defense system, in particular, has been used to down fixed-wing tactical aircraft and helicopters flying within Russian airspace, and it has reportedly successfully targeted aircraft at a range of around 100 miles. Starting in May 2023, Ukraine began pushing forward Patriot batteries to reach deep into Russian-controlled airspace. Most dramatically, a string of Russian aircraft was downed over Russian territory that borders northeastern Ukraine. In December 2023, Ukrainian Patriot operators used similar tactics against tactical jets flying over the northwestern Black Sea. Regardless, after many months of waiting for the F-16 and repeated refusals from Washington, Ukraine has rapidly introduced the type to operational service. A Ukrainian F-16 pilot has given an interview for the first the interview, the F-16 pilot, whose name is withheld for security reasons, revealed that he regularly conducts aerial reconnaissance flights over Russian targets and troops. Nearly every day, he carries out… — WarTranslated (@wartranslated) March 26, 2025 It was less than a year ago that the F-16 was first confirmed as being in the country, and since then, the type's mission scope has expanded. Ukraine is clearly grappling with the challenge of introducing an altogether new, Western combat aircraft, differing in many respects from its Soviet-era equipment. Regardless of whether or not an F-16 was involved in the demise of the Su-35S at the weekend, the type's significance in the air war is only set to grow, as experience builds and additional examples are delivered. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What Ukraine's Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Operation Spiderweb, the large-scale Ukrainian drone strike against airbases across Russia yesterday, which you can read about in our coverage here, primarily targeted Moscow's fleet of strategic bombers. These aircraft, which have been extensively used to launch cruise missile attacks on Ukraine, have been targeted before, but never on such a scale — a reported 117 drones were launched against at least four airfields. At this point, it's unclear how many aircraft were destroyed or damaged, but there's little doubt that the Ukrainian operation will have a long-term effect on Russian strategic aviation. According to an initial statement from the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, the drones hit 41 aircraft. As of today, those claims have been reassessed, with Andriy Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, saying that 'at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed.' These supposedly included examples of the Tu-22M3 Backfire-C intermediate-range supersonic bomber, Tu-95MS Bear-H long-range turboprop bomber, and A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform. Still unconfirmed are reports about the possible destruction of a Tu-160 Blackjack long-range supersonic bomber. The Tu-160 is very much the jewel in the crown of the Long-Range Aviation branch and is the only Russian bomber that is still in production — albeit on a very limited scale — as we will discuss later. Russian air defense crew filming a burning Olenya airbase, with multiple Russian Tu-95 bombers seen ablaze after a Ukrainian strike this afternoon. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025 Based on open-source intelligence, including video evidence, unverified accounts suggest that two Tu-95MS were destroyed and two more damaged at Olenya Air Base (also known as Olenyegorsk), as well as one An-12 Cub transport aircraft destroyed. At Belaya Air Base, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine, there is satellite evidence that suggests at least three more Tu-95MS destroyed and one possibly damaged, plus as many as four Tu-22M3s destroyed. Russian films the burning remains of Russian Tu-95s and Tu-22s at the Belaya military airfield in the Irkutsk region — Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 2, 2025 Today, Ukrainian intelligence reportedly launched 117 attack drones from trucks that had been placed near Russian air bases. I tasked several collects this morning via @umbraspace and my first images have already started processing. What a remarkable success in a well-executed… — Chris Biggers (@CSBiggers) June 2, 2025 The revetted parking positions. — Chris Biggers (@CSBiggers) June 2, 2025 The individual identity of at least one of the Tu-95MS destroyed at Olenya has meanwhile been confirmed. Tu-95MS Bort No. "22" Red (RF-94257), which carried the honorary name "Chelyabinsk," is one of the aircraft confirmed destroyed in today's drone attack by Ukraine on Olenya air base in Russia's Murmansk Oblast. — Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 1, 2025 Olenya is located on the Kola Peninsula, south of Murmansk, and is home to the 40th Composite Aviation Regiment flying Tu-22M3s. Belaya, near Irkutsk, is also a Backfire base, accommodating the 200th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment. Russian bombers now frequently redeploy to different bases, in large part to try and escape Ukrainian attacks, so it's not uncommon for different types to be found at different locations. There are also suggestions that a large number of Tu-95MS aircraft may have arrived at Olenya only recently, making the timing of the Ukrainian attack even more impressive — or fortuitous. Another two air bases — Dyagilevo and Ivanovo — were also attacked. Of these, Dyagilevo, in the Ryazan region, is a training center for Russian Long-Range Aviation, while Ivanovo, in the region of the same name, is the home base of the A-50 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) fleet, although these aircraft are now normally forward-deployed. The Russian Ministry of Defense admitted that FPV drone attacks had taken place in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions and that 'several' aircraft had been set on fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, which would indicate Olenya and Belaya. As for the reference to the Amur region, this likely points to an attempted attack on Ukrainka Air Base, another bomber airfield. