RAF

The White Swan: Russia's Deadly Supersonic Bomber

Russian Air Force Tu-160 Blackjack Supersonic Bomber

Flying Typhoon fighter jets, the RAF's Quick Reaction Alert pilots are increasingly being scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft testing the UK's air defences.

While the main threat used to come from ageing Tu-95 'Bears', the NATO reporting name for the massive propeller-driven bombers, it now comes from formidable Tu-160 'Blackjacks'.

Conceived at the height of the Cold War and finally entering service right at the end of it in 1987, it's no ordinary aircraft.

Nicknamed the White Swan by pilots, due to being painted in anti-flash white to protect the aircraft and four crew members from thermal radiation after an atomic blast, it remains the heaviest combat aircraft ever built, dwarfing its American counterpart the B1-B Lancer.

Setting 44 aviation world records, it can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2 (that's some 2000 km/h or 1340 miles an hour), reach heights in excess of 50,000 ft and has a combat range of 12,000 km ( 7,500 miles) without the need to refuel in-flight.

But it's what the White Swan is capable of delivering that makes it so deadly. Stored in two internal bomb bays it can carry 40,000 kg (88,185 lbs) of ordnance, most notably up to 6 AS-15 nuclear-armed cruise missiles, or 12 AS-16 short-range nuclear missiles.

Having recently seen action in Syria a Tu-160 is also reported to have dropped the 'Father of all Bombs', the most powerful conventional (non-nuclear) weapon in the world, during a field test in 2007.

READ: Who Has Dropped What Since Hiroshima

Powered by four of the largest jet engines ever built and carrying no defensive weaponry, it's neither the most stealthy nor invulnerable of bombers.

But it is unique in being able to penetrate enemy airspace and hit targets at both low-level, while flying close to the speed of sound, and at high altitude while travelling supersonic.

Tu-160 Blackjack Intercepted By RAF Typhoon

Of the 35 aircraft built around 14 are currently in service, all based at the Russian Air Force's Engels air base. Many of them formerly flew with the Ukrainian Air Force following the break-up of the Soviet Union. They were bought back in 1999 in a deal over natural gas debts.

In the last decade a few Blackjacks have been brought into service.

However 25 years after the last truly 'new' Blackjack rolled out of the factory, production is set to begin again, with the Kremlin having ordered 50 fully updated White Swans to be built.