Il Tupolev PAK DA o PAK DA (in russo: ПАК ДА, abbreviazione di: Перспективный авиационный комплекс дальней авиации, romanized: Perspektivnyi aviatsionney '' ] nome in codice Poslannik (in russo: Посланник, lit. 'Courier'), è un bombardiere strategico stealth di prossima generazione sviluppato dalla Tupolev per l'aeronautica russa. Il DA PAK è destinato a integrare e alla fine sostituire il vecchio Tupolev Tu-95 nel servizio aeronautico russo.
PAK DA:
- Ruolo - Bombardiere strategico stealth
- origine nazionale - Russia
- fabbricante - Tupolev, United Aircraft Corporation
- introduzione in servizio - 2027
- Stato - In via di sviluppo
- Utente principale - Aeronautica russa
- Costo unitario - US $ 160 milioni (previsti).
Secondo un rapporto dell’agenzia Izvestia del 2020, tre prototipi PAK DA dovrebbero essere pronti per i test preliminari entro il mese di aprile 2023, con i test di sviluppo che inizieranno nel febbraio 2026. L'aereo dovrebbe entrare in produzione in serie nel 2027. A causa del ammodernamento in corso dell'attuale flotta di bombardieri russi e dei massicci acquisti di Tu-160M2 aggiornati e potenziati, si ritiene che il ministero della Difesa russo inizialmente acquisirà solo un piccolo numero di bombardieri PAK DA di pre-serie.
I parametri tecnici del PAK DA includono:
- una velocità subsonica;
- Autonomia operativa di 12.000 km;
- la capacità di rimanere continuamente in aria per un massimo di 30 ore con carichi utili sia convenzionali che nucleari fino a 30 tonnellate;
- L'aeromobile dovrebbe avere un equipaggio di 4.
SVILUPPO
Le prime indiscrezioni sul bombardiere strategico a lungo raggio della prossima generazione della Russia risalgono alla fine degli anni '90, quando furono resi pubblici i requisiti per l’aeromobile stealth.
Nel dicembre 2007, l'aeronautica russa consegnò al Tupolev Design Bureau la prima serie di requisiti tecnici e tattici per un nuovo bombardiere strategico e il finanziamento del programma iniziò nel 2008.
Secondo alcuni primi rapporti, il PAK-DA doveva essere inizialmente basato su di una evoluzione del supersonico Tupolev Tu-160, ma in seguito rapporti sull'aeromobile, incluso un indirizzo televisivo dell'allora Primo Ministro Vladimir Putin, chiarirono che si tratterà di un progetto completamente nuovo.
Il 3 settembre 2009, il ministero della Difesa russo ha assegnato alla Tupolev Design Bureau un contratto triennale di ricerca e sviluppo per intraprendere studi per il nuovo bombardiere a lungo raggio. Secondo il Presidente Generale Designer di Tupolev Igor Shevchuk, "questo dovrebbe essere un aereo fondamentalmente nuovo, basato su soluzioni concettualmente nuove".
Nel giugno 2012, l'allora vice primo ministro Dmitry Rogozin ha messo in dubbio la necessità di un nuovo bombardiere a lungo raggio, sottolineando l'alto progresso nella tecnologia di difesa aerea e antimissile dicendo "questi aerei non arriveranno da nessuna parte: “Non i nostri, non i loro". Il capo dello stato maggiore Nikolai Makarov, rispose affermando che il lavoro era già in corso e che il design era superiore agli aerei statunitensi. Il 9 giugno 2012, il primo ministro Dmitry Medvedev ha dichiarato che il DA PAK è stato confermato come previsto. Il presidente russo Vladimir Putin nella sua dichiarazione del 14 giugno 2012 ha inoltre sollecitato la necessità di un nuovo bombardiere a lungo raggio.
Il 27 agosto 2012, Dmitry Rogozin richiese un bombardiere capace di velocità ipersonica per superare meglio le difese aeree degli Stati Uniti. Tuttavia, non è chiaro se i suoi commenti si riferiscano al bombardiere che è ipersonico o alla sua capacità di trasportare missili lanciati ad aria ipersonici. La dichiarazione di Rogozin è arrivata pochi giorni dopo un test del veicolo dimostrativo ipersonico USA Boeing X-51 Waverider.
