The Russian Air Force has stationed its Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers at Engels-2 Airbase, which is thought to be preparing for strikes on Ukraine.
Russian Air Force Preps Tu-95, Tu-160
Can it be that Russia is preparing for new cruise missile air raids in Kyiv? The concern has arisen following the release of recent satellite images of the airbase, located 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) east of Saratov, reported Bulgarian Military.
The bombers can be seen clearly in satellite images. The photo shows a total of 12 bombers, including eight Tu-95 Bears and six Tu-160 Blackjack bombers.
Engels-2 is Russia's primary strategic bomber airbase. The 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Sevastopol Red Banner Regiment, which functions precisely with Blackjack bombers, as well as the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, whose pilots serve the Bear bombers, are the primary dwellings.
Moscow has utilized the base as a staging point for bombing Ukraine a few times since the start of the conflict, noted Russian Forces.
Military experts and analysts say that with the Russian Air Force parking the Tu-95 and Tu-160 on the Engels-2 tarmac, they could be packed with cruise missiles and bombs.
Their viewpoint is also influenced by the fact that the trolleys for transferring cruise missiles have been deployed at such a time while cargo planes have already wintered. Experts believe Ukraine will be subjected to heavy Russian missile strikes in the coming days or weeks.
In November, Russia launched a periodic barrage of missile attacks against the Ukrainian power grid. But some military experts say that more than the power grid is under siege from Russian forces.
However, some military analysts claim that it is not only Ukraine's energy infrastructure that is under missile fire. Russian missile strikes primarily target data processing centers gathered by recon UAVs and NATO early warning planes flying close to Ukraine.
Nevertheless, there is no verification from Russia or Ukraine that these facilities have indeed been found and struck.
Tupolev Tu-95 Bear
The turboprop-powered strategic bomber, Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, went into service in 1956 and continues to be an essential part of Russia's long-range air power, per Military Today.
Its western reporting name is Bear. At the time of its inception, it was the only Soviet bomber that might reach the United States without refueling.
The Bear's primary weapon is the air-launched cruise missile Kh-55. It is a longer-range standoff weapon. This missile comes in both conventional and nuclear variants. Similar to the T-95MS, a redesigned Bear could carry the newer Kh-101 and Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles.
Tu-160 Blackjack Strategic Bomber
The supersonic Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber is a variable-sweep wing high-speed strategic missile transport built between 1980 and 1992 by Moscow's Tupolev aircraft research and engineering complex joint stock company and Tatarstan's Kazan-Gorbunov Aircraft Production Association, states Air Force Technology.
It first flew on December 1981 and was inducted with the Ukrainian Long-Range Aviation in April 1987. When production was restarted and the RuAF in May 2000, about 36 bombers were built, but only 17 are still flying.
The Russian Air Force parked its Tu-95 and Tu-160 at the Enge's-2 airbase, which is considered part of Moscow's strategy to win the conflict.
