Current State of Russia’s Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 Bombers Amid Strike on Kazan Production Facility

In the early hours of January 20, unknown drones targeted the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAPO), a key facility for the production of Russia’s Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 strategic bombers. While the extent of the damage remains unclear, the attack highlights the significance of this plant to Russia’s defense industry and raises questions about the future of its strategic aviation capabilities.

Production challenges for Tu-160 bombers

According to Defense Express, Russia has faced significant hurdles in manufacturing Tu-160 bombers. The country lacks the capability to produce these aircraft from scratch, relying instead on Soviet-era components stored at KAPO for decades. This process, termed “reproduction” by Russian officials, has enabled the assembly of three Tu-160M bombers between 2022 and 2023, with an additional aircraft stalled at the modernization stage.

Despite presenting these aircraft as operational, challenges with engines and onboard systems have reportedly prevented their deployment for their intended missions. Notably, all four aircraft were originally scheduled for delivery in 2023 but are now expected to enter service no earlier than 2025.

The state of Tu-22M3 production

The situation for Tu-22M3 bombers appears even more complex. Before 2022, satellite imagery showed six incomplete airframes stored at KAPO. Only two of these were partially utilized—either as sources for spare parts or for the assembly of the modernized Tu-22M3M variant. Since the program’s inception, just two Tu-22M3M aircraft have been completed, in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

Plans to upgrade all operational Tu-22M3 bombers with air-to-air refueling capabilities have yet to materialize, reflecting the broader difficulties faced by the Russian defense industry in meeting its strategic aviation goals.

Strategic Importance of Kazan Aviation Plant

As one of the largest enterprises in Russia’s military-industrial complex, the Kazan Aviation Plant employs approximately 8,500 people. Beyond aircraft assembly and modernization, the facility plays a pivotal role in sustaining Russia’s long-range aviation capabilities.

Any disruption to its operations, such as the recent drone attack, is likely to result in further delays in bomber production and modernization, compounding challenges for Russia’s strategic forces.

Earlier, an explosion at Russia’s Olenya airfield in the Murmansk region reportedly damaged two Tu-22M3 bombers, with visible damage to the fuselage of aircraft tail numbers 33 and 31, according to Andrii Yusov of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate.