How many Tu-22M-3 strategic bombers do the Russians have left?

 

From the Euromaiden website;

   "..A Russian air force Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire bomber crashed in Irkutsk Oblast near Mongolia on or just before Monday, 15 June 2026. Dramatic videos from the ground depict the swing-wing bomber falling to the ground after apparently suffering some kind of mechanical malfunction near Belaya air force base, which hosts Russian long-range bombers. The crash is a victory of sorts for Ukraine, as it labors to reduce Russia's fleet of long-range bombers. The bombers routinely launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities as part of Russia's wider campaign of terror targeting Ukrainian civilians..."

Russia’s Tupolev Tu-22M is one of the Kremlin’s Soviet-era legacy bomber aircraft, designed to fly at supersonic speeds and launch long-range strategic strikes against NATO targets on land, as well as high value shipping targets - US Carrier Strike Groups or other points of strategic importance. The war in Ukraine is a rather different conflict, with highly contested front-lines and multi-layered defences, which have meant that the Tu-22s have been kept largely out of harm's way. Both belligerents have had to find new ways of launching strategic strikes. Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with around 60-70 Tu-22 M-3 strategic bombers from a total production of around 268 machines. Only around 50% of these would have been serviceable. Production ended in 1993 and although capabilities were upgraded in the period 2014-2018 this has not prevented losses continuing to mount even despite the war against Ukraine - some 24 machines from all causes. The Tu-22M-3 serves as one of Russia's primary platforms for Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian analysis indicates up to 70% of Russia's combat-ready Tu-22M-3 long-range bombers have been lost since 2022 and it now retains as few as 20 operational aircraft (Defense Express). Obviously with no production, spares inventories are particularly low with individual machines being 'cannibalised' to keep the 'fleet' in the air. The Ukrainian defense outlet published its assessment in mid-June as a third Tu-22M-3 was lost in a crash since 2022.

The largest single loss of Tu-22M-3 bombers has been attributed to the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) Operation Spiderweb on 1 June 2025, which reportedly destroyed as many as 12 Tu-22M-3 aircraft at the Olenya, Belaya, and Dyagilevo airbases. The SBU claim that the operation struck 41 Russian aircraft across multiple bases (in red below). Even prior to Spiderweb in August 2024, a Ukrainian drone strike hit Soltsy-2 airbase, a military installation in Russia’s Novgorod region. The strike destroyed a single Tu-22M. As Ukraine does possess the ability to strike far beyond its borders the Tu 22M-3 force remains vulnerable on the ground, even while operating far behind the front...

During Operation Spider Web an FPV drone targets a Tu-22 M-3 at Dyagilevo training base near Ryazan

Tupolev Tu-22M-3 (RF-94233, Bort'Red 20') launches into its takeoff run in Belaya, Siberia. Dimitry Pichugin photo. The aircraft was lost after a takeoff accident in September 2017 in Shaikowka. 

British drone technology deployed in strikes deep inside Russia

 

UK drone technology is being deployed by Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. For the Russians this represents something of an escalation. Were the Russians so dumb that they did not expect the West to stand up to their aggression following their invasion of Ukraine ? They have been complaining about the use of UK drone technology in the war that they started for some time now. In 2024, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said drones using UK components and configurations had hit a fuel depot in the Kamensky district of the Rostov region. As their economy is based almost entirely on oil revenues, hitting Russian fuel depots and logistic centres is now a key part of Ukraine's defence - demonstrating to the Russians that the West will not simply allow Putin to wage aggressive war without consequences. The latest strikes also tell Putin that the West and the UK are not 'nervous' about stepping up support for Ukraine - especially as the Russians are showing themselves to be such 'paper tigers'..

Two British companies are known to have built drones supplied to Kyiv. FalconWorks, a BAE Systems subsidiary is one, the other unnamed. A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones had been used in recent attacks on Russia, which are said to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage.

In April, the UK defence ministry announced it would supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike devices, in its biggest package of military aid so far.

