Russia Tu-22M Fleet Update

On June 1, 2025, the Russian Air Force suffered the loss of four Tu-22M3 strategic bombers during a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault designated "Operation Spiderweb." High-resolution satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies confirmed the destruction of these airframes at Belaya Air Base. The operation, conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), utilized advanced FPV-type drones featuring AI-enabled autonomous guidance systems. These technical capabilities allowed the UAVs to maintain terminal flight paths despite signal interference. The loss of four Tu-22M3 "Backfire-C" bombers represents a significant tactical degradation of Russia’s long-range aviation and supersonic strike capabilities.

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