Vladimir Putin’s new 1,280mph STRIKE bomber with missiles ‘10 times more deadly than EVER'

[RoterTeufel]

Vladimir Putin’s new 1,280mph STRIKE bomber with missiles ‘10 times more deadly than EVER'

VLADIMIR Putin’s brand new 1,280mph Russian strike bomber is due to begin tests within months – with missiles boasted to be ten times more accurate than ever.

Putin’s air force will be putting the Tu-22M3M through its paces in August as Russia continues to advance.

The supersonic aircraft – fitted with deadly new generation missiles – is a “deep modernisation” of the Tupolev Tu-22M3.

Russia’s upgrades means the bomber can be navigated up to eight times more accurately, and will target missiles up to ten times more precisely.

Known to NATO as Backfire, the 30 of the upgraded bombers will be in service by 2020 – with the other 70 in Putin’s air force to follow later.

It comes as relations between Russia and the West are at an all-time low since the Cold War.

Viktor Bondarev, the head of the Russian upper house's Defence and Security Committee, said: "All radio-electronic equipment is being modernised.

“The most important thing is that the planes are being adapted for carrying modern Kh-32 heavy supersonic missiles.”

The Kh-32 is an air-to-surface missile, the heavily upgraded version of the Kh-22 missile.

It has an operational range of up to 620 miles and can reach a speed of up to 3,100 mph.

Putin’s bombers will be able to fly at speeds of almost Mach 2 – and will fly at heights of up to 14 miles.

And the missiles it carries will hurtle towards Putin’s enemies at 3,100mph at altitudes of up to 25 miles.

The Tu-22M3M long-range bomber will also be able to carry six more advanced Kh-50 missiles.

Previous versions of the warplane were actively used in Russian airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, taking off from Russia and flying over Iran and Iraq to hit targets.

Bondarov said: "This bomber, alongside Tu-160 and Tu-95, ensures the superiority of Russian strategic long-range aviation.

“The Tu-22M3 long-range bombers proved highly efficient in Syria."

Tu-22s originally came into service in the Cold War in 1972.

UN chiefs have now warned the Cold War is back “with a vengeance” amid growing tensions between the West and Russia.

Tensions over Syria, the annexation of Crimea, the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, and ongoing clashes with NATO have fuelled a renewed Cold War.

US, UK and French forces launched on assault on Putin’s pal Bashar al-Assad in Syria over allegations of a chemical weapons attack.

Military action by the West prompted fears of a direct clash with Russia – that could end up sparking World War 3.

Russia and Syria deny any chemical attack ever took place, dismissing it as being “fake” or staged to bring the US into the war.

Daily Star Sunday