If you remember the Balakot Strikes made by the Indian Air Force, then you know that India used a fleet of Mirage 2000s for bombing operations on enemy targets. So, India doesn’t have any strategic or dedicated bombers. This is a very ugly situation for India and Indian Airforce if we try to project our power over our enemies.
A strategic bomber may be considered a sitting duck for the SAMs or Surface to Air Missiles but there are more than that. A heavy strategic bomber that can fly with extreme capacity and loads can level any enemy installations in just one go. India has carefully chosen the strategic bomber for its requirements. Indian Air Force will have eight Tupolev or Tu160 Supersonic Strategic Heavy Bombers in its fleets within the next two years.
India is planning to buy a total of 8 Tu160s for various operations. Russia will deliver the first two of the bombers by December 2022. The rest six will be delivered by July 2023.
But if you think Tu 160 Blackjack or White Swan is just a supersonic bomber you are wrong. It has more cards under its sleeves. The plane can carry Nuclear Weapons and launch Kinzhal missiles. It is for a hypersonic missile. The top speed of Tu 160 is Mach 2.05. It requires four crew members to operate and it can fly 12,300KM in one go. With proper refueling, it can bomb anywhere on the planet.
India is also trying to get Kinzhal missiles while developing the BrahMos 2.0 Hypersonic Missile.
After the independence in 1968, the Indian Air Force used the B-22 Liberator and then English Electric Canberra. But since 2007 Indian Air Force does not have any dedicated bomber planes.