Nel marzo 2013, è stato riferito che il design PAK DA selezionato sarebbe un'ala volante subsonica con enfasi sulla tecnologia invisibile piuttosto che con la capacità di superare le velocità supersoniche.
Anatoly Zhikharev ha fatto notare che un bombardiere strategico senza pilota potrebbe seguire il DA PAK dopo il 2040.
Il 30 agosto 2013, una fonte del ministero della Difesa russo ha rivelato che il DA PAK sarà equipaggiato con tipi avanzati di armi a guida di precisione, comprese le armi ipersoniche. Lo stesso bombardiere volerà a velocità subsonica. La tecnologia ipersonica viene perseguita in modo che la Russia non rimanga indietro rispetto allo sviluppo americano di armi simili.
Nel novembre 2013, fu presa la decisione di accelerare i lavori sul PAK DA e iniziare i lavori di R&S su vasta scala nel 2014. Nel dicembre 2013, Anatoly Zhikharev ha riferito che la fase di pianificazione è stata completata in meno di un anno e il lavoro di sviluppo è stato per iniziare nel 2014. Ha inoltre notato che il primo volo sarebbe iniziato nel 2019 con la produzione in serie che avrebbe avuto inizio nel 2025.
Nel febbraio 2014, l'allora viceministro dell'industria e del commercio Andrey Boginsky dichiarò che la Russia stava tentando di acquisire investimenti cinesi nel progetto.
Nell'aprile 2014, il capo della United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) russa Mikhail Pogosyan ha annunciato che il Tupolev Design Bureau aveva finalizzato il design del PAK DA e che il progetto stava passando alla fase intermedia, ovvero il completamento della progettazione e costruzione di un prototipo.
Nel marzo 2015 l'impianto di Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) a Kazan è stato scelto per la costruzione dei prototipi PAK DA e dei velivoli di serie. Il ministero della Difesa russo ha stanziato circa 5 miliardi di RUB per la ricostruzione e la riqualificazione tecnica della base di produzione, per preparare l'impianto per la costruzione del nuovo bombardiere.
Lo sviluppo del DA PAK sarà condotto contemporaneamente alla produzione in serie del Tu-160M2 aggiornato, sebbene ciò abbia in seguito portato a diversi rinvii nel programma.
Nel luglio 2015, rappresentanti della United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), ora parte della Roselectronics, hanno annunciato che la società sta sviluppando un "sistema di comunicazione unico nel suo genere" per il bombardiere.
Il 1° marzo 2017, è stato costruito il primo modello a grandezza naturale del bombardiere, tra vari modelli in scala di diverse configurazioni.
Nel luglio 2018, United Engine Corporation (UEC) e Tupolev hanno firmato un contratto per la creazione del propulsore a ciclo variabile del futuro PAK DA. Secondo i primi rapporti, sarà derivato dal motore Kuznetsov NK-32 Tier 2 aggiornato, destinato ai Tu-160M2 modernizzati. Circa 8 miliardi di rubli sarebbero stati destinati allo sviluppo del nuovo motore che sarà prodotto da JSC Kuznetsov a Samara. Il motore deve fornire al PAK DA la capacità di eseguire voli ininterrottamente di 30 ore, pur essendo resistente a temperature da meno 60° C a più 50° C e persino agli effetti dell'esplosione nucleare. La sua durata prevista è compresa tra 12 e 21 anni. I primi test del motore DA PAK avranno luogo nel 2020 e saranno completati entro la fine del 2021.
Nel febbraio 2019, il disegno finale del PAK DA è stata approvato e tutti i documenti per la costruzione del bombardiere sono stati firmati. La costruzione del primo prototipo dell’aereo è iniziata alla fine del 2019.
