Putin Bomber's Reported Malfunction Sparks Russian Nuclear Triad Woes

A reported malfunction on a supersonic, nuclear-capable Tu-160M strategic bomber, which was tested by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year, has sparked woes over the country's nuclear triad, a Russian Telegram channel said.

Putin flew on the modernized Tupolev jet, also known by its NATO code name "Blackjack," in February. "It's a new machine, a lot about it is new. It's easier to control. It's reliable," the Russian president said at the time.

Two months later, on April 11, the same aircraft crashed on takeoff at the Kazan Aircraft Plant, according to a July 25 report by the VChK-OGPU outlet, which is widely believed to have ties to Russian security agencies.

"A fire in one of the engines, followed by its destruction with the scattering of fragments, led to damage and fire to the remaining three engines and the aircraft. Luckily, there were no casualties," the Telegram channel said.

Russia's Justice Ministry added VChK-OGPU to its "foreign agents" register earlier this month for "dissemination of false information aimed at creating a negative image of the Russian army."

On X, formerly Twitter, the account @ChrisO_wiki, a self-described independent military history author and researcher, posts updates on the war in Ukraine. On July 26, the user reacted to the report in a thread on the social media platform.

"The aviation component of Russia's nuclear triad is said to be at serious risk of failure due to possible corruption at Russia's United Engine Corporation," the user wrote, referring to Russia's land-, sea- and air-launched nuclear missiles.

VChK-OGPU said it learned that Putin pressured Russia's Prosecutor General's Office, the Investigative Committee, and the Ministry of Defense to blame state-owned JSC United Engine Corporation—which produces engines for military and civil aviation—for the Tu-160M malfunction.

The accident "had signs of sabotage" and caused "significant damage" to Russia's nuclear forces, the channel said.

VChK-OGPU published what it said was a leaked letter from JSC's Scientific Production Enterprise.

"It is obvious that on 22 February 2024, the long flight of the Tu-160M ​​aircraft No. 801 with the President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces on board could have ended in a terrible tragedy that served as a trigger for worldwide nuclear Armageddon," the letter said.

It also outlined "serious concerns due to the unsatisfactory technical condition of one of the main carriers of Russian nuclear weapons," warning of "a potential threat of disrupting the combat readiness of a significant part of the Tu-160M ​​strategic bombers."

Newsweek could not independently verify the contents of the letter or the reports of a malfunction and has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

VChK-OGPU said that individuals at JSC United Engine Corporation attempted to evade responsibility and punishment for the incident by substituting units and engines with those available at storage and repair bases and with those removed from other aircraft.

The firm, "instead of admitting its guilt, taking emergency measures to eliminate the causes of the accident and prevent something similar in the future, through administrative pressure and, possibly, financial motivation, has been hiding the causes and consequences of the accident from you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, and citizens of Russia for almost three months," the letter said.

The Tu-160M is the heaviest combat aircraft in the world, and it can carry 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles. Tupolev, its manufacturer, said the refurbished version of the Tu-160 was 60 percent more effective.

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