On January 25 in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin saw the demonstration flight of the new Tu-160 strategic missile carrying aircraft.
In 2015, it was decided to relaunch the production of Tu-160 at the Kazan Aviation Plant (Branch of PAO Tupolev), which is part of the Strategic and Special Aviation Division at UAC.
The demonstration flight was at an altitude of 300 metres and lasted about seven minutes. Pilots carried out a number of manoeuvres to check the stability and controllability of the aircraft in the air.
Production of the Tu-160 aircraft at the Kazan Aviation Plant commenced in 1984 and was suspended in the early 90's. In 2015, the Defence Ministry announced the relaunch of the strategic bomber production, modified as Tu-160M2.
The Tu-160 airframe was built from Soviet-era parts with the aims of restoring the final assembly technology, testing some new technology solutions, and finishing new improved engines.
The serial production of the missile carriers should begin in 2023. The Russian Defence Ministry plans to buy at least 50 such strategic bombers. The plane was transferred to the Flight Test Station in November last year. In March this year, the aircraft will be delivered to the Aerospace Force of the Russian Federation.