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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Russia

 
 
Russian Tu-160M modernized strategic bomber made its maiden flight
 
Russian supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160 performed its first flight Sunday after modernization, said Wednesday the United Aircraft Consortium (OAK). "The Tu-160 bomber made on November 16 its first flight after restoration with modernization. The" White Swan "remained in the air 2 hours and 40 minutes," said OAK in a statement.
     
Russian supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160 performed its first flight Sunday after modernization, said Wednesday the United Aircraft Consortium (OAK). "The Tu-160 bomber made on November 16 its first flight after restoration with modernization. The" White Swan "remained in the air 2 hours and 40 minutes," said OAK in a statement. Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber
     
Tu-160 from the mid 2000's started to take the upgrade to version Tu-160M, combined with capital improvements. During these events, in addition to extending the life of the aircraft, fully updated range of electronic equipment. The planes have the opportunity to apply the new shock weapons, including long-range strategic cruise missile Kh-101/Kh-102. By 2020, the Russian air force plans to have ten modernized T-160M strategic bombers.

The aircraft has a takeoff weight of up to 275 tons, has a top speed of more than 2000 kilometers per hour and can carry up to 40 tons of armament: free falling or guided aerial bombs of different calibers (including nuclear), strategic cruise missiles X-55 or aeroballistic missile X-15.

By the mid 2020, Tu-160, along with the Tu-95MS, will gradually be replaced as part of long-range aviation by a new strategic bomber, developed under the programme "Prospective airborne long-range aviation (PAK DA). Russia will also modernize about 30 Tu-22M3 Backfire-C strategic bombers to a Tu-22M3M variant by 2020.