Missed Opportunity: Why India Didn't Acquire Tu-22M3 Strategic Bombers from Russia

In 2012, Russia offered to sell India several long-range Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers, alongside the leasing of Akula-class nuclear submarines and the acquisition of the aircraft carrier ‘Admiral Gorshkov’.

While the deal eventually failed due to financial considerations, acquiring these bombers would have had far-reaching consequences for India's strategic position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Tu-22M3, a supersonic, long-range bomber, can deliver significant payloads over vast distances. Its range of up to 7,000 kilometers and capacity to carry three Kh-22 cruise missiles make it a powerful asset. Despite Russian claims to the contrary, its operational capabilities suggest it is a strategic weapon, enabling strikes far from home bases at high speed.

Acquiring the Tu-22M3 would have significantly enhanced India's maritime power in the IOR. Currently, India's naval capabilities are primarily focused on surface ships, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft. Integrating long-range bombers would have added a new dimension, allowing power projection across the vast Indian Ocean and beyond.

These bombers could have been deployed to cover critical maritime choke points like the Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, and Bab el-Mandeb, acting as a deterrent and enabling rapid response to regional crises.

The Tu-22M3's presence would have altered the strategic balance in the region, enhancing India's deterrence capabilities against Pakistan and China. Its long-range precision strike capability would have provided a credible second-strike capability, contributing to regional stability.

Moreover, such an acquisition could have prompted reactions from other powers, particularly China. It might have also led to deeper strategic collaborations with the US and Japan.

However, operational and financial challenges cannot be overlooked. Modernization and maintenance would have required substantial investment, straining India's defense budget. Integration into the existing infrastructure would have posed logistical challenges.

Ultimately, the high costs associated with leasing and maintaining the Tu-22M3 led India to abandon the deal. The Indian Navy had to weigh these costs against the strategic benefits, concluding that the financial burden was too great.

 

[Neal.B]

India is a time proven country of missed opportunities.

 

[PKPRS]

Why almost, even now if they wan’t they will get them, there is a need for Bombers.

 

[Vineet Sharma]

U always have to make decisions as per current situation and every decisions has pro and cons. It is easy to blame every decisions by saying it a lost opportunity but sometimes it's better to say No because of financial implications. It's true our forces want best weapon and in as much quantity as they can dream but we have to run country..

 

[R. Singh]

Don't worry PAKDA may join Indian Navy and IAF in future !

 

[deep bhardwaj]

A few points to be considered before moving to acquire any capital platforms
1. India needs more of tactical weapons like pralay, prahar, Helina, Aakash etc than show off weapons to protect motherland.
2. Russian weapons are always cheap and inferior to western weapons.
3. The future of India is with western side rather than Chinese hugging Russia.

 

[Pad UwU]

We all know it from the beginning GoI and it's bureaucrats always doing times of missed opportunity 😹🙃

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

India must buy latest gen TU-22M3 and TU-160M for Indian Navy and IAF !

 

[yogesh]

Reference the article,the platform WAS created for a time that has now changed. We are now seeing a different approach to warfare. With advanced robotics & AI the platforms are going to be autonomous for contested airspace. If the TU22M3 is redesigned for autonomous flights and offered then it may be a game changer. Though currently it uses 3 to 4 crew members in the cockpit this itself puts them at risk when different countries jump into war and choose a barrage of weapons. Instead, if it was completely autonomous and applied robotics for loading,unloading weapons, automatic selection of weapons for targets based on AI then it's a super platform. In a nutshell design needs to change with times and that is called modernization

 

[Vaishak Upadhyaya]

A few points to be considered before moving to acquire any capital platforms
1. India needs more of tactical weapons like pralay, prahar, Helina, Aakash etc than show off weapons to protect motherland.
2. Russian weapons are always cheap and inferior to western weapons.
3. The future of India is with western side rather than Chinese hugging Russia.

nah bro the west is sinking...they're a bunch of good for nothing Warmongers

 

[Nvs rao]

Every opurtunity that Russians offered was rejected by previous government or present government is a bless for China and it acquired all those thing and reengineered as per their requirements and needs.
The political parties of india are more interested in kickbacks that was given by western company's with their out dated or obselete tech for high prices.
That's why there is no bomber aircraft still in Indian airforce.
Very pathetic situation with educated stupids who support blindly their political affiliation only in the india

 

[kumar]

Maintenance would be nightmare. Anyways, if purchased, would require over land border rather than over sea.