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. 

ВКС России получили четвёртую в 2025 году партию истребителей Су-35С - Russian Air Force accepts another 'batch' of Su-35S

 

The Russian Air Force has just received the fourth batch of Su-35S fighters this year. PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation) announced on August 21, 2025 that it has handed over the next batch of new Su-35S multi-role fighters to the Russian Air Force. The 4++ generation aircraft passed a full cycle of factory tests, were accepted by the technical staff and tested in various operating modes by pilots of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

One of a batch of new Su-35S fighters built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Gagarin Aviation Plant (KnAAZ) of the United Aircraft Corporation, which were handed over to the Russian Air Force in August 2025. The onboard number is obscured (c) United Aircraft Corporation PJSC

UAC announced the transfer of the first batch of Su-35S fighters to the Russian Air Force in 2025 on March 29, 2025, the second batch on May 12, and the third batch on June 25. As usual, UAC reports from 2022 onward do not disclose the number of aircraft delivered, and the fighter aircraft's flight numbers are retouched on the official photos and videos distributed.The third batch handed over on June 25 reportedly consisted of three aircraft. According to "bmpd" on LiveJournal, during 2024, KnAAZ transferred four batches of Su-35S fighters to the Russian Ministry of Defense with a total estimated number of 15 aircraft. Presumably, the now transferred Su-35S fighters are manufactured under the additional (fifth) contract signed by UAC for the supply of Su-35S aircraft to the Russian Ministry of Defense. In total, taking into account previous contracts, the Russian Air Force has received an estimated 135 serial Su-35S fighters between 2012 and the end of 2024.

Operation Spider Web, June 2025 - Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian airfields

 

Breaking: Ukrainian drones are attacking two Russian strategic bomber bases thousands of kilometers from Ukraine.

There are reports on damage to aircraft and infrastructure.

Photo/video #1-2 show Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast about 2,000 km from Ukraine,
#3-4 Belaya in… pic.twitter.com/jWoR0Cd9uk

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 1, 2025

The more you read about this operation the more incredible it appears -  117 drones transported -by duped Russian drivers in special containers - to within close proximity to four widely dispersed Russian long-range aviation bases and then commanded - via the Soviet's own telecoms networks -  to go and seek out some of the Russian strategic bomber force, potentially wiping out up a third of it. A master-stroke of asymmetric warfare. According to Ukraine's SBU security service the 01 June 25 drone attacks on four of Russia's long-range aviation hit :

34% of strategic carriers of cruise missiles at the main airfields of the Russian Federation .

34% hit claim by Ukraine= ~44–48 aircraft damaged or destroyed. 

Estimated total Russian strategic bomber fleet: ~130–140 cruise missile-capable bombers.

 
Tu-95MS: ~50–60 total (22–27 active; some reports mention 45 older variants).

Tu-160: Fewer than 20 operational.

Tu-22M3: ~60 in service (40 recently observed at Olenya airbase).

Russian Bomber Losses from Ukrainian Strikes

Tu-95MS Strategic Bombers
Dec 2022 (Engels-2): At least 1 damaged
Apr 2024 (Engels-2): 3 bombers hit
Jun 2025 (Operation “Spider’s Web”): Included among 40+ aircraft hit (exact number unspecified)
Minimum confirmed: 5 x Tu-95M

Tu-22M3 Strategic Bombers
Dec 2022 (Dyagilevo): At least 1 damaged
Aug 2023 (Soltsy): 1 destroyed
Jun 2025 (Operation “Spider’s Web”): Included among 40+ aircraft hit (exact number unspecified)
Minimum confirmed: 2 x Tu-22M3

Many of the Tupolevs in the drone footage appear to have literally piles of rubber tyres distributed across their upper surfaces. Is this to tell US satellites they're unserviceable or similar?  If so, then the Ukranians have wasted their time on a few of these decrepit airframes.  Or do they disrupt radio waves or similar? 

