Russia may use Engels airfield to strike Ukraine from Tu-22M3 bombers

Satellite images have appeared online, showing that the Russian Aerospace Forces have deployed Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, which can carry Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles, for the first time in the full-scale war against Ukraine, at the Engels airbase. There are five aircraft of this type there, Defense Express reports.

In addition, four Tu-95MS bombers and three Tu-160s are currently deployed at Engels, but this grouping has been at the airbase for a long time.

Russia’s Engels airfield, where five Tu-22M3s are deployed as of July 27, 2023

At the same time, in June 2023, the Russians also deployed two MiG-31s to this airport, but it is not known which modification - MiG-31K (i.e., the carrier of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile) or BM (fighter interceptor). The image was posted by OSINT analyst MT_Anderson on his Twitter account.

The first option that may come to mind here is that the Russian forces moved five Tu-22M3s to Engels airfield as part of measures to ensure the survivability of their strategic aviation, that is, to protect their scarce bombers from possible Ukraine’s attacks. Moreover, as it turned out, only about 40 aircraft of this type actually remain in Russia, although "on paper" it has about 60 bombers.

Russian Tu-22M3 bombers at the Shaykovka airfield, photo from open sources

However, it seems more realistic that the Russian Armed Forces plan to use the Engels airfield as another base for strikes against Ukraine with Tu-22M3 missile carriers.

Moreover, it is worth taking into account the following two values: the distance from the base to Engels to the border with Ukraine country is approximately 700 km, while the declared combat radius for Tu-22M3 with a 12-ton payload (i.e., two Kh-22 missiles) is about 1500 km at supersonic speed and up to 2400 km at subsonic speed with a mixed flight profile.

Preparing a Russian Tu-22M3 for departure, an illustrative photo from the pre-war period

From the above, it follows that the combat radius of the Tu-22M3 may be quite sufficient for the Russian forces to use Engels as another base for attacking Ukraine.