Tu-22 ‘Blinder’ had nacelles. The Tu-22M ‘Backfire’ does not 
. Despite the confusing name and close pedigree it’s basically a different plane, with the similar designation probably being a bit of gamesmanship from Russia during the Salt II negotiations.
This attack was by drones, not missiles. Small drones that don’t have anything like a 140 mile range. If this was a Ukrainian attack, it was most likely by a special ops team that managed to get a few km from the base.
Can we rule out the planes being damaged/destroyed by some Russian incompetance and them blaming Ukrainians?
This article claims 140 miles is “theoretically” within range:
- The only known standoff weapon in Ukrainian hands is the improvized ‘Alibaba’ suicide drone (as the model that is used for conversion can be bought on the Chinese marketplace website) which first appeared in June during an attack on a Russian oil refinery across the border in Novoshakhtinsk. The same type was used in the attack on Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters in Crimea. Days before, several Russian warplanes were destroyed in an attack on the Saki Air Base in Crimea, which you can read more about here. Other attacks have occurred as well, both in Crimea and Russia, that are likely the work, at least in part, of these still shadowy improvised suicide drones. A strike on the bomber base would be within its theoretical range. Russia has been beefing up air defenses at airbases near its borders for this very reason.*
“Single use” or “One time use”?
It figures I’d get the words mixed up. [disgusted]
However, when you are building a mach 3 engine, you want to make the combustion chamber out of a material that has a spectacularly high melting point. Like, say, tungsten.
Right, although my understanding of tungsten (limited) is that the high melting point means most applications are sintered, which is very limiting for complex parts.
There are reports that a HIMARS strike with cluster-bomb type submunitions has killed many Russian troops. That’s probably a mis-report by the news source since M26 submunition-rocket-warheads were retired a long time ago. More likely, it’s the giant shotgun spray.
Remote aeronautic auto-disassembly device (RADD)
The SR-71 was titanium, not tungsten, and yes, at the time the USSR was the primary source of it.
As for tungsten - about 80% of the current supply is coming from China these days, although both California and Colorado have some deposits according to a quick Google.
Hard to imagine anyone confronting Putin face to face. I have a feeling this person was a hard liner that wanted a more decisive and brutal response in Ukraine. Imho Putin wouldn’t tolerate anyone advocating a peace deal.
Cite MSN
Any word on how Vlad’s 70th birthday party went today?
Constantly refreshing this page?
An article about the fears of the Russian elite and the factions vying for power.
Kerch bridge is on fire: https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1578592745827930113
Don’t need to drop a bomb on it. Just drive one part way across it?
They built that thing pretty quick. Wonder how heavily they built it.
Some more photos:
Wow, looks like it is on the rail side. Currently claimed to be a fuel fire.
When will Russia learn that smoking is bad for the war effort?
Hey, I can personally attest that nicotine is incredibly addictive.