Russia’s PAK DA Nuclear Stealth Bomber to Emphasise Standoff Attacks and Electronic Warfare - Reports

Russia’s TASS state media outlet has reported that the country’s upcoming PAK DA intercontinental range stealth bomber will place a strong emphasis on electronic warfare to provide a defence against enemy surface to air and air to air missile attacks. The report cited an unnamed source in Russia’s military-industrial complex, who stated: “A completely new airborne defence system is being developed for PAK DA, which will protect it from all types of weapons - radar and optical.” While Russia’s NATO adversaries fielded relatively limited ground based anti aircraft weapons systems, with the notable exception of Turkey which purchased S-400 long ranged air defence systems from Russia itself, the U.S. is currently developing multiple classes of long range air to air missiles for its fighters - one of which is specifically optimised for neutralising large aircraft such as bombers and will be deployed by new F-15EX fighters. The new bombers are expected to replace the Tu-95 bombers in Russian service, and may also replace a portion of the Tu-22M and Tu-160 fleets.

According to TASS’ industry source, the new bomber will be built exclusively for standoff attacks and all not rely on gravity bombs. "This will allow the aircraft not to enter the enemy's air defence zone, to hit designated targets from the world's oceans or from the territory of another state," he sated. The aircraft will carry intra-fuselage weapons to maintain a small radar cross section, much like the Russian Okhotnik stealth drone and the upcoming American B-21 and Chinese H-20 bombers. The source further revealed that the first prototype of the new bomber is currently under construction. The bomber is scheduled to enter service in 2027. The U.S is currently producing the first prototype of the PAK DA’s rival, the B-21, while China’s next generation bomber program appears to be ahead of both and has reportedly already begun serial production. The new bomber is expected to make use of a flying wing design, and to rely on enhanced variants of existing air launched missile designs such as the Kh-47M2 hypersonic and Kh-101/2 radar evading missiles. It remains uncertain whether the PAK DA airframe will be suitable for tactical missions to replace the Tu-22M bomber currently in service, and whether its airframe will be used o develop other military aircraft such as AEW or surveillance jets.