The Drive: replenishment of the Tu-160M fleet will provide a significant increase in Russian capabilities
Currently, Russia has a small fleet of 17 Tu-160 strategic bombers, the replenishment of which will provide a significant increase in terms of capabilities and ease of maintenance. Thus, the American edition of The Drive commented on the flight of the first Russian Tu-160M built from scratch.
The publication notes that this aircraft can be used in long-range missions, for example, in Syria, as well as from Arctic air bases. The publication admits that the Tu-160M may receive new weapons, in particular, the X-SD subsonic medium-range cruise missile or the X-BD long-range hypersonic cruise missile.
The publication assures that Russia's existing Tu-160 fleet is "a small but capable force."
According to Rostec, the aircraft that flew in January is "the first newly manufactured Tu-160M strategic missile carrier." As explained by the General director of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yuri Slyusar, the new missile carrier has 80 percent upgraded systems and equipment.