Andy Burnham told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky when they visited a British naval base late last month that he "can count on the UK for as long as it takes". Burnham also said the UK would share its new "Stone Cloak" technology with Kyiv which would enable electronic jamming of Russian air defences.

UK companies such as Meggitt and Qinetiq have been building target drones for the British Army and the Royal Navy for decades and in 2024 a drone that appeared to be an adaptation of the QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+ was widely photographed after coming down in Russia - according to Thomas Newdick, " ..bearing in mind the apparent attack mission, the drone will have been fitted with a warhead, but may otherwise be little changed from the original product.."

In July 2026 the new jet-powered Griffen interceptor drone developed by British-Ukrainian company Firebolt Engineering successfully destroyed a Russian Shahed-type attack drone in combat for the first time.

Below; UK Ministry of Defence image showing testing of the Nyan Effector carbon-fibre jet-powered drone built by British Aerospace Systems subsidiary Falcon works. The Nyan has a nearly three metre wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 75 kgs. Launched from a pneumatic catapult and powered by a gas-turbine engine, it cruises at around 222 km/h, carries up to 20 kgs and has a stated range exceeding 250 kms.

Ukrainian F-16 did shoot down a Russian Su 35

A Ukrainian F-16 did shoot down a Russian Su 35 with an air-to-air missile last month. U.S. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, formally acknowledged the milestone air-to-air engagement during a congressional hearing. The German newspaper Bild first reported that a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian Su-35S fighter jet in an aerial ambush aided by a Swedish-donated Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft. This historic first air-to-air combat kill by a Western-supplied F-16 is now confirmed by Caine. 

 Initially reported by Bild and the Ukrainian Air Force as taking place on June 7, 2025, near the border in the Kursk/Sumy sector, roughly 42 kilometres behind the front lines. Reports indicated a Swedish Saab 340 airborne early warning radar platform tracked the Russian jet and fed target coordinates to Ukrainian F-16s for a beyond-visual-range strike.Dutch-modified F-16 AMs were first received by the Ukrainians in May 2025. The Saab 340 AWACS platform, taken on charge just a few months ago, reportedly detected the Russian aircraft 200–300 kilometers from the border and relayed targeting data in real time to the F-16. Once within range, the Ukrainian fighter launched an AIM-120 missile. The Russian Su-35 was shot down approximately 16 kilometres inside Russian territory, near the town of Korenovo in Kursk region.

Below; Ukrainian Air Force photo of one of their recently acquired F-16s. Load comprises AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9L/M missiles, underwing fuel tanks, plus Terma (Adaptable Capability Enhancement) weapons pylons.

RAF air-sea in the Channel, May 1942 - picture of the day #12

 

Valiant crash-landing RAF Manston 23 May 1964 - picture of the day #11

 

Vickers Valiant B(PR)K1 WZ396 was written off following a wheels-up landing at RAF Manston in Kent on May 23, 1964. Right on the Kent coast just outside Ramsgate, (RAF) Manston, currently not operational, (still) has one of the longest runways in the UK. The aircraft landed on a "foam carpet" (fire suppression foam applied to the runway) after its main undercarriage failed to deploy properly. It was operated by 543 Squadron, a specialized unit that performed long-range mapping, photographic survey, and maritime reconnaissance. Following the incident on 23 May 1964, the aircraft was deemed a write-off and later broken up on-site. The aircraft had been delivered to the Royal Air Force on 18 September 1956.

Aviation Photo Crew - Serbian MiG 29

 

A friend told me about Aviation Photo Crew ..on YouTube, FB and elsewhere. They shoot great videos out of the back of a Skyvan ..like this one of a Serbia MiG 29..

DH Chipmunk 80th anniversary fly-in Duxford, 9 May - picture of the day #10

 

A few views of today's Chipmunk line-up seen at the 'fly-in' at Duxford, part of the IWM VE flying day, courtesy of David Mummery. According to Vintage Aviation news the 'special formation flying display' gathered together at least  18 Chipminks flying together in formation (see below) although of the 40+ aircraft that came to Dx, a number of pilots would not have had a 'display' licence so a little short of the hoped-for 40 machines that were slated to fly at the event..

