PAK DA… Russia’s Mysterious Bomber Challenges America’s Next Ghost

6th July 2025

2 minutes read

PAK DA… Russia’s Mysterious Bomber Challenges America’s Next Ghost

In the skies of strategic rivalry, air dominance is no longer measured by fleet size alone but by stealth, maneuverability, and the ability to strike before detection.

While the U.S. B-21 Raider prepares to enter service as the next-generation “deadliest stealth bomber,” Russia is pinning its hopes on the elusive PAK DA to reshape the global balance of deterrence.

But can the PAK DA, despite delays and secrecy, truly challenge America’s incoming airborne ghost?

According to The National Interest, Russian aircraft manufacturer Tupolev began designing the PAK DA in the early 2000s. In theory, this strategic stealth bomber project would grant Moscow many of the advanced capabilities planned for the U.S. Raider. However, as the bomber has not yet reached the production stage, most of its specifications remain a mystery.

The development comes at a turbulent time for Russia’s strategic air force. Ukraine’s recent long-range drone strikes — part of “Operation Spider Web” — dealt heavy blows to Russian bomber bases, targeting four airfields deep inside Russian territory and damaging multiple strategic aircraft.

With fewer bombers now in its arsenal, Moscow may be seeking to accelerate the PAK DA’s development timeline. Former Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov had announced in earlier statements that the prototype would enter production in 2021, but the schedule has been repeatedly postponed. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 only added further delays.

Currently still in the design phase, the PAK DA’s flying wing configuration and reduced radar cross-section strongly resemble the U.S.-made B-2 Spirit. As for its supposed payload capacity, some reports estimate it may carry up to 30 tons of weaponry — significantly more than the B-2’s 20-ton limit.

Despite Russian state media claiming that the PAK DA could enter production by 2027, many analysts view that timeline as overly optimistic. According to Military Watch Magazine, many of the advanced technologies developed for the PAK DA may be integrated into upgraded versions of the Tu-160M long before the stealth bomber becomes service-ready.

Meanwhile, the U.S. B-2 Spirit fleet has recently proven its relevance during high-risk precision strikes against Iranian nuclear assets in June. Though the B-2 has long served as a strategic deterrent, the United States is preparing to deploy its more advanced successor. Once the B-21 Raider enters full production, it is expected to become a far more lethal and flexible platform, intensifying the threat to U.S. adversaries.