Russia to develop new hyper-sonic strategic bomber
Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Solodovnikov, an instructor at the Military Academy of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RSMF), stated that Russia will develop a new hypersonic strategic bomber capable of delivering nuclear strikes from space by 2020, RIA Novosti reported.
According to Solodovnikov, the bomber will take off from conventional airfields to do standard patrols. It will also fly into space, strike targets from space with nuclear weapons and then fly back to its airfield when so ordered. Solodovnikov added that the bomber will be able to reach any location in the world in one or two hours.
The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute will participate in the development of the hypersonic strategic bomber. Currently, experts are laying plans for the bomber's key characteristics. The starting weight will be 20-25 tons, allowing it a dual role as an attack aircraft. “It is planned that it will be hypersonic rocket mode machine,” Solodovnikov said. He himself will develop the engine for the prospective aircraft.
The developer explained that the bomber will use a turbofan engine although both aircraft and rocket engines will be combined in one aircraft. “It will be able to operate in the atmosphere and in near-Earth space, where there is no air,” the teacher explained. Solodovnikov noted that there are no currently such engines in Russia.