The Tu-160M strategic bomber will be handed over to the Ministry of Defense for state testing before the end of the second quarter, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported. On the air of Sputnik radio, military expert Yuri Knutov spoke about the advantages of this aircraft.
The upgraded Tu-160M strategic bomber will be handed over to the Ministry of Defense for state testing by the end of the second quarter, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said.
The Tu-160M made its debut flight on January 12. The aircraft received upgraded engines, updated avionics and avionics, as well as new weapons control systems.
"Initially, the contract was supposed to be delivered at the end of 2023, and by the end of the second quarter we will transfer the car to the Ministry of Defense for subsequent state tests and armament," Manturov told reporters.
On the air of Sputnik radio, military expert, director of the Museum of Air Defense Forces Yuri Knutov noted that the Tu-160M's predecessor, the Tu-160 strategic bomber, received unique flight characteristics.
The new aircraft surpasses its predecessor in a number of indicators.
The upgraded strategic bomber is equipped with the latest weapons, the military expert continued.
He added that the Tu-160M is equipped with an electronic warfare system that automatically detects radiation from enemy aircraft or anti-aircraft systems and also automatically puts interference.
The program for the resumption of production of Tu-160 aircraft in an upgraded version of the Tu-160M was launched by the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin. As Rostec reported, the design documentation was digitized in a short time, the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products was restored, the production of airframe units was resumed. Tu-160M aircraft are manufactured by Kazan Aviation Plant.
