China buys Tu-22 production line from Russia.
http://theaviationist.com/2012/12/29.../#.UOBoP6UTsy5
"For the third time in 7 years (first one being in 2005, second earlier in 2012) several websites in China (link in Chinese) are reporting that China and Russia have agreed for Beijing to buy the production line for the Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber at a cost of 1.5 billion USD.Once in service with the Chinese Naval Air Forces the Tu-22M3 will be known as the “H-10″.The deal struck with Russia comes with 36 aircraft (and engines): an initial batch of 12 followed by a second batch of 24 aircraft are thought to be on order.The Tu-22 will be employed in the maritime attack role and will be used to attack targets from low level (to avoid radar detection)."
More at link.....
this news has been doing rounds for years now.It is still not confirmed as of yet.As it is, it just stands as a rumor.
on the other side, all is not hunky dory between the Russians and Chinese,and the Tu-22M3 is not just any other aircraft, Russians are wary about the Chinese military modernization, i don't think the Russians will ever sell this aircraft to the Chinese.
One has to hope for Russia that this deal doesn't backfire
Seriously this is a 1990s Tom Clancy leftover. The chinese could well produce a similar or more modern design by themselves except for the engines
I would like to see some better sources for this type of news than Chinese web article from 2010-10-13.
i doubt this part.Originally Posted by JCR
One has to hope for Russia that this deal doesn't backfire
Seriously this is a 1990s Tom Clancy leftover. The chinese could well produce a similar or more modern design by themselves except for the engines
Why?
The Tu-22 is a 1970s design.
There is nothing particularly special about it.
Not to mention that variable geometry wings are about as old fashioned as it can get in aviation design.
Old does not mean easy.
I don't think that it's possible at all. This is too advanced tech even know. On the base of it many more new constructions were developed.
P.S. Just remembered the famous film episode, 8 minutes with English subtitles.
Possibly to replace new H-8K?
This.
Designers and engineers weren't dumber back then, probably to the contrary, it's just that some modern technologies make some (brilliant) design aspects obsolete, that does not mean they were easy or less clever.
Now new technologies might make some aspects of the 70's design obsolete, however it is no way easier today to create a plane that's as fast en capable than it was back then if you don't have experience to build upon.
You think that if you gave some company with no experience in building, say mbt's, the task to build a tank today it will be better than even a T-64 variant (provided the electronics in both tanks are the same obviously), not friggin likely unless they can dissect every design solution used in mbt's in the last 40 years.
These news are of course complete BS.
ask the Chinese as to what they found so special in it that they are still standing in line to get there hands on it. And,ask the Russians as to why they still continue to rely on it heavily.Any way, the article says that it is capable of flying at very low altitude making it difficult for the enemy radars to pick up its signature, and than rises up to attack, making an instant surprise attack, i believe this is special. And obviously, you are over estimating the Chinese.
does not matter as long as it can do the trick and fool the enemy.Not to mention that variable geometry wings are about as old fashioned as it can get in aviation design
some time back, in the START treaty, the Americans had forced Russians to remove the aerial refueling probe from the aircraft, and the Russians did so, all the while it was also reported that the aircraft was designed in such a way that aerial refueling probe can be assembled with aircraft in a very short notice, if the Russians do so, than the aircraft will have the ability to bomb any place on the planet.
Exactly, if Russia were to restart Tu-22M production today, using modern avionics, engines etc in a new build Tu-22M airframe you would still have to my mind an extremely potent aircraft. The Tu-22M is still a relevant threat/asset in terms of the plane itself, a Tu-22M for the 21st century if you like. Poor maintenance and a somewhat ad-hoc upgrade/sustainment programme has obviously reduced this, but had the fleet been properly supported i would still very well think that they would be just as potent today as they were in the 70s (advanced in air defences notwithstanding, I’m talking purely from the perspective of the plane itself)
Yep. Look at all the trouble the US has had over the last 15 years trying to come up with a high speed air-breathing missile because the people who knew this stuff back in the day are gone. They couldn't even make an off the shelf ASALM work and had to cancel because it was "too risky". (LRASM-B).
That Tupolev must have the RCS of a small aircraft carrier!
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