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Chinese
websites are again reporting that Russia has agreed to sell Beijing the
production line for the Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber at a cost of $1.5 billion.
Once
in service with the Chinese Naval Air Forces the Tu-22M3 will be known as the
“H-10″.
The
deal struck with Russia includes 36 aircraft: a batch of 12 followed by a
second batch of 24 additional bombers.
The
Tu-22 will be employed in the maritime attack role and used to attack targets
from low levels to avoid radar detection.
The
Tu-22 is a Soviet supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic and maritime
strike bomber.
It
was developed during the Cold War and is among the closest things to a modern
stealth bomber.
However,
it will get updated with indigenous systems and an extended range making it a
significant threat to many latest generations weapon systems.
That’s
even more true if the deal with Russia includes the Raduga Kh-22 (AS-4
‘Kitchen’) long-range anti-ship missile, in which case this could be a
significant change in the strategic balance of the region.
The
Tu-22 bombers will give China another tool to pursue the area denial strategy
in the South China Sea and the Pacific theatre; a fast platform to launch
cruise missiles, conventional or nuclear weapons in various regional war
scenarios.
In
other words, a brand new threat to the U.S. Navy in the region.
The Aviationist
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