Edit - it seems that the tyres are to break up the outline of the aircraft so that the drone can not recognise it as a target.....but then that doesn't make sense..these bases were 1000s of kms from Ukraine. They weren't expecting to be attacked by drones..

An assessment of  the losses as seen in the video footage was posted by Tom Cooper on his ACIG.INFO board

- 8 Tu-95MS, nearly all FMC-examples (or 'fully mission capable'). Including RF-94132/Voronezh, RF-94127/Vorkuta, RF-94257/Chelyabinsk (one of last two Tu-95MS' manufactured)... (two 'probables' are RF-94117/Izborsk, and RF-94120/Kozelsk). At least three loaded with Kh-101s (AFAIK, the Russians run out of Kh-555s).

- 13 Tu-22M-3: I would say: 2-3 haven't been flown in some time, but the rest are 'legitimate'.

- both of the A-50s which are old, stored airframes. This was a waste of effort.

Still, now it can be said that this is nearly '100% of FMC-part' of the Tu-95MS-fleet, and something like 50% of all the Tu-22M-3s 'still operational as of the last two years' (i.e. well beyond the '30% of the Russian bomber fleet', originally claimed by the SBU).

...and the destruction of (at least) some 6-12 Kh-101s is also 'great news', because the Russians have major problems just with trying to make these. So, this attack blew up 'quite a stock': something like 'half a month of air strikes on Ukraine'. 

summary above by Tom Cooper

A few additional observations regarding the recent strike on Russia’s strategic aviation assets may help clarify its scale and implications.

Our team currently assesses the operational strength of the Russian strategic bomber fleet to be approximately 70 to 90 aircraft. A… pic.twitter.com/wF6UPGCdTZ

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) June 3, 2025

Russian A-50 AWACS downed over the Sea of Azov, January 14

 

" ..a couple of days ago Russia lost an A-50 and suffered damage to an Il-22 as widely reported on all news outlets (during the evening of January 14). Both of these aircraft are very valuable for the Russian Aerospace forces (the VKS) and there is some debate as to what exactly happened. ( Both Ukrainians and Russians claim to have downed the aircraft, although social media seems to be giving preference to the Russian story that this was a case of 'friendly fire'!) There are apparently some intercepted radio coms that allegedly originate from the Il-22 that specify that it is asking for assistance and that is is coming in for an emergency landing with photographs showing considerable shrapnel damage to the tail fin and tail plane. These aircraft are exceptionally valuable to a force and that's why usually there's only a few of those available and that's the case here as well with the A-50. Around 40 were built but Russia operates less than 10..While there is little hard evidence it would appear that these machines were targeted by Ukrainian Patriot missiles..."  Military Aviation History channel on youtube

Best (re)posts from TJ's Hangar - Iraqi Tu 22 and MiG 21

 

One of my favourite blogs is/was TJ's Hangar. While technically not defunct, it hasn't been updated for years, so - with apologies to TJ if he's still stalking the internet - I've decided to repost some of 'his' old posts, newly translated by myself! Starting with this one featuring Iraqi Tu 22 Blinders and a rare MiG 21 image..here 'TJ' explains how he went about locating some of 'his' rare images on the net...

" ..The last few weeks have seen the 40th anniversary of the start of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. For this reason, I think it is a good occasion to share some of the various photos I have been finding in recent months on the subject, after many hours of research, often tedious and boring research, until something worthy of interest appears. As in this case, it makes the effort expended worthwhile. This is a new image, at least for me, of an Iraqi Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder, probably photographed at the Al Takkadum base. It is taken from one of the many personal profiles or Arabic Facebook pages I have visited that were open to the public..."

From a different angle, another image of another Iraqi Tu-22, apparently in an operational state, judging by the tyres and attire of the posing pilots. Unfortunately the serial that should be seen on the front door of the front landing gear leg is either blurred or has been censored out. Once gain this is probably Al Takkadum base.