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a drone-filled truck that was intended to strike that airfield, but never reached the target, for reasons unknown. Several videos show a burning truck close to Ukrainka. There was a fith target, but the truck supposedly never got Air Base51.1691, 128.4456https:// — Def Mon (@DefMon3) June 1, 2025 It's worth noting, too, that the A-50 radar plane is not a part of Russia's Long-Range Aviation. These aircraft belong to Russia's sole AEW&C squadron and are primarily tasked with air defense and command and control duties. They have played an important part in the war in Ukraine, reflected in earlier efforts to target these aircraft in the air and on the ground. Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia was estimated to have nine A-50s in active service. As well as the two combat losses since then, one of these aircraft was damaged in a drone attack while on the ground at a base in Belarus. As it stands, prior to yesterday, the best-case scenario involved seven of these aircraft in active service. The Ukrainian Armed Forces determined that the total cost of the damage was around $7 billion, a figure presumably based on roughly 40 aircraft being permanently put out of action. This is very hard to quantify, however, bearing in mind the uncertainty about the number of aircraft hit, the extent of the damage, and the fact that these aircraft have been out of production for decades. The only Russian bomber for which a somewhat meaningful price tag can be determined is the Tu-160, which may not even have been destroyed in the attack. Regardless, back in 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered 10 new Tu-160M2s at a cost of 160 billion roubles, making it the most expensive Russian aircraft. That equates to over $500 million per aircraft if the purchasing power parity factor is taken into account. Russian aerospace expert Piotr Butowski told TWZ he expects that the figure was underestimated back then and, moreover, 'in the current circumstances, I would add another 50 percent.' 'This is the only aircraft that is currently in production, so its price can be estimated,' Butowski added. 'How to estimate the price of the Tu-95MS, which has not been produced for 30-plus years and has no replacement? Its value to the Russian air force is greater than money.' The bombers of Long-Range Aviation that were primarily in the crosshairs of Sunday's drone strike are among Russia's most prized strategic aerial assets. Critically, none of these aircraft can be replaced quickly, and most of them cannot be replaced at all, since the production capabilities have long since ceased to exist. The option of bringing long-since-retired aircraft back into service is increasingly unviable. With such aircraft having been stored in the open for decades and scavenged for parts, the extent of work required to make them airworthy again would be huge. Of Russia's bombers, the oldest design is the Tu-95MS. This unique four-turboprop, swept-wing aircraft dates back to the early 1950s. However, today's Tu-95MS was manufactured between 1982 and 1992 as a dedicated carrier for cruise missiles. A total of 88 Bear-H bombers were completed before the collapse of the Soviet Union, after which 40 were left in Kazakhstan and another 25 in Ukraine. Kazakhstan returned to Russia all the aircraft in its territory, while only the three most modern examples from those left in Ukraine made it back to Russia in 1999, the others being scrapped. Reflecting the continued importance of the Bear-H, surviving aircraft have been steadily upgraded to Tu-95MSM standard. This provides a new radar, flight control system, and navigation suite. The cockpit is also updated, with new liquid-crystal displays. At the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia had a force of likely a little less than 50 Tu-95MS aircraft. If reports of the destruction of five Bear-Hs prove to be correct, the loss of 10 percent of the fleet would be very significant. For all of the given totals of bomber types, it should also be recalled that, at any given time, only a portion of the entire fleet is operational, with others undergoing routine maintenance, being cycled through deeper upgrades, and so on. The swing-wing Tu-22M3 is another Cold War design, the development of which began in the late 1960s. Unlike the Tu-95MS and the Tu-160, the Tu-22M3 is also able to carry free-fall bombs, although in the Ukraine war, it has primarily been associated with attacks using Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) supersonic anti-ship missiles repurposed for use against ground targets. This weapon has proven to be very destructive, although not highly precise, for land attack applications and has resulted in significant numbers of civilian deaths. The definitive Tu-22M3 version first flew in 1977, and a total of 268 examples were built up to 1993. