Russia struggles to modernize aging Tu-95 bombers amid war demands

According to Defense Express, Russian propaganda media reported remarks from Sergey Chemezov, the head of Rostec, about the defense industry's ongoing efforts to upgrade Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

Chemezov claims these upgrades consider lessons from the full-scale war against Ukraine, particularly missile strikes on Ukrainian territory. He highlights improvements such as new communication and navigation systems. Additionally, he asserts that the modernization has enhanced the bombers’ combat capabilities, allowing them to use "modern missile systems" without specifying which ones.

Notably absent from these reports is any mention of upgrades to the airframe or engines, suggesting limitations in Russia's ability to modernize its fleet. Despite claims of increased effectiveness, the reality may be different, as these omissions point to unresolved issues with maintaining the fleet’s long-term operability.

According to The Military Balance 2024, Russia began the year with 58 Tu-95MS bombers. However, estimates suggest fewer are operational. The UK Defense Ministry, for example, assessed in mid-2023 that Russia's strategic air force had about 80 bombers in total, including Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 models, implying that only around 40 Tu-95MS remain functional.

This discrepancy highlights challenges in maintaining these aircraft, particularly in addressing wear on critical components. 

While these issues may not immediately hinder Russia's capacity for large-scale missile strikes, they could lead to significant operational setbacks over the coming years.