Il Ministero della Difesa russo ha ufficialmente firmato il contratto con la Tupolev per l’avvio della produzione dei primi prototipi del nuovo bombardiere stealth a lungo raggio PAK-DA che sostituirà prima i BEAR, nelle varie versioni, e poi i Tu-22 BACKFIRE e i Tu-160 BLACKJACK, verosimilmente dopo il 2040.
In base alle fonti ufficiali della Difesa russa, le caratteristiche dell’aereo sono state definite e la fase di design preliminare è già in corso dallo scorso novembre. Per quanto riguarda le caratteristiche, il PAK-DA affiancherà i Tu-160 supersonici che, con l’aggiornamento in corso alla variante M2 dovrebbero essere mantenuti in servizio almeno fino agli anni 40, con un’autonomia di 12.000 km (30 ore di navigazione) senza rifornimento in volo e in grado di trasportare armamento di tipo convenzionale e nucleare. L’equipaggio dovrebbe essere composto da 4 uomini.
I primi test di volo dovrebbero partire nel 2027, con consegne ai rispettivi reparti dopo un paio d’anni. Detto questo, appare difficile credere che con un budget annuale per la difesa pari a 71 miliardi di dollari, e programmi per nuovo caccia (Su-57), nuovo UCAV/loyal wingman (S-70), una presunta nuova portaerei STOBAR da 40/50.000 t ed un bombardiere strategico di 6ª generazione che dovrebbe affiancare il PAK-DA nel 2045/2050, tale progetto possa concretamente vedere la luce nei tempi descritti.
ENGLISH
The Tupolev PAK DA or PAK DA (Russian: ПАК ДА, short for: Перспективный авиационный комплекс дальней авиации, romanized: Perspektivnyi aviatsionnyi kompleks dal'ney aviatsii, lit. ''Prospective aviation complex for long-range aviation''), codename Poslannik (Russian: Посланник, lit. 'Courier'), is a next-generation stealth strategic bomber being developed by Tupolev for the Russian Air Force. The PAK DA is set to complement and eventually replace the older Tupolev Tu-95 in Russia's Air Force service.
According to the 2020 Izvestia report, three PAK DA prototypes are expected to be ready for preliminary testing by April 2023, with the state tests to begin in February 2026. The aircraft is expected to enter serial production in 2027. Due to the ongoing modernization of Russia's current bomber fleet and massive purchases of upgraded Tu-160M2s, it is believed that the Russian Defence Ministry will initially procure only a small number of PAK DA bombers.
Technical parameters of the PAK DA include subsonic speed, 12,000 km operational range and a capability to continuously remain in the air for up to 30 hours while carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads up to 30 tons. The aircraft is expected to have a crew of 4.
Development
First mentions about Russia's next-generation long-range strategic bomber dates back to late 1990s, when formation of requirements for the aircraft had begun. In December 2007, the Russian Air Force handed to Tupolev Design Bureau the first set of technical and tactical requirments for a new strategic bomber and financing of the programme began in 2008. According to some early reports, the PAK DA was to be heavily based on the supersonic Tupolev Tu-160, but later reports regarding to the aircraft, including a televised address from then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, seemed to imply that it will be an entirely new design.
On 3 September 2009, the Russian Defence Ministry awarded Tupolev Design Bureau a three year R&D contract to undertake studies for new long-range bomber. According to the President-General Designer of Tupolev Igor Shevchuk, "this should be a fundamentally new aircraft, based on conceptually new solutions".
In June 2012, then-Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin questioned the need for a new long-range bomber, pointing on the high advancement in air defence and anti-missile defence technology saying "these aircraft will not get anywhere. Not ours, not theirs." The Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov, responded by stating that work is ongoing and that the design was superior to American aircraft. On 9 June 2012, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated that the PAK DA was confirmed as planned. Russian President Vladimir Putin in his statement on 14 June 2012 also urged the need for a new long-range bomber.
On 27 August 2012, Dmitry Rogozin had called for a bomber capable of hypersonic speed in order to better match the air defenses of the United States. However, it is unclear whether his comments refer to the bomber being hypersonic or to its ability to carry hypersonic air-launched missiles. Rogozin's statement came just days after a test of U.S. Boeing X-51 Waverider hypersonic demonstrator vehicle.