Below, Iraqi Mig 21 showing two Iranian 'kill' markings

" ...The story of how I found this photo is curious, because I almost lost it. I was surfing Facebook looking at dozens of profiles of Iraqi and Syrian soldiers and I hadn't found anything interesting for a while. Suddenly, in one of the profiles, a picture of a Mig-21 appeared, small and of poor quality. I don't usually copy such pictures. But it had a lot of comments, so that caught my attention and I decided to scroll through the comments, all in Arabic so I didn't know what they were saying, until, scrolling down, scrolling down, in one of them, Bingo! this picture appeared. But it was late and I was already tired, so after checking that there were no more photos in the thread, I copied it, closed it and went to bed. It is a very tedious and tiring task, opening one by one public Facebook profiles, looking at the photos one by one when there are hundreds of them and then stopping to read all the comments on each photo. If you do the latter, you may never finish and you don't make any progress. It is really tiring. So in these cases of "exotic" profiles, it's often a matter of luck to find something interesting, as you can say that I'm going blind, as I don't know the language in this particular case. I know that there is a translator incorporated into the Facebook answers, but its usefulness is sometimes limited, and there is a risk of crashes or loss of access to the original links, which has happened to me, so I don't usually use it, unless I see something worthwhile..."

"...Once I found the photo, we moved on to another phase, the identification phase. What do we have? Well, we have nothing more and nothing less than a MiG-21MF or maybe a Bis, with two Iranian "kills" painted on the nose of the fuselage. So this pilot is not just anyone. I then started looking for information on Iraqi "Aces" in the war against Iran, both on the net and in books I have at home. In the latter respect, among others, I have the fabulous "Iran-Iraq War in the Air" by Tom Cooper and Farzah Bishop, published by Shiffer in the 1990s, which is the best thing I have read to date on this conflict. On the other hand, when looking for Iraqi aces on the web, Mohommed (curious about the O, it's not Mohammed) Rayyan appeared among others, and consulting several pages, I found that he shot down two Iranian planes with a Mig-21 on 23 October 1980, before becoming a MiG-25 pilot. With this information I went to Tom Cooper's book, who confirmed the date of the shoot-downs, adding that they were Iranian F-5 fighters, which probably means that the plane in the picture is none other than the one involved in those two shoot-downs. The photo is simply very interesting because it allows us to identify the serial number of the plane with the two victories, which is 2092, a detail that I have not seen published anywhere until now, so perhaps, just perhaps, we have an unpublished piece of information, and we also have a pilot posing for the camera, perhaps Mohommed Rayyan himself? Probably, I suppose. The photo of the year so far without a doubt.... :) Photos like this and the previous ones make the searches and the time spent on them worthwhile..."

And subsequently on the cover of Tom Cooper's "Wings of Iraq", published in 2022

also on this blog

Iraqi Mirage F.1s over Baghdad

Are the Russians using their so-called 5th Gen Su-57 (Frelon) in the Ukraine war ? latest UK MoD defence Intelligence report

According to the UK MoD Russia has been flying its new Su-57 jets against, but not over, Ukraine. According to the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine the Russians have almost certainly used Su-57 FELON to conduct missions against Ukraine. To quote the UK Defence journal web site, 

"The Su-57 is equipped with advanced avionics and a range of modern weapons, including long-range air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. It is also designed to have stealth capabilities, which makes it difficult to detect on radar. The missions have likely been limited to flying over Russian territory, launching long range air-to-surface or air-to-air missiles into Ukraine..."

“Since at least June 2022, Russian Aerospace Forces have almost certainly used Su-57 FELON to conduct missions against Ukraine. FELON is Russia’s most advanced fifth-generation supersonic combat jet, employing stealth technologies and highly advanced avionics. These missions have likely been limited to flying over Russian territory, launching long range air-to-surface or air-to-air missiles into Ukraine.

Recent commercially available imagery shows five FELON parked at Akhtubinsk Air Base, which hosts the 929th Flight Test Centre. As this is the only known FELON base, these aircraft have likely been involved in operations against Ukraine.

