Russia’s PAK DA Next Generation Bombers to be in Service by 2027

The Tupolev PAK DA next generation strategic bomber will be in service with the Russian Air Force by 2027, according to recent statements by Deputy Defence Minister Aleksey Krivoruchko. It is unclear whether the bombers referred to were advanced prototypes or serial production variants, with initial variants of Russia’s Su-57 developed under the PAK FA program notably serving for several years as advanced combat prototypes before the first examples were serially produced. Krivoruchko stated regarding the program: “Under the state arms program, units of modern military and special equipment, which are not inferior to the best foreign analogues and often have no analogues in the world, will enter operational service in the period until 2027. Borei-A strategic missile submarines, the Prospective Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation, and strategic missile systems — both fixed and mobile — will enter operational service with the strategic nuclear forces.”

Russia’s current state armaments program from 2018-2027 has set a number of ambitious goals for comprehensive modernisation of the country’s capabilities, from aircraft carriers and hypersonic cruise missiles to next generation fighters, ICBMs and air defence platforms. Russia moved to restart mass production of the Tu-160M2 supersonic strategic bomber in 2017, which is currently considered the most capable bomber in the world. With both the United States and China developing more advanced bombers under the B-21 and H-20 programs respectively, both of which are likely to outperform the Tu-160M2, the PAK DA will be needed to restore a Russian advantage in the field. The capabilities of the PAK DA and the nature of the technologies it will integrate remain uncertain, but considering Russia's technological strengths, trends in the country's military aviation and global trends in the development of strategic bombers it has been speculated that the bomber will be stealthy, have an extremely long range and be able to carry standoff hypersonic missiles including ballistic missiles. It also remains possible that the bomber could integrate a defensive anti aircraft capability much like the American B-21, and that it may be able to carry out strikes from extreme altitudes in near space