A while ago I read an excellent article (*) about the transfer of Tu-160 from Ukraine to Russia. When the URSS collapsed, Ukraine inherited the only operational unit, the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment, equipped with 19 aircraft and based in Priluki.
Ukraine did not neet and could not afford to operate the Blackjacks. Initially there were some negotations with Russia (they gave a price tag of 25 million per aircraft) but they stalled. At the end some of the aircraft were cut and others were transfered back to Russia in 1999-2000 in exchange for a reduction in the oil debt.
Recently I read that inmediately after 1991, some crews simplt took off the aircraft from Ukraine and landed in Russia. Swearing loyalty to Ukraine was unacceptable and they left with their aircraft. Apparently this also happened with Su-24 Fencer. I was just wondering if there is more information about the fate of the Ukrainian Tu-160. Did some of the aircraft just flew to Russia?
I am compiling a list with the fate of the 19 aircraft:
– Museum: 1
– Transfered back to Russia: 8
– Cut: Number 24 (Nov 98), Number 14 (Nov 1999). What about the rest?
A couple of links:
http://vadimvswar.narod.ru/ALL_OUT/AiKOut06/PriluEng/PriluEng001.htm (*)
http://www.forumavia.ru/forum/8/4/5778480119008690878611321715184_1.shtml
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April 3, 2012 at 11:56 am