A RUSSIAN Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber jet capable of carrying nukes crashed overnight in a fireball explosion.
The £228million aircraft was part of Vladimir Putin’s nuclear strike force used to blitz Ukrainian cities and rain hell on civilians.
Tu-22M3 strategic missile-carrying bomber (file image)[/caption]
Footage of the crash – being widely circulated on Russian Telegram war channels – shows a massive explosion in the night sky after the bomber smashed on the ground.
Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk where the jet crashed, confirmed that all four crew members ejected, but one pilot was reportedly killed.
Russian media also published footage showing flames and smoke at the crash site.
It also reported a power outage in the area where the plane crashed.
The Tupolev Tu-22M3, which was deployed for the first time by Russia in its war with Ukraine during the “carpet-bombing” of Mariupol, has an operational range of nearly 7,000km
It can also carry Kh-15 nuclear or anti-radar missiles, as well as Kh-22 long-range naval strike missiles.
With a crew of four airmen, the Backfire jet can reach max speeds of more than Mach 2 (2,300kmph).
This is not the first time a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashed during the Ukraine war.
Dramatic footage captured the moment Ukraine shot down the nuke bomber, sending it spiralling to the ground.
It crashed over the Stavropol region – some 250 miles from the border – in southern Russia after completing a bombing attack on Ukraine.
The long-range strategic bomber was shot down by a S-200 anti-aircraft missile system, said Channel 2, citing sources in Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump said he “trusted” that Putin wants to end the war – but Kyiv and its Western allies have accused the Kremlin of stonewalling negotiations.
Washington has been trying to hash out the terms of a deal between Ukraine and Russia in a bid to end Putin‘s three-year invasion.
But the Kremlin has been insisting on a list of conditions and demands – delaying the process.
Kyiv quickly agreed on an initial proposal for a full 30-ceasefire earlier this month – but this was quickly rejected by Putin.
There is currently a pause on the strikes in the Black Sea region – a condition to which both Russia and Ukraine agreed.
Moscow and Kyiv also mad ea deal to stop striking critical energy infrastructure but have accused each other of breaking it.
The Tu-22M3 factfile
THE supersonic strike bomber is capable of inflicting long-range blows.
Here is everything you need to know about the fiery fighter jet that originated from Russia’s Tupolev Design Bureau, its first iteration flying in the 1970s.
COST
The jets are estimated to cost a staggering £228million, making the loss of one a crippling blow.
SPEED
They speed through the skies at a jaw-dropping 2,300 kilometres per hour, or 1,429mph.
For context, this is twice the speed of sound.
A commercial passenger flies a mere 480-575mph at cruising speed.
WEAPONRY
Carrying three supersonic missiles, each bomber is capable of inflicting devastating blows.
They are designed to destroy large targets on both ground and sea.
One of the missiles is tucked into a bomb bay, with the other two carried under the wings.
The missiles are the Kh-22 class, which are dual-capable – meaning they can fire conventional or nuclear warheads.
It’s also equipped with a navigation system including radar.
RANGE
Range estimates vary from 5,000km (3,106 miles) to as much as 7,000km (4,350 miles).
Either way, it’s certainly a long-range bomber.