2024-04-19 09:19:01
According to the Telegram channel Dva Majora, after covering a considerable distance, the Tu-22M3 approached its base, but in the end, due to the deteriorating condition of the aircraft, it was unable to continue the flight.
The report also highlighted the systematic tactics of Ukraine, alluding to traps set by Ukrainian forces for Russian aircraft.
Prior to this confirmation, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk announced on Telegram that Ukrainian air defense units, in coordination with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, successfully destroyed a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber carrying Kh-22 cruise missiles. which Russia used to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities, writes Defense Blog.
The incident reportedly occurred while Russian bombers were carrying out missile strikes aimed at Ukraine.
The TU-22M3 is an upgrade of the Soviet TU-22 strategic bomber, which first flew in 1983. The M3 modernization increased the bomber’s range by a third, its maximum speed to Mach 2.05, and its payload to 1,700 kg. The aircraft also received a new navigation/attack radar and was also modified to launch Kh-32 missiles.
In the Ukrainian war, the TU-22M3 was used for the first time on April 15, 2022, during the bombing of Mariupol. At the end of December of the same year, one of the TU-22M3 was damaged during a drone attack at the Diaghilev Air Base, and in 2023 at the end of August, it was captured in flames after a drone attack on the Solciu air base.
According to Ukraine, one Tu-22M3 was destroyed and two were damaged in 2023. in August during an operation by the Ukrainian intelligence unit – but so far no such bomber has been shot down in flight.
2024-04-19 09:19:01