A Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bomber of the Russian Air Force crashed during a routine flight in Siberia due to technical failure, killing one of its four crew members, regional governor Igor Kobzev announced.
The crew made use of the ejection seats, Governor Kobzev continued via Telegram, but one of its members was killed and the others were taken to a hospital with injuries where they are being treated.
Moment of explosion of the Russian Tu-22m3 strategic bomber after it crashed in the Cheremkhov district of the Irkutsk region pic.twitter.com/8sSAszvW3P
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Earlier, the TASS news agency had reported that the crew members were “safe”.
The bomber crashed in an uninhabited area, near Irkutsk and Lake Baikal.
Soviet-designed, the Tu-22M, developed in the late 1960s, was repeatedly modernized until 1993. Originally intended for long-range flights, it was converted to a medium-range aircraft due to arms control agreements with the US.
It is capable of carrying guided bombs, cruise missiles and the Kinjal hypersonic missile, among others. Aircraft of the type have been used frequently for bombing in Ukraine since February 2022.
Source: RES-MPE
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