How many Tu-22M3 bombers are in Russia? Expert estimates

He said this on Espreso TV.

"According to Military Balance, as of mid-2023, Russia had 57 Tu-22M3s on paper. At least 2 aircraft should be subtracted from this number: one was shot down by an S-200 in April this year, and the other crashed on August 15 in the Irkutsk region. We also need to take into account the damaged two aircraft at the Olenya air base. In addition, there was a strike on the Dyagilevo air base, where another plane burned down in 2022, but this has already been taken into account. Another aircraft was destroyed in 2023 at the Soltsy airfield. So, on paper, the Russians have 54 aircraft left, minus those that are out of commission, which is about fifty," Katkov explained.

According to the military expert, before the full-scale invasion, Russia planned to modernize 30 Tu-22M3 aircraft to continue their operation.

"Obviously, the Russian Federation has problems with maintaining these aircraft in appropriate combat readiness. Currently, the main bomber in the Russian Federation is the Tu-95, with about 40 units on paper. Information about the actual number of Tu-22M3 aircraft is rigorously guarded, as there are significant problems. Engines for these aircraft have not been produced since 1996," Katkov added.

• On July 25, a military Mi-28 helicopter crashed in Russia's Kaluga region due to a technical malfunction.
• On August 15, a Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Russia's Irkutsk region. One of the four pilots was killed.