Russia is highly likely prioritising avoiding the reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology which would come from any loss of FELON over Ukraine. This is symptomatic of Russia’s continued risk-averse approach to employing its air force in the war.”

".. The SU-57 does look very cool, but looking cool isn’t the same as being effective...Using this aircraft in effect as a bomb truck does not make any real sense outside of the political and military sales arenas. I also wonder if the real reason is for such a low level of particiation by the Russian air force is more fundemental and deep seated than the quoted reason of not wanting to risk compromising their latest tech.

It has been discussed in the past that the Russians may lack the skills and comprehensive support structure necessary to mount large coordinated air operations. Most of their operations over Syria were reportedly small scale, rarely if ever more than 3 or 4 aircraft over the target area. This could well point to a lack of training for large scale coordinated operations involving dozens of aircraft of different types each conducting different roles within the mission profile, e.g surpression of enemy air defences, re-fueling, airborne command and control, escort and finally attack… All of this is required if you are operating in a contested environment and thanks to the Russians own lack of aggression against the Ukrainian air defences I suspect the the latter have only improved since the start of the war.

'Stealth' probably isn’t really the right word to describe the Su 57 -  low observable (L/O) is the better description so it is likely that the SU-57 would be vulnerable to the Ukrainian air defences if the type did venture into Ukrainian airspace. ."

Hind at Duxford

Tim Felce photos reposted from FB. Czech Hind arriving for the Duxford September airshow..

Russian invasion of Ukraine - the fate of the Antonov An -225 Mriya at Hostomel airport - destroyed! - latest edit March 2023

 

Below; posted on twitter and re-posted here using their 'embed' code, a Russian state TV reporter broadcasts from Hostomel airport north of Kyiv. As she cowers as gunshots ring out, the camera takes in a view inside of the hangar housing the An 225, showing that it has been almost completely destroyed. Of course the reporter is saying that it was destroyed by Ukrainian artillery, but it is almost certainly the case that it was destroyed by the Russians..Having now watched the recent Channel 4 programme on the 'battle' for Hostomel, it would seem that the Russians were correct - as Ukranian artillery laid down a barrage on the airfield to prevent further use of the runway and as a prelude to a counter-strike..

BREAKING New footage from Gostomel airport shows the Antonov An-225 Mriya on fire https://t.co/DQpNm9OUZl

— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) March 3, 2022

Footage of the An 225 on fire at Hostomel airport

Sad sight for avgeeks: Antonov's An-225 Mriya on fire at Hostomel airport. https://t.co/q7nzXGB728

— Aeronews (@AeronewsGlobal) March 3, 2022

Russian State TV report from Gostomel Airport in Kyiv. Sadly An-225 completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/9kN04Gkz91

— Aldin 🇧🇦 (@aldin_ww) March 4, 2022

Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Lightning F6 XS 932 of 11 Sqn RAF Leuchars

 

by Steve Gyles

"..I took this one on 23 April 1970 from Lightning F6 XS932 of 11 Sqn RAF Leuchars. It was approx 3 hours into a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) sortie at 0700 hours. Got back in time for breakfast.

I was scrambled at 0400 hours against 80 unknown inbound tracks to the north. The Victor tanker had been on a lower alert at Leuchars and got airborne 15 minutes behind me. The other Lightning had been on turnround following an earlier scramble that morning. He followed about 5 minutes after the tanker.
Between us we got 20 intercepts. I got 10; the other Lightning 7; and the Victor tanker 3. We probably saw another 40 to 50 aircraft either on radar or visually. It was more a case of avoidance than interception. On one occasion I was with a 4-ship of Badgers when a shadow went over me. I looked up to see 4 more of them about 500ft above crossing on a 90.

I took the photograph with the QRA camera when we were on recovery. The Bear was heading straight at Leuchars. With about 200nm to go he rocked his wings and turned away. I never saw the original photo. My entire roll of some 70 happy snappies was sent immediately down to UKMoD. It was the following weekend that this one appeared in the Daily Telegraph. Apparently the Soviet Union were celebrating Lenin's centenary with a massive air and sea exercise..."