In March 2013, it was reported that the selected PAK DA design would be a subsonic flying wing with emphasis on stealth technology rather than with capability to overcome supersonic speeds.
Anatoly Zhikharev has noted that an unmanned strategic bomber may follow the PAK DA after 2040.
On 30 August 2013, a Russian Defense Ministry source revealed that the PAK DA will be equipped with advanced types of precision-guided weapons, including hypersonic weapons. The bomber itself will fly at subsonic speeds. Hypersonic technology is being pursued so that Russia does not fall behind American development of similar weapons.
In November 2013, a decision was taken to speed up work on the PAK DA and begin full-scale R&D work in 2014. In December 2013, Anatoly Zhikharev reported the planning stage was completed in less than one year and development work was to begin in 2014. He further noted the first flight would commence in 2019 with serial production to begin in 2025.
In February 2014, then-Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Andrey Boginsky stated, that Russia was attempting to acquire Chinese investment in the project.
In April 2014, head of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Mikhail Pogosyan announced that the Tupolev Design Bureau had finalised the design of the PAK DA and that the project was moving to the intermediate phase - i.e. completion of the design and construction of a prototype.
In March 2015 it became known that the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) plant in Kazan was chosen for construction of the PAK DA prototypes and serial aircraft. The Russian Defence Ministry allocated about RUB5 billion for reconstruction and technical re-equipment of the production base, to prepare the plant for construction of the new bomber.
Development of the PAK DA will be carried out simultaneously with serial production of the upgraded Tu-160M2, although this later led to several postponements in the programme.
In July 2015, representatives from the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), now part of Roselectronics, announced the company is developing "one-of-a-kind communications system" for the bomber.
On 1 March 2017, it was reported that the first full-size model of the bomber was built, amongst various scale mock-ups of different configurations.
In July 2018, United Engine Corporation (UEC) and Tupolev signed a contract for creation of PAK DA's powerplant. According to early reports, it will be derived from the upgraded Kuznetsov NK-32 Tier 2 engine, intended for modernized Tu-160M2s. About RUB8 billion was to be allocated for the development of the new engine that will be produced by JSC Kuznetsov in Samara. The engine is to provide the PAK DA with a capability to perform 30 hours nonstop flight, while being resistant to temperatures from minus 60°C to plus 50°C and even effects of nuclear explosion. Its service life is expected to be from 12 to 21 years. The first tests of the PAK DA engine will take place in 2020 and be completed by the end of 2021.
In February 2019, PAK DA's final draft was approved and all documents for construction of the bomber were signed. Construction of the first prototype aircraft began in late 2019.
Russia to Build 3 PAK DA Stealth Bomber Prototypes
Serial production of the new bomber is expected to kick off in 2027.
Russia will build three prototypes of its next-generation nuclear-capable strategic bomber, dubbed PAK DA (an acronym for “Prospective Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation”), for evaluation and testing, according to Russian media reports.
Citing a research and development contract between the Russian government and the Tupolev design bureau signed at the end of 2017, Izvestia newspaper offered a number of new details surrounding the Russian Air Force’s next-generation strategic bomber.
Contrary to earlier speculations, the bomber will reportedly be manned by a crew of four. Preliminary tests of the three prototypes have been scheduled for April and are expected to be concluded by the fall of 2025. This will also include the bomber’s maiden flight.
State trials are set to begin in February 2026, which are expected to last for around two years. Serial production might kick off as early as 2027 or 2028. As I noted elsewhere, other technical details regarding the PAK DA bomber are scarce:
It is estimated that the new aircraft will have an operational range of about 12,000 kilometers and travel at subsonic speed. The plane’s airframe will consist of radar-absorbent material. (For a first look of the new bomber, check out this video here.)
Furthermore, it was reported that the new fifth generation PAK DA bomber will be able to carry a 30-ton weapons payload (…).
The new strategic bomber will reportedly carry nuclear-capable air-launched cruise missiles. In addition, the aircraft will reportedly be equipped with air-to-air missiles for self defense and air-launched hypersonic weapons.