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some Tu-22Ms remained in Ukraine and were briefly operated before being scrapped between 2002 and 2006. The Tu-22M3M upgrade is an effort to keep the Backfire relevant, although it has made only slow progress. It is primarily an avionics upgrade, adding a modernized radar, weapons control system, and navigation/communications equipment, as well as an updated cockpit. It also brings compatibility with new weapons. The Russian Aerospace Forces started the war in Ukraine with approximately 60 Tu-22M3s in service, although there have been other incidents of combat losses and attrition since February launch of two supersonic cruise missiles kh-22 from a long-range supersonic missile-carrying bomber Tu-22. fighter_bomber — Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) May 11, 2022 Finally, the Tu-160 is the most modern and capable of Russia's bomber triad, but also its smallest fleet component. The current Russian Tu-160 fleet numbers around 16 operational aircraft. It's also the only one that can be replaced, at least in theory. For now, we also don't know for sure if any Blackjacks were destroyed in yesterday's drone strikes. The first of two prototype Tu-160s took to the air in 1981 and was followed by 33 series-production aircraft (including one for static tests). The initial production run came to an end in 1994, with four aircraft unfinished at the factory in Kazan. Three of these have since been completed. The demise of the Soviet Union left 19 Tu-160s in Ukraine until a deal was brokered between Moscow and Kyiv, and eight of them were finally returned to Russia between 1999 and 2000. Of the other 11 aircraft in Ukraine, one was preserved, and the remainder were scrapped. The Tu-160 is also subject to an upgrade program, and, unlike the other bombers, Russia is building additional examples to serve as a stopgap until the potential arrival of the next-generation PAK DA bomber, whenever that might happen. At this point, it's hard to envisage Russia having the funds to replace its bomber fleet with an advanced stealth flying-wing type, especially while it is being crushed by sanctions and its military has taken huge losses in equipment and manpower in a war that has no foreseeable end at this time. With that in mind, the existing bomber force becomes an even more critical asset. In January 2018, Moscow ordered 10 new-build Tu-160Ms, each of which was expected to cost around $270 million, with the first example planned to be ready in 2021. While the Russian Ministry of Defense has said it wants to receive at least 50 new-build Tu-160M aircraft, no further orders have been placed since then. In January 2022, the first new-build Tu-160M took to the air, as you can read about here. Confusingly, the Tu-160M designation is applied to both new-build aircraft and upgraded versions of the older aircraft. As we have discussed in the past, the Tu-160M is based around an entirely new mission system and avionics. This includes a new radar, digital cockpit displays, flight control system, navigation equipment, and communication suite. A new self-protection suite is also installed. The effort to build new Blackjacks has been far from easy. Only around three new-build Tu-160Ms had been completed as of early last year, and none of these were in operational service. Therefore, while Russia has a theoretical ability to introduce new-build bombers to service, and to make good losses sustained by drone strikes, or other attrition, this is not something that can be done rapidly and not without great cost. Even taking one or two bombers out of operation will impact the Russian Aerospace Forces. The bomber triad has played a key role in launching the barrages of cruise missiles that have regularly struck targets across Ukraine. At the same time, these aircraft are a integral part of Russia's nuclear deterrent. This makes them a matter of great prestige, but also a critical element in Russia's ability to launch nuclear or conventional airstrikes against targets outside of Ukraine. These aircraft are also regularly used for long-range patrols over Europe and Asia, also venturing as far as the coast of Alaska, and for irregular visits to strategic allies. Wiping out a significant portion of one prong of the nuclear triad — the most flexible part of it — has an impact on the credibility of Russia's overall deterrent. It's also worth noting that Moscow has repeatedly said that attacks on strategic targets would constitute a red line for them, although, strategic bombers and critical locales have been attacked on numerous occasions in the past, too. None of these strikes have been as widespread and possibly successful as this operation though. Regardless, even if a handful of bombers met their demise, it's a blow to Russia's nuclear deterrent posture. Russia just lost an unknown number of strategic aircraft that are directly tied to validity of their nuclear deterrent. We don't know if this was four or 40 aircraft. The strategic nature of the effects of this attack puts it into uncharted territory. And YES, these aircraft… — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 1, 2025 Even before yesterday's massed drone strikes, the vulnerability of Russia's bombers to Ukrainian attack was abundantly clear. Until now, however, attacks on these aircraft have tended to target only one base at a time, using smaller numbers of long-range one-way attack drones. The repeated nature of these Ukrainian attacks had led to Russian air bases dispersing their aircraft for protection. There have been other measures, too, as TWZ has reported in the past: The Russian Aerospace Forces have also taken further precautions at their bases. Initially, they installed blast walls between active aircraft. This was an attempt to contain any damage to one aircraft in an attack, designed to prevent both fire and shrapnel from spreading. More recently, construction work at multiple bases has been adding many dozens of new hardened aircraft shelters to better shield aircraft from drone attacks and other indirect fire. However, the size of the bombers means they cannot be provided with the same kinds of protection. As well as the physical hardening of airfields, Russia has arranged discarded aircraft as decoys. More unorthodox measures have included placing car tires on