Russia’s air force is claiming to have official approval for a conceptual design of a bomber it is claiming to have stealth capabilities.
Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev, Russian air force commander, said documents were signed for industry to start developing systems for PAK-DA, according to a report by RIA Novosti.
The PAK-DA will replace 63 Tu-95 Bear and 13 Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, with production scheduled to start by 2020, according to the report.
Russia’s defense ministry wants the PAK-DA to have new electronic warfare systems and nuclear-capable long-range cruise missiles, RIA Novosti reports.
According to the Aviationist, a pilotless strategic bomber based on the PAK-DA could be unveiled sometime between 2040 and 2050.