Russia’s feared Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Irkutsk during a scheduled flight, killing one pilot. The supersonic jet, reportedly carrying a combat load, struck power lines and caught fire near a Siberian village. Moscow blames a technical malfunction, but critics question Russia’s aging fleet. The NATO-dubbed "Backfire" bomber has been central to Moscow’s Ukraine war strikes. This is the second crash in the region in two years. | Hindustan Times

Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 Crash The horrific video in this post shows the recent crash of a Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF) Tupolev Tu-22M3 (NATO reporting name: Backfire) supersonic strategic bomber. Noteworthy as we have recently reported the aircraft crashed in Russia’s north-west while trying to make a landing during a sudden snowstorm on Jan. 22, 2019. As reported by the Russian defence ministry the bomber got into trouble after conducting a training exercise. The Tu-22M crew tried to lan