Arrival of three long-range Tu-22m3 bombers at the Russian base Khmeimim in Syria, May 2021 - Picture of the day

 reposted from the syria.mil.ru photo galleries

Fairey Barracuda, Luftwaffe special schemes and Blinder - Ebay photo find #116, picture of the day #6

 

Fairey Barracuda TR Mk.III MD837 Merlin Engine Aug 1944

pic.twitter.com/QgLrlJr7k9

— Skies-of-Glory (@violetpilot1) October 29, 2021

A great image of the Soviet TU-22 (NATO reporting name 'Blinder') a supersonic nuclear bomber of the Cold War.
Like some NATO nuclear bombers, it also saw 'conventional' operations in smaller conflicts, such as the Iran/Iraq war and Libyan strikes against African countries. pic.twitter.com/FdIGIyvAWa

— Trev Clark's Obscure Aviation History Page . 🚁 (@clark_aviation) October 29, 2021

Vidéo from Khmeimim Soviet airbase in Syria

 

Video from Khmeimim Airbase showing a Su-34 (red 20), two Su-24, three Su-35S (red 19, 24, and possibly 60 or 64?), two Mi-8AMTSh, and two Mi-35M helicopters. 350/https://t.co/xd9z84eqD0 pic.twitter.com/V9acCRBFiU

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 12, 2020

Barbarossa victims -more Soviet aircraft destroyed. Quora opinion piece on Soviet aircraft by Charles McDevitt

Why do we hear so little about Soviet aircraft during WW2? We always hear about British, American and German aircraft but never Soviet.

Charles McDevitt, former Retired Biologist

The Soviet aircraft of WWII are fascinating for where they differ and where they match other nations aircraft.

The Russians were not much interested in strategic bombers, but were real leaders in tactical and attack aircraft. Their fighters were dangerously late to reach parity with the Germans, but did so despite being handicapped by a lack of strategic materials.

The Soviets learnt a number of lessons from the Spanish Civil War, where they supplied the Republicans with most of their aircraft, but Stalin’s purges slowed the implementation of those lessons - it takes longer to design an aircraft while you are in prison!

Let me develop my points.

Tactical and Attack aircraft.

 

Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik - arguably the best close support aircraft of the war.

Able to carry huge loads and very well armoured. For reasons that have never been clear, Illyushin was not able to use a radial, air-cooled engine - by far and away the better choice for a ground attack aircraft. So, he put the radiator behind the engine! Hence that huge air scoop on top of the cowling.

More Illyushins were built than any other plane in history!

Petlyakov Pe-2 

High speed twin-engined dive bomber. Petylyakov's “get out of jail free card”. A candidate for the best dive bomber of WWII.

And then fighters

Yaks - lots of them! 43,000 in all! Starting with the Yak 1.

Stalin was so impressed Yakolev got the Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina - the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union - a 100,000 rouble prize plus Zis car

Moving on to the Yak 3 - more manouverable than the Spitfire according to some!

Luftwaffe pilots were told to avoid dogfighting low down with Yaks that had an oil cooler below the engine.

And ending up with the Yak 9

And then you have the Laggs Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 

Amazing what you can do with pressure bonded plywood! The Lagg 3 was nothing special - and Soviet pilots nicknamed the plane Lakirovanny Garantirovanny Grob, or "guaranteed varnished coffin"

But Lavochkin worked hard to improve his design (prison is a good incentive?). He fitted a radial engine to get the Lavochkin La-5 ( Vladimir Gorbunov had given up so his name was dropped off the aircraft designation!) Lavochkin La-5 

The La-5 was a superb dogfighter low down and later Lavochkins were even better. Lavochkin La-7 

Migs are similar - an iffy start Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 

But achieving greatness eventually Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 

OK, late for WWII but came as a real surprise in the Korean War! So, we still do not know as much about Soviet aircraft as we might like, but what we do know is very impressive..."