In the Russian Federation can use TU-214 as a new rocket launcher: how real it is

To spread: in early June 2025, a discussion of a radical initiative began in the Russian defense circles: to recycle the TU-214 civilian airliner on the carpet carrier-in particular, such as X-101 and X-22. The decision is considered as a possible response to the loss of strategic bombers of the PCS of the Russian Federation and the difficulty with their restoration. This is stated in the material of the Bulgarian Military.

It is noted that, against the background of loss of strategic aviation, Moscow may consider the option of transforming passenger aircraft into "mobilization" shock platforms. The TU-214 is a two-long average number of number, developed in the 1990s. It is capable of carrying up to 25 tons of amounts and a range of more than 7000 km, which makes it theoretically suitable for adaptation under the winged rockets.

The car has already been adapted to special military needs-for example, in reconnaissance modifications of the TU-214R and TU-214on with onboard kit of aviation surveillance, but these versions are made in single copies. The aircraft is equipped with two turbo-fan-fan-fan-fan engines with 16,000 kgf each and has a runway of 110 750 kg, a capacity of 25 tons, a maximum speed up to 900 km/h and a practical ceiling up to 12 km.

In general, the TU-214 looks competitive compared to the Tu-95MC combat load of 20. 5 tons, which suggests that theoretically it can carry several missiles X-101 or X-22. However, the aircraft lacks structural reinforcements, avionics and integration of weapons required for hostilities. Thus, the proposal to turn the TU-214 into a mobilization missile media is perceived as an attempt to create a backup platform, which can be massively produced in the absence of profile aircraft.

However, industrial and technical restrictions make the project extremely difficult. Meanwhile, history knows examples of civil aviation adaptation to military assignments-from the American E-3 Sentry based on Boeing 707 to Israeli reconnaissance aircraft based on business jet. However, none of them was used as a long range. We will remind, on June 1, 2025 the SBU conducted one of the most daring and technologically complex operations in the history of Ukrainian special services.