Breaking news
Russian Tu-160M modernized strategic bomber made its maiden flight.
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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Russia |
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| 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. |
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Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber |
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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. |
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