Meanwhile, the Russian military aircraft industry is upgrading three bomber types, as I noted last May:
The Russian Air Force is expected to receive the first upgraded Tu-160M2 supersonic strategic bomber by 2021. The Russian MoD announced in January 2018 that it placed an order for the first batch of 10 Tupolev Tu-160M2s.
Delivery of Russia’s entire new Tu-160M2 fleet of around 50 aircraft is estimated to be completed by 2030.
Additionally, Russia is also upgrading its fleet of Tu-22M3 long-range strategic and maritime strike bombers. The first new Tu-22M3M conducted its maiden flight in December 2018. Overall, Russia plans to upgrade 20 aircraft of the type.
Furthermore, the Russian defense industry is (..) working on upgrading Tu-95MS, designated Tu-95MSM. Last August, the Russian MoD and Tupolev signed a contract to upgrade 20 Tu-95MS to MSM standards.
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Plans to replace all existing strategic bomber types in the Russian Air Force’s arsenal with the new PAK DA were scrapped for the time being due to funding difficulties and technical issues. The PAK DA is also not expected to be manufactured in large quantities initially.
The Russian MoD has signed a contract with the developer of PAK-DA long-range stealth bomber to commence production for a possible delivery by 2027 according to state media.
“The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has signed all the necessary contracts to start production of the PAK-DA long-range bomber. Flight tests of the aircraft is scheduled for 2027,” deputy head of the department Alexey Krivoruchk was quoted as saying by Zvezda, run by the Russian MoD reported on Monday.
“The characteristics of the aircraft have been agreed upon, all contract documents necessary for the production of samples have been signed, preparatory design stages are underway,” Krivoruchko said.
The aircraft is expected to be of subsonic speed, have a 12,000 km operational range and a capability to continuously remain in the air for up to 30 hours while carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads up to 30 tons. The aircraft is expected to have a crew of 4.
The PAK-DA is expected to replace all current strategic bombers in the Russian Air Force by the next decade.
Russia's new stealth bomber PAK-DA: The challenge to US air supremacy
The Tupolev PAK DA or PAK DA, or ‘Tu-160/Tu-95’, an acronym for “Prospective Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation”, is going to be the next generation stealth strategic bomber of the Russian Air Force, replacing all its predecessors. The first jet of this fleet is scheduled to join the Russian Air Force by 2025–26 and will continue to replenish the dwindling air-fleet status of the Russian Aerial defense system till 2028-29.
The concept of developing a new long range strategic bomber dates long back in Russian history. However the concept materialized during 2007-08 under the then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who aspired to build such a bomber with advanced technologies and design, superior than the United States. Thus, the R&D and contract were awarded to Tupolev and the development commenced. In 2009, Tupolev President-General Designer Igor Shevchuk stated about the PAK-DA that “this should be a fundamentally new aircraft, based on conceptually new solutions.”
In 2013, it was reported that Moscow was able to develop a subsonic flying wing for the PAK-DA prototype and emphasized on stealth technologies. Later, Russia claimed that the PAK-DA will be equipped with advanced precision guided missiles that include hypersonic weapons. In 2014, the design was finalized and Tupolev was given a green signal to start building the prototype. In 2017, it was reported that the first full size model of the PAK-DA bomber was built after the long permutation and combination of a series of trials. In February 2019, the final draft design of the PAK DA, which is supposed to join the Russian Air Force, was approved and all documents for construction of the bomber were signed and it was mentioned that the first series of this fleet will be rolled out by 2022.
As classified files, much about the technical specifications of the PAK DA has not been disclosed in public, however, its confirmed that it will be equipped with the upgraded Kuznetsov NK-32 Tier 2 turbofan engine which will allow the aircrafts to fly 30hours at a stretch and will be capable of withstanding temperatures from -60°C to +50°C and prevent effects of nuclear explosion. It is expected that use of composite equipments and sophisticated technologies, superior aerodynamics, and abridged engine heat signature curtails the PAK-DA’s radio-frequency, optical and infrared visibility.
