BLUEJACKET
Banned Idiot
-Never say "never"! For whatever reason, they may decide to buy them- if not now, then later: by that time the price will be lower!
TU-22 Blinder/Backfire
- Thread starter Malizia
- Start date
I do not think it is going to neccessarily happen either...but the m3s still have significant capability and would be a regional threat if purchased and deployed.
The SU-27s the PLAAF is flying are also somewhat outdated...but they are just the same very capable aircraft and in numbers, armed with modern weapons, pose a significant challenge to any adversary.
The Backfires would be the same in that regard, and particularly as a maritime strike aircraft, with modern long range ASMS, they could not be ignored.
Ancient stuff can be revived if it's a good and timeless in design. Recently China started making Tu-16s and An-12s again as the H-6 and Y-8. But not all old stuff is good.
One of the problems is the maintenance of the variable wing. Russian jets are not known for serviceability, reliability and technical support. Add something complex like this, and you risk buying a lot of white elephants.
Then the Tu-22M3s being offered are all second hand. PLA don't like buying hand me downs unless its something they want to take apart and study. There is doubt that Russia could build new Tu-22M3s from scratch because of parts that may need to be sourced from former Soviet republics---they could not fulfill the IL-76 order already, and had problems making the new Sovremannies before.
The Su-27 maybe dated design but when the Chinese bought them, the particular airframes are brand new. China is making brand new Su-27s. The H-6s are brand new. So are the Y-8s.
Trying to sell used aircraft isn't going to work. The only way I think China will fly the Tu-22M3 in PLAAF colors is either when the Russians could manufacture them brand new, or license them to China to manufacture them brand new.
One of the problems is the maintenance of the variable wing. Russian jets are not known for serviceability, reliability and technical support. Add something complex like this, and you risk buying a lot of white elephants.
Then the Tu-22M3s being offered are all second hand. PLA don't like buying hand me downs unless its something they want to take apart and study. There is doubt that Russia could build new Tu-22M3s from scratch because of parts that may need to be sourced from former Soviet republics---they could not fulfill the IL-76 order already, and had problems making the new Sovremannies before.
The Su-27 maybe dated design but when the Chinese bought them, the particular airframes are brand new. China is making brand new Su-27s. The H-6s are brand new. So are the Y-8s.
Trying to sell used aircraft isn't going to work. The only way I think China will fly the Tu-22M3 in PLAAF colors is either when the Russians could manufacture them brand new, or license them to China to manufacture them brand new.
silverster
New Member
they called a military exercise what?
eecsmaster
Junior Member
can you not read? Mind you, the entire exercise was billed as an "anti-terrorism" exercise.
BLUEJACKET
Banned Idiot
That's probably why they haven't signed on the dotted line! The H-6s/SU-30MKK could make up for them in the meantime, but aren't there any TU-22s with low flight hours left?
Combination of Su-30, JH-7 and H-6 is enough for China's needs now. I would like to add that a supersonic strike bomber isn't exactly what the PLAN needs. Rather, it is a high loiter plane that could search, patrol and engage naval targets autonomously.
In that sense, an H-6/Tu-16 fits those needs better than any Tu-22 variant. Tu-94 would be best if they can control the noise of the contrarotating propellers, and I must add tha Russia also showed and demonstrated Tu-94s during the Peace Mission exercise.
In that sense, an H-6/Tu-16 fits those needs better than any Tu-22 variant. Tu-94 would be best if they can control the noise of the contrarotating propellers, and I must add tha Russia also showed and demonstrated Tu-94s during the Peace Mission exercise.
BLUEJACKET
Banned Idiot
Did you mean TU-95?
BLUEJACKET
Banned Idiot
What is to prevent China to send a submarine with divers to the Indian Ocean
and bring samples/pictures of the crashed B-1B bomber back for reverse engineering?
and bring samples/pictures of the crashed B-1B bomber back for reverse engineering?
Last edited: