Ukrainian strikes showcase long-reach capabilities against Russian bomber factory

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine confirmed that on Wednesday, April 17, services carried out an attack targeted at a Russian aircraft factory. Defense Express highlights two essential issues in the context of this shelling – the facility is located over 998 kilometres from the border with Ukraine and produces Tu-22M and Tu-160M bombers.

At this time, neither Ukrainian nor Russian has reported the results of the attack on the Kazan Aircraft Plant. Defense Express, however, emphasizes that in this shelling, the aforementioned fact deserves attention, especially since the Russian factory is situated over 998 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. This is another proof that Ukrainians have weapons that can reach long distances.

Another important detail is that "the attack is important in a symbolic sense." Defense Express reminds us that Putin used the factory in Kazan as a "decoration" for one of the propaganda events in February 2024. For Russia, this is, therefore, a valuable factory—and this is primarily due to its purpose. In Kazan, particularly important bombers for the aggressor’s army, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160M, are produced.

The Ukrainian arsenal is constantly evolving – we observe this every month when defenders boast about new or improved weapons. One of them was recently Falcon-300 drones, which were to be included in the Ukrainian armed forces at the beginning of April. They have a range of up to 3,000 kilometres. Therefore, they should easily reach Russian Kazan. Ukraine's similar construction is also Beaver drones with a range of about 998 kilometres.

More importantly, in the context of the last attack, it was targeted at a factory producing bombers with which Russians regularly attack Ukraine. We are talking about Tu-22M3 and Tu-160M. The former are constructions measuring 42 metres long with a wingspan of about 45 metres. Tu-22M3 accelerates to 2,303 kilometres per hour and can operate at 18,000 metres. Its range is also 7,000 kilometres, whereas in one bomb bay and on four suspension points, there can be a maximum of 24 tonnes of armament.

The Tu-160M (called "White Swan" by pilots) is a 55-metre-long aircraft with a wingspan of over 35 metres. It carries slightly more ammunition than the aforementioned Tu-22M3, as much as 26 tonnes, and moves at 2,200 kilometres per hour. Built-in 2022, the modernized variant with the "M" suffix (Tu-160M) has been upgraded over the previous version, among other things, by installing electronic warfare systems in the machine.