On the night of January 20, 2025, the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck a powerful blow to the Kazan Aviation Company (Kapo), which is one of the key producers of strategic bombers of TU-22M3 and Tu-160. Despite the fact that the details of the losses have not been made public at this time, this plaque emphasizes the importance of the plant for the military industry of Russia. As an attack can affect the production and modernization of Russian aircraft, was considered by experts in the defense industry.
First of all, it is worth noting that Russia has long been not able to produce new Tu-160 planes. The Kazan airline deals with the so -called "reproduction" of these bombers, using old Soviet workpieces stored in warehouses for several decades. Thus, in 2022-2023, Kapo gathered three upgraded TU-160m, using the buildings made in the Soviet period. However, this process can not be called the full production of new aircraft, because such blanks have many problems - from outdated engines to inappropriate onboard equipment. It is known that one of the Tu-160 bombers could not complete the modernization due to the technical difficulties that arose during the collection. This means that even after recovery, the planes are not ready for full use.
An even more difficult situation with TU-22M3 bombers. By 2022, six buildings of this type were located on the open areas of Kapo. However, only two of them were partially used: one to assemble the upgraded TU-22m3m, and the other-as a donor of spare parts for other machines. In 2018 and 2023, two planes of this type were collected. However, none of them was equipped with systems of airing in the air, although ambitious plans for this modernization were voiced in Russia. The importance of Kapo goes far beyond the simple production activity. This enterprise is one of the largest in the Russian MIC, it employs more than 8.5 thousand people. Failure in his work can have serious consequences for the entire defense industry of the country. Delays in the production and modernization of strategic bombers will significantly weaken the Russian Federation's ability to maintain their aviation at a strategic level, which can seriously affect its military capabilities in war. The attack on the Kazan airline is part of a series of strikes of Ukrainian forces on critical objects of Russian infrastructure. Earlier, Ukraine's defense forces also attacked Russian oil depots used for the supply of resources of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which are actively involved in conflict. In the face of unprecedented vulnerability of Russia to UAV attacks, Ukrainian blows are able to seriously complicate the supply and production of critical military systems.
These events again confirm that the modern war is not limited to classical fighting, but covers other aspects, including blows to the enemy's production and logistics units.