Video of the event by OscarLKZ - a single click to view here

Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) night-fighting Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko

 

Originally designed as a long-range fighter, powered by two Nakajima Sakae 21 (NK1F, Ha35- 21) 14- cylinder 1130 hp air-cooled radials, the three-seat twin-engine Nakajima J1N1 was designated as a reconnaissance aircraft after relatively indifferent testing. After being successfully flown at night against US bombers, official production began in 1943 on a night fighter version, the J1N1-S Gekko ('moonlight'). Modifications included removing the third seat, adding twin-mounted 20 mm guns behind the cockpit angled up at 30 degrees similar to the German Schräge Musik. Additionally the type featured cannon angled down at 30 degrees.

The Gekko proved successful against B-17 and B-24 bombers, and continued to fight until the end of WWII. The later version, the J1N1-Sa, featured singular exhaust stacks and three 20 mm canons mounted in upper fuselage with lower guns removed. Some later Gekko models also featured nose-mounted radar. Introduced in the summer of 1944, the FD-2 (Type 3 Mk 6 Model 4) was an onboard airborne interception radar installed in the nose to improve detection of enemy aircraft, specifically the B-29 Superfortresses. Approximately 100 units of the radar were built. The FD-2 had an effective range of roughly 6.2 miles (10 km). However, it was generally considered inferior in performance to comparable German and British models.

 

The NASM J1N1-S Gekko is the only one remaining today. Records show that after arriving aboard the "USS Barnes," air intelligence officials assigned '7334 to Langley Field, Virginia, on December 8, 1945. The airplane moved on to the Air Materiel depot at Middletown, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 1946.

In 1979, NASM staff selected the aircraft for restoration. Work started on September 7, of that year and ended December 14, 1983, following 17,000 hours of meticulous, dedicated restoration work. It stands today as the sole remaining example of Japan's night-fighting Gekkos.

USAF jets attack Iran in Operation "Epic Fury"

A small selection of images from the war against Iran, from FB photographers at Fairford and the CENTCOM website image gallery.

EF-18G Growler (a specialised, anti-air defence USN fighter/bomber) getting airborne from Muwwaffaq Salti AB in Jordan loaded with four AGM-88 anti-radar missiles…

 A U.S. Air Force F-15E takes flight in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 2, 2026. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

Lakenheath-based F-35 seen getting airborne in a recent USAF image posted on the CENTCOM image gallery. RAF Lakenheath in the UK hosts two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II squadrons under the 48th Fighter Wing: the 495th Fighter Squadron ("Valkyries"), which was the first overseas USAF F-35A unit, and the 493rd Fighter Squadron ("Grim Reapers"), which transitioned from F-15s to F-35As during 2025. Both squadrons have achieved full operating capacity.

pre-flight checks on an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 37, on the flight deck of the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), while operating in support of Operation Epic Fury in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, March 2, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

 An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, is chained down on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury, Mar. 3, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

 An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

A U.S. sailor performs a visual inspection on an F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 213, on the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)

Oskar Hough photo, B-1 gets airborne from RAF Fairford 

four General Electric F101s seen in full burner mode as this RAF Fairford-based  B-1 takes off on 15 March. (HL PowerHunting photos)

 
..and, on 19 March, through the haze high in the skies over Somerset, a USAF KC-135R fuelling a B-1 over Launceston (Anna Wheeler photo)

Also on 19 March a B-52 from Minot AFB gets airborne from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire toting 12 AGM-158 cruise missiles each with 1000 lb armour-piercing warhead. Brilliantly captured by Adrian Webster Photography on FB (low-res copy shared here with the FB code..)

