Russian Federation lost Tu-95 for the first time in combat conditions – satellite images of Engels Air Base
For the Russian Federation, the loss of even one Tu-95MS is a serious blow, because there are only 42 of them in the fleet, of which it is still unknown how many are in flight condition.
The heavy bomber-missile carrier Tu-95MS, which is the main aircraft of the strategic aviation of the Russian Federation, was hit for the first time during hostilities. High-quality satellite images of the ‘Engels’ air base, where the ‘cotton’ visited on December 5, have already appeared on the Internet.
They clearly show the Tu-95MS covered in foam on the runway, which indicates a fire on board the plane. At the same time, this is the first time that this aircraft was damaged during hostilities.
The photo was shared by Twitter user @SarahHa42
It is more than difficult to say how deadly the fire was for the plane based on the satellite image. For example, on February 26, 2013, a Tu-95MS, flight number 21 ‘red’, caught fire at the Diaghilev Air Base near Ryazan. The reason was a short circuit due to improper installation of electrical networks during the repair.
At the same time, the car was not completely on fire, and from the outside the missile carrier did not even look badly damaged, but the fire destroyed the plane. Its condition did not foresee restoration, the Tu-95MS was written off.
Tu-95MS, flight number 21 ‘red’, destroyed by fire in 2013
But in November 2016, the engine of an unidentified Tu-95MS caught fire at the Ukrainian air base in the Far East of the Russian Federation. Despite the visually much bigger fire, it was reported that the car was restored.
Therefore, a picture, especially a satellite one, cannot demonstrate the real state of the car. But in any case, the Tu-95MS will be sent for restoration. That is, this aircraft is out of order and is a loss of the ‘VKS’ of the Russian Federation, final or temporary depends on whether it will be repaired and how long it will take to repair it.
It is also possible to immediately note that this aircraft was in flying condition, as indicated by the movement of aircraft around the air base, which is tracked on satellite images taken at different times even before the attack on the air base.
The photo was shared by Twitter user @SarahHa42
Readers’ attention may also be drawn to another Tu-95, which has its wing tips cut off. Unfortunately, this is not the result of an attack or even desperate ‘cannibalism’ at the airbase. This aircraft has been in this condition since at least August 2019.
Maxar satellite images, Google Earth service
We should also note that the loss of any Tu-95MS is an extremely painful event for the ‘VKS’ of the Russian Federation. In total, the Russian Federation, according to the Military Balance estimate for 2021, had 42 Tu-95MS, the actual number of combat-ready ones is unknown.
