Moscow. July 30. INTERFAX - The first deeply modernized strategic bomber Tu-160M "White Swan" is completing preliminary tests, the production of the second such aircraft is coming to an end, said the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yuri Slyusar.
Tupolev is conducting a deep modernization of the combat Tu-160. The first aircraft of this series, the Tu-160M, made its first flight at the end of last year, successfully passed factory tests, and now it is completing preliminary tests in Zhukovsky," Slyusar said in an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda.
"At the Kazan Aviation Plant, work is being completed on the production of the second such aircraft, which will immediately be connected to the tests," the head of the UAC said.
He noted that after that, the aircraft will be presented for state tests, "where they will be evaluated by specialists of the Ministry of Defense, including in conditions that best meet the combat situation," and then the modernized "strategists" will go to the combat units of Long-range aviation.
In addition to deep modernization, Tupolev is working on the assembly of a completely new Tu-160M built from scratch, Slyusar added.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting of the annual board of the military department set the task to start state tests of the Tu-160M in 2021.
As Interfax reported, in May 2015, the President of the Russian Federation decided to resume production of strategic missile carriers-Tu-160 "White Swan" bombers, which are the air component of the nuclear triad.
After a 10 - year break, the aircraft in the new look-the Tu - 160M-will be built again at the Kazan Aircraft Factory (a branch of Tupolev, part of the UAC). The contract for the supply of the first batch of 10 cars with a total value of 150 billion rubles was signed on January 25, 2018. In addition, it is planned that all 16 "strategists" in service with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will undergo a deep modernization in the form of the Tu-160M.
It was noted that the new aircraft will not differ externally from the basic Tu-160, but at the same time its combat capabilities will significantly increase, including by expanding the range of weapons. In addition, a new series of NK-32 engines is being made for this machine, which will increase the flight range by 1 thousand km.
Tupolev reported that new flight and navigation equipment, an on-board communication complex, a control system, a radar station and an electronic countermeasures complex are being installed on the Tu-160M.
