Quote:
|
The bombers have the capability of launching a nuclear strike with the missiles they carry.
|
That's either total military incompetence or spin doctoring from the media.
Ok, incompetence in military affairs seems to be a trademark of today's journalism.
The Tu-95 is less capable of launching missiles of any sort than the average western P-3 Orion patrol aircraft. The long range comes from using the bomb bay for fuel tanks.
The only weapons of the Bear D are the tail cannons, with which they maybe can launch nuclear 23mm bullets
The Tu-95 "Bear D" is simply a reconaissance aircraft BASED on a bomber, not a bomber.
The bomber version is called Tu-142, if i'm correct, as is the ASW version. They look similar but western interceptors would certainly notice the difference. Also the bombers do not have the range of the recon version.
Of course having a recon aircraft based on a bomber does play in the hands of spin doctors. But I'm sure with the economic recovery and all that the russians might soon get a new MPA type, and I can only advise them NOT to base it on a bomber this time
Maybe the Beriev Be-200 amphibian?