| PAK DA | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Stealthstrategic bomber |
| National origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | Kazan Aircraft Production Association, Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant, Beriev[1] |
| Designer | |
| Status | In development |
| Primary user | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 2027 (expected)[2] |
TheTupolev PAK DA orPAK DA (Russian:ПАК ДА, short for:Перспективный авиационный комплекс дальней авиации,romanized: Perspektivnyi aviatsionnyi kompleks dal'ney aviatsii,lit. ''Prospective aviation complex forlong-range aviation''),[3] codenamePoslannik (Russian:Посланник,lit. 'Envoy'),[4] is a next-generationstealthstrategic bomber being developed byTupolev for theLong-Range Aviation branch of theRussian Aerospace Forces.[5] The PAK DA is set to complement and eventually replace the olderTupolev Tu-95 in Russia's Air Force service.[6]
According to the 2020Izvestia report, three PAK DA prototypes were expected to be ready for preliminary testing by April 2023, with the state tests to begin in February 2026. The aircraft is expected to enter serial production in 2027.[7] Due to the ongoing modernization of Russia's current bomber fleet and massive purchases of upgradedTu-160M2s, it is believed that theRussian Defence Ministry will initially procure only a small number of PAK DA bombers.[8]
Technical parameters of the PAK DA include subsonic speed, 12,000-kilometre (7,500 mi) operational range and a capability to continuously remain in the air for up to 30 hours while carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads up to 30 tons.[9] The aircraft is expected to have a crew of four.[7]
The first mention of Russia's next-generation long-range strategic bomber dates back to the late 1990s when the formation of requirements for the aircraft had begun. In December 2007, the Russian Air Force handed toTupolev Design Bureau the first set of technical and tactical requirements for a new strategic bomber and financing of the programme began in 2008.[10] According to some early reports, the PAK DA was to be heavily based on the supersonicTupolev Tu-160,[3] but later reports regarding to the aircraft, including a televised address from then-Prime MinisterVladimir Putin, seemed to imply that it will be an entirely new design.[11]
On 3 September 2009, the Russian Defence Ministry awarded Tupolev Design Bureau a three-yearR&D contract to undertake studies for the new long-range bomber. According to the President-General Designer of Tupolev, Igor Shevchuk, "this should be a fundamentally new aircraft, based on conceptually new solutions".[11]
In June 2012, then-Deputy Prime MinisterDmitry Rogozin questioned the need for a new long-range bomber, pointing out the progress in aerial and anti-missile defence technology, saying "these aircraft will not get anywhere. Not ours, not theirs." TheChief of theGeneral StaffNikolai Makarov, responded by stating that work is ongoing and that the design was superior to American aircraft.[12] On 9 June 2012, Prime MinisterDmitry Medvedev stated that the PAK DA was confirmed as planned.[citation needed] Russian President Vladimir Putin in his statement on 14 June 2012 also urged the need for a new long-range bomber.[citation needed]
In March 2013, it was reported that the selected PAK DA design would be a subsonicflying wing with emphasis onstealth technology rather than supersonic speeds.[13][14][15] Anatoly Zhikharev noted that an unmanned strategic bomber may follow the PAK DA after 2040.[16] On 30 August 2013, aRussian Defense Ministry source revealed that the PAK DA will be equipped with advanced types of precision-guided weapons, includinghypersonic weapons.[17]
In November 2013, a decision was taken to speed up work on the PAK DA and begin full-scale R&D work in 2014.[18] In February 2014, then-Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Andrey Boginsky stated that Russia was seeking Chinese investment in the project.[19]
In April 2014, head of Russia'sUnited Aircraft Corporation (UAC)Mikhail Pogosyan announced that the Tupolev Design Bureau had finalized the design and that the project was moving to the intermediate phase - i.e. completion of the design and construction of a prototype.[20]
In March 2015, it became known that theKAPO plant inKazan was chosen for the construction of the PAK DA prototypes and serial aircraft. The Russian Defence Ministry allocated about RUB5 billion for reconstruction and technical re-equipment of the production base, to prepare the plant for the construction of the new bomber.[21] Development of the PAK DA will be carried out simultaneously with serial production of the upgradedTu-160M2,[22] although this later led to repeated delays in the programme.[23]
In July 2015, representatives from theUnited Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), now part ofRoselectronics, announced the company is developing "one-of-a-kind communications system" for the bomber.[citation needed]
On 1 March 2017, it was reported that the first full-size model of the bomber was built, amongst various scale mock-ups of different configurations.[24]
In July 2018,United Engine Corporation (UEC) and Tupolev signed a contract for the creation of PAK DA's powerplant.[25] According to early reports, it will be derived from the upgradedKuznetsov NK-32 Tier 2 engine, intended for modernized Tu-160M2s. About RUB8 billion was to be allocated for the development of the new engine that will be produced byJSC Kuznetsov inSamara.[26][27] The engine is to provide the PAK DA with a capability to perform 30 hours nonstop flight while being resistant to temperatures from minus 60°C to plus 50°C and even effects of a nuclear explosion. Its service life is expected to be from 12 to 21 years.[25][4] The first tests of the PAK DA engine will take place in 2020 and be completed by the end of 2021.[28]
In February 2019, PAK DA's final draft was approved and all documents for the construction of the bomber were signed.[29] Construction of the first aircraft components began in late 2019.[30] On 26 May 2020, the beginning of construction of the firstPAK DA bomber was reported byTASS with reference to anonymous sources.[31] Still according to TASS, citing another source in the aircraft industry, the first prototype of the PAK DA will be finished in early 2023.[32]
On 23 December 2020, it was reported that UEC was in the final stages of completing the first prototype engine for the PAK DA, with bench tests to be carried out in 2021.[33] The new engine was designed digitally, which made it possible to quickly manufacture the first sample.[34] On 24 December 2020, according to a TASS source in the Russian military-industrial complex, it was reported that there were now several PAK DA being assembled at the same time at the Kazan aircraft plant.[35] The source said that two or three prototypes are already being launched into production.[36]
On 22 July 2021, the general director ofNPP Zvezda announced at the 2021MAKS air show that the ejection seats for the PAK DA were under development and should be handed over to Tupolev in 2023.[37] The testing phase of the PAK DA's ejection seat started in October 2022, according to the general director ofNPP Zvezda.[38] On 2 August 2021, it was announced that a new long-range nuclear-capablehypersoniccruise missile, theKh-95,[39] was under development, to be fitted inside the PAK DA's weapon bay.[40] On 25 November 2021, it was reported that the first PAK DA prototype was in final stage of assembly and would start ground tests in 2022, with the first flight scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025.[41]
On 16 March 2022, Tupolev published a patent for an engine air intake for stealthy flying wing aircraft, including illustrations of such an aircraft.[42]
On 13 May 2022, a production planning ofUnited Aircraft Corporation at theVoronezh Aircraft Production Association plant showed that the production of components for 6 PAK DA was ongoing. The planning also confirmed that several PAK DA prototypes were still expected to be built between 2023 and 2026.[43] Work on the schedule was further warranted by Russian Deputy Prime MinisterDenis Manturov, explaining that thesanctions following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine would not affect the timing of the creation of the PAK DA as the bomber does not contain any foreign components.[44] Similarly, on 10 August 2023, the eve of the"Army-2023" International Military-Technical Forum, Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director ofRostec claimed that "work on the PAK DA project is carried out in the mode established by the approved schedule," meaning that the first prototype should thenceforth be rolled-out in 2023.[45] As of June 2025, there were no reports of a prototype being completed.
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The Russian government signed a contract with manufacturer Tupolev in 2013 to construct the PAK-DA at the Kazan factory.
