Russia to reestablish Tu-160 supersonic bomber production line
The Russian defense ministry has confirmed that it will restart
the production line for the Soviet-eraTupolev Tu-160 “Blackjack”
supersonic strategic bomber.
In a series of tweets on 29 April, the ministry says it is “necessary
to resume production of the Tu-160missile carriers”, adding that it
is “the best aircraft in its class”.
Tupolev is in the process of modernising the Russian air force’s
Tu-160 to an enhanced Tu-160M standard. The first upgraded
example had its first flight on 16 November 2014 and was delivered
in December 2014, alongside an upgraded Tu-95MS “Bear”
strategic bomber.
Enhancement activity on the supersonic Tu-160 includes
“partial replacement” of the aircraft’s avionics and weapons
systems, Tupolev says.
The defense ministry also tweets that the Russian air force will
receive two Tu-160Ms and 12 long-range Tu-22M3 bombers by
the end of 2015, upgraded in Kazan. The Russian air force has
13 Tu-160 in service with 14 on order, Flightglobal’s MiliCAS Fleets
database shows.
A second phase of modernisation will begin in 2016 with the addition
of upgraded Kuznetsov NK-32 engines, Russian news agency Itar-
Tass said in December.
BillyPix
The Tu-160 is now Russia's only bomber in active production, and
the restart of production is expected to bolster the air force’s
capability until its future prospective aviation complex for long-
range aviation (PAK-DA) bomber begins production after 2020.
PAK-DA is touted as a flying-wing design that will eventually replace
the Tu-160 and Tu-95.
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