Multiple Russian Tu-95 bombers burning a massive Ukrainian FPV drone strike

[Oldcarpy2]

Look at all that black smoke.  If they were dummies, they must have fuelled them up!

Why on Earth would they put dummies on airfields so far away from Ukraine anyway?

[putnam6]

The only way we will know the true effect is by seeing how many sorties Russia continues to run, regardless Russia's stockpile of missiles is supposedly huge.

If the claims below are 1/3rd true, thats world of hurt coming down the pike

[Inspector44]

 

Like I said, they were either in depot maint or they were the equivalent of a bunch of B-52Ds or Gs getting hit. Russia uses a hand full, if that, of TU-95s they use to harass Alaska Air national guard pilots and that's it. They have several platforms capable of launching ALCMs so I don't know if the -95 has been used on Ukraine or not. Based on my own first hand knowledge and the internet they are not very modern aircraft either, I mean its still a turbo prop. They don't have any glass cockpit upgrades I've ever seen and look like they are stuck in the 80s so I don't believe they could afford to maintain them as well as their nuclear ICBM arsenal. Ukraine accomplished literally nothing with this strike that will change the dynamics of this war in any significant way.

[Oldcarpy2]

Some more info here:

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/tu-9...destroyed/

"The aircraft has had a significant role in Russia’s strategic bombing campaign against Ukraine throughout the war, targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure and other military sites."

"Ukraine then flew these drones into the airbases, striking multiple bomber frames. Based on satellite images and video footage, about 8-9 Tu-95s were struck during the attack (far away from the 20-30 figure circulated by pro-Ukrainian accounts). According to Russian sources, three of these Tu-95s were destroyed beyond repair."

They have had lots of upgrades:

"Other variants of the Tu-95 have been developed with the most advanced being the Tu-95MSM, a heavily modernized version with state-of-the-art radar and information systems, upgraded engines, and increased carrying capacity. The Tu-95’s avionics and weapon systems have been continuously upgraded over the years. Modern variants are equipped with advanced radar, navigation, and communication systems, as well as the ability to carry a variety of air-launched cruise missiles. In addition, the engines were upgraded, making them more reliable and allowing the aircraft to stay in the air longer without refueling. The aircraft’s defensive armament includes tail-mounted cannons and electronic countermeasures to protect against enemy fighters and surface-to-air missiles."

[Inspector44]

Nothing makes me laugh more than someone googling a subject and then copy pasting the Wikipedia article in an attempt to lecture someone who has actual hands on experience. The B-52H is decades ahead of the TU-95. When the J comes out with the new radar/avionics package and Rolls-Royce engine upgrades it will be even more advanced than any pile of rusted Russian shit that hasn't flown any significant sortie in years. I have actually stepped foot on a functional TU-95 while in Europe and it looked like I stepped onto a WW2 bomber. In fact, I've sat in the cockpit of a functional Mig-29 Fulcrum and a Polish Mi-24 "Hind" and the first thing that hit me was the incredibly poor state of the machine. Obvious environmental damage, no obvious preventative maintenance conducted, broken equipment and FOD everywhere and these were apparently airshow quality birds. I don't know maybe being an aircraft tech and QA makes me look at things harder than the average person, but I wasn't impressed. Ukraine didn't get the win they think they did and may have even wasted all that intelligence and equipment for a dud operation.

[Oldcarpy2]

Nothing makes me laugh more than someone googling a subject and then copy pasting the Wikipedia article in an attempt to lecture someone who has actual hands on experience. The B-52H is decades ahead of the TU-95. When the J comes out with the new radar/avionics package and Rolls-Royce engine upgrades it will be even more advanced than any pile of rusted Russian shit that hasn't flown any significant sortie in years. I have actually stepped foot on a functional TU-95 while in Europe and it looked like I stepped onto a WW2 bomber. In fact, I've sat in the cockpit of a functional Mig-29 Fulcrum and a Polish Mi-24 "Hind" and the first thing that hit me was the incredibly poor state of the machine. Obvious environmental damage, no obvious preventative maintenance conducted, broken equipment and FOD everywhere and these were apparently airshow quality birds. I don't know maybe being an aircraft tech and QA makes me look at things harder than the average person, but I wasn't impressed. Ukraine didn't get the win they think they did and may have even wasted all that intelligence and equipment for a dud operation.

Laugh if you like, but my source was not Wikipedia .

Any "expert" view on the upgrades?

Comparing the B52 to the TU 95 seems a bit irrelevant, seeing as how they are in active service, and being used to kill Ukrainians.

I wasn't lecturing anyone, I wasn't even replying to you - just posting some more info, on topic.

[Inspector44]

Laugh if you like, but my source was not Wikipedia .

Any "expert" view on the upgrades?

Comparing the B52 to the TU 95 seems a bit irrelevant, seeing as how they are in active service, and being used to kill Ukrainians.

The B-52 has not been used to attack any Ukrainians or Russians so again, stop typing outright fabrications.

[Oldcarpy2]

"The B-52 has not been used to attack any Ukrainians or Russians so again, stop typing outright fabrications."

I didn't say it was.  I was refering to the TU 95.  Obviously.

[Oldcarpy2]

"When the J comes out with the new radar/avionics package and Rolls-Royce engine upgrades it will be even more advanced than any pile of rusted Russian shit that hasn't flown any significant sortie in years."

Apart from playing a very significant role in flying lots of sorties against  Ukraine during the past 3+ years?

Which you don't seem to be aware of.

They are regularly probing our airspace over the North Sea, too.

[RickyD]

As far as I have been able to figure they hit no more than 8 planes and only a couple were actually destroyed completely. They may occasionally still fly sorties in uncontested airspace launching cruise missiles, but even then it seems few and far between from my reading. They just have many more newer air frames which can also do that job that can get closer and are more survivable than these old bombers. They really aren't doing any actual bombing in Ukraine. Another interesting aspect to this strike is that under the START treaty these types of tactical assets must be parked outside and all participants agree not to target these assets in return for the ability to keep tabs by satellite. If it comes out that the US had a hand in this it would be a pretty major violation of that treaty. If they've been planning this for 18 months there is no way the US didn't know about it...we are basically running things behind the scenes over there...obviously in a very deniable way.

My opinion after keeping tabs on the info surrounding this strike over the last couple days is that Ukraine wasted a significant capability Russia was not suspecting for a strike that did nothing but make a headline for the propaganda mills. There had to be better targets for these drones to hit that would actually make an impact on the fight at hand.