For an assessment of Iran's air defence capabilities see Tom Cooper's Substack page here

The Wing Walk Company at Headcorn, Kent

 

A few months ago I spent a day watching the activities of Aero Legends and the 'Wing-Walk Company' at Headcorn airfield in Kent. And no, I wasn't tempted at all - although a steady stream of intrepid 'wing-walkers' were! The day started dark and drizzly but by 10:30 the cloud base had lifted sufficiently for a whole queue of 'wing-walkers' to start getting ready for their flights. Senior pilot Richard (over 5,000 wing-walking flights experience..) and his colleague 27-year old Callum Collins (flying since age 15) then spent the next 4-5 hours taking up a succession of clients - old and young - for what must have been the experience of a lifetime (..it says here).

 I met Haiden (photo top, alongside the tail of  G-WGWK) and his mum and dad. Haiden was first up. Mum and Dad both looked frankly terrified at the prospect of young Haiden going up on the upper wing of a venerable Stearman biplane. Obviously he'd be strapped in - but the 'wing-walkers' are not attached directly to the aircraft but rather belted into a seat that is attached to a short pole bolted onto the top of the wing directly behind the prop. Haiden himself had just recently completed his first sky dive and had been 'inspired' to go wing-walking at Headcorn after watching the latest Tom Cruise film - if you've not already seen it just check out the stupid crazy Stearman flying sequences! Why hasn't that film won a gong for the flying ? 

 But the groups of people around The Wing Walk Company caravan on the airfield all appeared ultra-keen to have a go at wing-walking! The first flight lasts about 10 minutes and is always sans aerobatics - health and safety gone mad I say! But the steeply banked turns right over the airfield and roller-coaster 'bumps' would have been enough to get the punters screaming I reckon. And all of this going on while the parachutists of 'Go Skydive!' and the Spitfire twin-seater of 'Aero Legends' and the Stampe aerobatic team were doing their things. Check out the wing walk company website and click once on the red square to watch the short  2-minute video below.. Only £450 for a 10-minute flight. Thanks to TWWC senior pilot Richard for the Tom Cruise stories ..

Finnish Buffaloes - B-239 in the Continuation War (part 1)

 

Brewster 239 coded BW-354 flown by SSgt Heimo Lampi of 2/LeLv 24 seen during April 1942 in Tiiksjarvi.

Some Finnish pilots actually preferred the Buffalo - or the 239-  over their later 109 Gustavs received from Germany. SSgt Heimo 'Hemmi' Lampi later recounted his attachment to the Brewster to historian Dan Ford;

 

“The old friend Messerschmitt, who was a real hard fighter, was my next plane after the Brewster, but it totally lacked in humaneness.. [..]... “I could not love it the way I loved my friend Brewster. Nor any other plane for that matter.” 

Having scored during the Winter War, Lampi became an ace on day 1 of the Continuation War - 25 June 1941 - then later became an ace on the Brewster 239 and added eight more victories in the 109. 

 Warrant Officer Juutilainen (with 34, second-highest scoring ace on the Brewster Model 239) referred to the 239s as “fat hustlers, just like bees. They had speed, agility and good weaponry, too.…We were happy to take them anywhere to take on any opponent.” The top three Buffalo pilots - Lt. Hans Wind (with 39 victories in a Brewster), and 1st Lt. Jorma Karhunen (26.5)—claimed 23 Polikarpov I-16 monoplane fighters, 18 Polikarpov I-153 biplanes and 11 Hawker Hurricanes. Encounters with more modern Russian fighters—Yaks, MiGs and LaGGs—were rare until the Finns began the conversion to Messerschmitts in early 1943.

Lampi poses alongside the tail of his BW-354 '6' after downing two Soviet Hurricanes on 30 March 1942.

Lt. Jorma Savanto of 2/LeLv 24 in Selänpää during June 1941 at the start of the Continuation War.

BW-374 was one of a handful of ski-equipped B-239s seen in Nurmoila, March 1942

Malmi, May 1943 - Bf 109 G-2 and Ms 406 alongside B-239

2/ LeLv 24 pilots Jorma Savanto (second left) and Veikko Rimminen (second right) in front of Rimminen's BW- 367 in Selänpää. 

These images selected from the Finnish Aviation Museum archive @ https://ilmailumuseo.finna.fi/