Tu-22M3 bomber, which usually fires missiles at Ukraine, crashes in Russia

The Russian Aerospace Forces lost a Tu-22M3 bomber as a result of a crash near the village of Buryat, Usolsky District, Irkutsk Region.

Here's What We Know

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the crew ejected, but one of the pilots was killed. It is possible that the plane was assigned to the Belaya airbase and was part of the 326th Heavy Bomber Ternopil Division of the 37th Air Force.

This is not the first Tu-22M3 crash in the Irkutsk region. On 15 August 2024, another aircraft of this type crashed near the village of Mikhailovka, falling 100 metres from the federal highway R-255.

The Soviet-Russian Tu-22M3 made its first flight in 1977 and entered service in an updated version in 1989. The last aircraft of this type was produced in 1993.

The aircraft has a crew of four and is capable of carrying three Kh-22 or X-32 missiles. Two NK-25 engines provide a thrust of 14,500 kilograms in normal operation and 25,000 in afterburner mode.

The aircraft can fly up to 7,000 kilometres without refuelling and 2,400 kilometres with a maximum load. As of 2024, the Russian Aerospace Forces had 56 of these bombers in service.

Source: Telegram