If you read tom clancy novels during the
soviet era, you may recognize the
provocative exploits of the backfire. below i present a rundown of its recent
deployments and capabilities. Tu-22M3 backfires in syria three tuple of Tu-22M3 backfire missile carrier bombers were
deployed to khameen air base south of Latakia in Syria earlier in 2021.
This is a modern tactical and strategic
development. tactically because the
bombers can keep an eye on the u.s navy, contest the skies over the mediterranean
and threaten nato shipping.
This is a strategic move because it
allows the russians to have more power
and influence in the middle east. The backfires could reach the american
base at camp lemanier djibouti which has
4,000 personnel including special
operations forces, drone operators and
intelligence analysts.
Tu-22M3 bombers can protect russian
interests, the Tu-22M3 can also fly near
libya where russia is trying to play a
role in ending a civil war.
The Russians reportedly have private
military contractors from wagner working
in libya. So this is an additional way
that moscow is projecting power and
protecting assets in the middle east.
The Russians like to claim that
airplanes deployed at Kamem, which the Russians have enlarged over the last
year are there only on short rotations.
To be sure the backfire has dropped
bombs on syria before to target rebels, but those were missions that originated
from russia. The backfire is not the only bomber in
syria, other russian heavy bombers fly
out of kamem such as the 295 ms and the
two 160.
This shows how serious the kremlin is
about the middle east and its
willingness to use the military to shape
the battle space. russia institutes a series of upgrades
owe the Tu-22M3 there are at least 6 Tu-22M and M3 bombers in the Russian Arsenal.
The supersonic Tu-22M3 received an upgrade
in the 1980s with new NK-25 engines that
provided a better top speed of
1429 miles per hour, a range of 4,350
miles and an improved payload.
Aerodynamics were enhanced with some
design changes to its nose and wings. an enhanced radar was also installed. From the Kh-22
and Kh-23 anti-ship munitions to the
rataga Kh-15 missiles to the newer Kh-47M2
kinzel nuclear-capable ballistic
missiles, plus with a 10-ton payload it can drop a
variety of unguided bombs.
The backfire went through another
upgrade that was finished in 2017 that
created the Tu-22M3M variant. The first flight of the updated model
flew in 2018. 30 bombers got the upgrade.
This has better avionics and more
precise bombing along with the
long-range, nuclear-capable, carrier-killer Kh-32 cruise missile. The Russians claim that someday these
airplanes could carry hypersonic weapons.
The russians believe the Tu-22M3M can also
be improved with new electronic warfare
capabilities. What will the u.s navy do, the US Navy
won't be overwhelmed by the modern Tu-22M3M backfire but it will have to account
for the bomber's standoff over the
horizon capabilities.
the ranges of the russian missiles are
noteworthy, a hypersonic weapon
capability could endanger u.s and nato
shipping in the mediterranean.
The americans have a vote in a potential
fight as the deployment of russian
modern missile carrying bombers a
dangerous game changer in the middle
east. Not completely american naval planners
are used to dealing with china and east
asia and the chinese have numerous
standoff anti-ship missiles too.
The u.s navy's aegis combat system is
highly advanced and ready to defend
against numerous types of air-to-surface
missiles.
Carrier-based F-35s can eliminate
russian bombers. So even though the
russians have made a significant move to
the middle east, the americans can defend
and strike back with great success if
necessary.