The PAK DA would probably be built with radar-absorbing material and will be equipped with a “stealthogenic” system. This stealthogenic technology is a form of anti-radar cloaking device. The PAK DA is also expected to have an AESA radar system with 1,500 individual transmitter/receiver (T/R) modules and will be equipped with “one-of-a-kind communications system,” that has been specially designed for the bomber itself. According to Russian sources, the PAK DA will have a maximum range of 5,500 km, a payload of up to 30 tons, subsonic flight speed and will also be able to bear various kinds of weapons, enabling it to concurrently attack several surface and air targets in all weather conditions- making it a perfect multirole combat bomber.
It was intended to be a supersonic bomber, but Moscow restricted the PAK-DA to be subsonic. But why? It’s now lucid with the words of the VKS commander Viktor Bondarev’s clarification that “It is impossible to build a missile-carrying bomber invisible to radars and supersonic at the same time. This is why focus is placed on stealth capabilities. The PAK-DA will carry AI-guided missiles with a range of up to 7,000 km. Such a missile can analyze the aerial and radio-radar situation and determine its direction, altitude and speed. We’re already working on such missiles.”
The aspiration that drove Russia to develop such a costly but effective bomber is to gain aerial superiority against the United States and to some extent with its new competitor China. Moscow is well aware of the current situation where Trump quitted from the long standing anti nuclear proliferation treaty and the circumstances are moving towards the ‘Cold War’ situation between the two superpowers. An advantage in the air in this situation is always beneficial at least to produce fear amidst its adversaries.
Russia’s development of the PAK DA- the fifth-generation stealth fighter could defy American air preeminence, particularly if Russia vends them to its common purchasers of military gears, especially countries that are anti American by blood. Hence, American air supremacy for the foreseeable future is not as guaranteed as the U.S. Department of Defense once envisaged. Indeed, the US deputy Chief of Staff for intelligence recently made the startling statement: “For the first time, our claim to air supremacy is in jeopardy.… The dominance we’ve enjoyed in the aerial domain is no longer ours for the taking.”
Closure of the F-22 production in the US infact has severely restricted America’s capacity to react to PAK DA proliferation by construction more F-22s and potentially selling them to U.S. allies. Basically, development of PAK-DA compelled the US to think out of the box , now the US policymakers are thinking of enhancing the investments in Air supremacy by modernization and organizing new partnerships with its allies like Japan and Israel, that might eventually prevent the airpower balance from leaning in goodwill of the Russian air force and to prevaricate alongside the potentially destabilizing propagation of Russian PAK DA bomber to wobbly actors, non-state groups, and/or other rogue nations.
Russia and China currently are showing cooperation in different sectors; but, in fact, the Sino-Russian cooperation belies the contention that defines the relationship between Moscow and Beijing. In 1969, the Soviet Union and China almost went to war with one another following lethal military conflict in the region. The frozen tundra along Russia’s far-eastern edge with China is recently becoming a hot zone as both states are suspected to deploy nuclear-capable missiles.
The natural resource rich southern/south-eastern border area of Russia is gradually being perched by Chinese intruders while Russian’s there are becoming minority ethnics. In defense sector also, there lies tremendous competition between the two nations. China is rapidly developing its air force, equipping them with the latest technologies. Though, there is still a huge gap between Moscow and Beijing in air supremacy, nonetheless, development of the PAK-DA will definitely challenge China’s growing eagerness to be a dominant air power in Asia.
So, the development of the PAK-DA portrays serious implications in regional security, especially in defense sector in comparison to both US and China. Once, being the dominant air force of the world, introduction of the PAK-DA in Russian Air Force will seriously challenge the supremacy of the United States. While Washington decided to step down in developing F-35 bombers, PAK-DA’s success for Russia will definitely compel the American leaders to rethink of developing PAK-DA’s comparable counterparts. China, though rapidly progressing to advance its air force will also think twice before taking any unilateral step to showcase its supremacy in Asia.
(Web, Google, RID, Wikipedia, You Tube)
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