A Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bomber of the Russian Air Force crashed during a routine flight in Siberia due to technical failure.

The fall resulted in the death of one of its four crew members, the 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.

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.

The Tu-22M, Soviet-designed and 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.

Tu-22M3’s technical characteristics:

• Crew: 4 people
• Propulsion: 2 NK-22 engines
• Length: 41.16 meters
• Height: 11.15 meters
• Maximum take-off weight: 54,000 kg 
• Maximum speed: 2,300 km/h
• Armament: 1 x 23 mm GSh-23 gun / payload of 24,000 kg
• Maximum operational altitude: 13,000 meters
• Wingspan: 34 meters
• Operational range: 5,100 km

The aircraft is capable of carrying guided bombs, cruise missiles and the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missile, among others. Aircraft of this type have been used frequently for bombing in Ukraine since February 2022.

With information from: AMNA

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