the upper surfaces of aircraft and painting aircraft silhouettes on concrete airfield surfaces. The tires, specifically, were intended to confuse image-matching seekers on Ukrainian-operated standoff weapons. At the same time, anti-aircraft defenses have been set up at Russian airfields, although their effectiveness has clearly been mixed, despite Moscow's claims to the contrary. With that in mind, it's far from clear how Russia will respond to the latest drone attacks on its airbases. One immediate change could be to move to an even more highly dispersed positioning model, which will severely limit the bombers' effectiveness for Ukraine operations. At the same time, attacks on its bases can be launched even from great distances, making any effort to prevent them much harder. Added to this is the prospect of more capable drones being used for attacks in the future, including examples with enhanced countermeasures, or AI-infused drones that will be immune to jamming and will not need a man-in-the-loop for dynamic targeting. Longer-term, Russia might look to protect its bombers under enormous hardened aircraft shelters (HAS). This is a measure that is already being undertaken for Russian tactical jets at bases closer to Ukraine, and we recently also saw a plan that envisaged a HAS large enough to accommodate a Tu-160. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov was shown a model of a hangar for Tu-160 strategic bombers during a visit last — Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 2, 2025 Moscow's immediate response to the Ukrainian operation has been to launch more of its own drones against Ukraine: the Ukrainian Air Force says Russia launched 472 drones overnight, claimed to be the highest nightly total of the war so far, as well as seven missiles. While that was a predictable outcome, it remains to be seen what longer-term measures Russia will adopt to better protect its bombers and other high-value aircraft against future attacks while sitting idle on the ground. Contact the author: thomas@
NDTV
25-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Video: 9 Dead In Ukraine As Russia Launches One Of Biggest Airstrikes On Kyiv
Kyiv: Russia has launched one of the biggest aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv since the start of the war, using missiles and drones, hours after the two sides began exchanging hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal seen as the first step towards a ceasefire. Russian strikes killed at least nine people in Ukraine overnight on Sunday, with four deaths in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said. Russian troops, who are advancing slowly on the eastern front in Ukraine, have captured two settlements in Donetsk region as well as one in Ukraine's northern region of Sumy, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Since their failed advance on Kyiv in the first weeks of the war, Russian forces have been focusing on capturing the Donbas in the east, made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ukrainian forces likely struck Russia's Migalovo Airbase tonight, with multiple explosions spotted in the area. The base is home to a number of Russian heavy transport aircraft. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 25, 2025 On Saturday, Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones at Ukraine, although Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and stopped most of the drones before they reached Kyiv. 🇺🇦🇷🇺 DEATH FROM ABOVE: RUSSIA STRIKES UKRAINE AGAIN For the second night in a row, skies over Ukraine lit up—not with fireworks, but with drones and missiles. Kyiv woke up to flames and broken glass after a Russian drone slammed into a five-story apartment building, injuring… — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 25, 2025 Four people were reported dead in the western Khmelnytskyi region, four in the Kyiv region -- which came under attack for the second night running -- and one in Mykolaiv in the south. Another night of Russian terror across Ukraine. Missiles and drones struck Kyiv, the Kyiv region, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, and more. Civilians killed. Homes destroyed. Families pulled from the rubble. This is not war. It's terrorism. And it must end. Russia… — Anna K 🇺🇦 (@AnnaKozyarska) May 25, 2025 Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city's military administration, said that some of the drones over Kyiv and the surrounding area have already been dealt with. But the new ones are still entering the capital, Kyiv. Overnight attacks were also reported in the Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was a "difficult night for all of Ukraine" and called for more sanctions on Moscow to achieve a ceasefire. But he also said he expected officials to press on with a prisoner swap agreed during talks last week in Istanbul. The latest offensive comes as the two sides pursue their biggest prisoner swap since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On Saturday, 307 Russian prisoners of war were exchanged for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers, according to announcements in Kyiv and Moscow. Both sides received 390 people in the first stage on Friday and are expected to exchange 1,000 each in total. Russia has signalled it will send Ukraine its terms for a peace settlement after the exchange, without saying what those terms would be. Meanwhile, Russia has also accused Ukraine of targeting it with 788 drones and missiles since Tuesday. In Moscow, restrictions were imposed on at least four airports, including the main hub Sheremetyevo, the Russian civilian aviation authority said. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 12 drones flying towards the Russian capital had been intercepted.
