Defense Express: Russia compensates for shrinking air fleet with maximum bomber payloads

Russia was able to only muster seven strategic bombers in its overnight missile strike on Ukraine on June 6, a significantly lower number than in previous large-scale aerial attacks, Defense Express reports.

“For the first time in eight months, Russia loaded its Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers with an almost full payload of Kh-101 [cruise] missiles — and it still didn’t help,” the media writes.

Russia launched 36 Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles during the strike. This was part of a larger, combined attack that also included six ballistic missiles, two R-500 cruise missiles, and 407 drones.

Defense Express reports that the cruise missile component deserves special attention, as Russian propaganda portrayed the strike as “revenge” for Ukraine’s “Spiderweb” operation, which reportedly inflicted heavy damage on Russian strategic aviation. 

The goal, the analysts suggest, was to show that Russia remained capable and undeterred.

Each of the seven bombers carried an average of five projectiles — a heavier load than usual. In past attacks, each aircraft typically carried only one to three missiles.

“And that’s not even counting the fact that some of the Russian cruise missiles tend to crash on Russian territory. The enemy likely launched more than 36 Kh-101s, but not all of them reached Ukraine,” the report reads.

The last time Russia used strategic bombers at this scale was in August 2024, when 11 Tu-95MS aircraft launched 77 Kh-101 missiles.

Previously, Russia had limited the number of missiles per bomber to reduce strain on its aging fleet and extend aircraft lifespan. The Tu-160 bombers, in particular, were used sparingly — only once every six months to a year — due to concerns over engine wear.

But now, Defense Express reports, Russia has launched the Tu-160s twice in just ten days — on May 26 and June 6 — a sign that it is trying to maintain the scale of its missile attacks despite mounting losses.

“If Russia wants to sustain this pace and scale of air-launched cruise missile strikes, it has little choice but to repeatedly send out its limited number of bombers with maximum payloads,” the analysts say.

Ukraine’s Security Service reportedly struck 40 Russian aircraft — including strategic bombers — on June 1 during a large-scale special operation codenamed “Spider Web”.