Russia plans to send a Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear bomber to Africa Aerospace and Defense 2024, which will take place at Waterkloof Air Force Base in South Africa from September 18 to 22.
The information was reported by South African defense websites but has not been confirmed by the Russian government.
According to the South African Air Force, Russian military personnel were at an airfield near Pretoria in August evaluating the location to receive the Tu-160.
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To Military Africa, the South African Air Force (SAAF) spokeswoman stated that “Russia and South Africa have enjoyed diplomatic relations since time immemorial. As BRICS members, together with China, India, and Brazil, they all enjoy economic ties, political relations, and military cooperation agreements.”
Second visit to South Africa
If confirmed, the nuclear bomber’s visit to South Africa will be the aircraft’s second appearance at the air show.
In October 2019, two of the Russian Air Force bombers visited the country, the first time the aircraft had landed on the continent.
The appearance came on the same day that President Vladimir Putin opened the Russia-South Africa Summit in Sochi, as the country sought to expand its influence in the region.
At the time, Russia was just over a year removed from its military invasion of Ukraine and still maintained economic ties with Western countries, although it was under sanctions over its annexation of Crimea.
The Tu-160 “White Swan” is the largest bomber ever built in Russia, with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 600,000 pounds and capable of flying at Mach 2.05.
The aircraft uses variable-sweep wings and four afterburner turbofans and follows a configuration identical to the B-1B Lancer of the United States Air Force (USAF), although it is larger.
