Breaking news
UAC comments new Tu-160 bomber roll-out.
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World Defense & Security Industry News - UAC
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UAC comments new Tu-160 bomber roll-out
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The Gorbunov Aircraft Works in Kazan, which is an affiliate of the Tupolev Company, rolled out a Tu-160 aircraft built from available stocks, the press service of the United Aircraft Corporation said. Long-range aviation Commander Sergei Kobylash, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Oleg Bochkarev, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar, Tupolev CEO Alexander Konyukhov attended the event.
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 Gorbunov Aircraft Works yesterday rolled out upgraded Tu-160M2 first prototype(Credit: UAC) |
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The bomber was rolled out from a new hangar built in the framework of the enterprise upgrade.
"The aircraft is the first one produced in the framework of the program to resume production of strategic bombers. It is a successful result of the joint work of the interdepartmental taskforce under the leadership of the Russian defense ministry. All Tu-160 currently operational in the long-range aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces will be definitely upgraded. Due to rapid resumption of production and available technologies, I believe it will happen in the coming years," Kobylash said. "The re-equipment of the Kazan Aircraft Works, the development of digital technologies and the maintenance of the aircraft life cycle are the priorities for us," Slyusar said. "At present the enterprise is undergoing technical upgrade to resume the production of strategic Tu-160 bombers. The biggest in the world electron-beam welding and vacuum-annealing unit has been commissioned, technological equipment is installed and reconstruction of engineering networks and communications is ongoing while workshops are equipped with modern tools. The rollout of the Tu-160M is a major event. It is the first new aircraft produced in the framework of the modernization program," Minnikhanov said. The aircraft was built to resume Tu-160 production in a new concept, restore final assembly technologies, check new technological solutions, and test new engines with improved characteristics. The maiden flight is scheduled in February 2018. The Tupolev Company is working to create test samples of deeply upgraded Tu-160M aircraft according to a technical assignment of the defense ministry. The maiden flight of such an aircraft is scheduled in 2019. The modernization program envisages complete replacement of the onboard electronic equipment, which will considerably increase the capabilities of the aircraft. Tupolev CEO Konyukhov said the enterprise will continue technical re-equipment. This year the airfield will be upgraded and new hangars built to service modern aircraft. In the coming three years it is planned to complete the technical upgrade of welded unit production, mechanical processing and die stamping shops, as well as other facilities. The resumed Tu-160 production will raise technologies of the Kazan enterprise to the national standard level. The design bureau switched to paperless work, the titanium electron-beam welding was restored and the enterprise is equipped with modern domestic tools. |
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