The russian Aerospace Forces lost another Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber. The aircraft crashed on Thursday, August 15, in Irkutsk Oblast near the village of Mikhailovka. The crash occurred around 10:11 PM local time.
According to russian sources, only three of four crew members were able to eject. As Defense Express, we note that according to the ejection algorithm, the captain is the last to leave the aircraft.
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The preliminary cause of the crash ia a technical malfunction. But video from local residents shows that the aircraft did not just crash, but was engulfed in flames.
It is known that the Tu-22M3 was conducting a training flight. Given the scale of the fire, which suggests full fuel tanks, it had just taken off from the Belaya air base.
This airfield is regular for the 200th Heavy Bomber Regiment, which operates Tu-22M3 aircraft. It is a part of the 326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division. The airfield is about 15 km from the crash site.
It should be noted that this is the second irreversible loss of Tu-22M3 for russian Aerospace Forces this year. One of such aircraft was destroyed on April 19, when it was shot down by a S-200 SAM system.
Earlier Defense Express reported that russians had wanted to create an attack drone out of Tu-141 Strizh.
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