The first Russian strategic bomber Tu-160M (nicknamed White Swan) built from scratch made its maiden flight from the airfield of the Tupolev Aviation Plant in Kazan.

As Rostec reports, the new Tu-160M soared to an altitude of 600 meters (1968.5 ft) and flew for about 30 minutes. The Tupolev test pilot crew performed maneuvers to verify the aircraft’s stability and controllability in the air.

The program for the new production of Tu-160 strategic missile launcher aircraft, in its modernized Tu-160M variant, was launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In order to bring back into production an aircraft that had not been produced for many years, Tupolev and the Russian aerospace industry had to recover several capabilities and modernize:

• The design documentation for the Tu-160M was completely digitized in a short time
• Vacuum brazing technology for titanium products was re-established
• Production of airframe units of Tu-160 aircraft resumed
• A new industrial cooperation of leading enterprises in the field of metallurgy, aircraft construction, mechanical engineering and instrument manufacturing was forged, many of which fall within the structure of the State Corporation Rostec.

Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, emphasized: «We have restored the full production cycle of the Tu-160, but already in the «M» version, using modernized engines, upgraded control systems, new navigation systems and weapons control systems. The modernization of the Kazan Aviation Plant played an important role in restoring the production of these unique aircraft: the workshop equipment was upgraded, the flight test base was upgraded, the world’s largest facility for electron beam welding and vacuum annealing of titanium was put into operation. Today we see significant prospects for the Tu-160 platform: further development will allow its use for new types of weapons, including those currently under development,» surely referring to hypersonic attack missiles.

The aircraft retains its original appearance, but is created on a completely new technological basis, using digital technologies.

«Tu-160 is one of the largest and most high-tech projects in the aviation industry. The implementation of this program required not only the renovation of production facilities, but also the creation of a fundamentally new digital environment for working on the project. Several aircraft design offices were involved in preparing the digital documentation for the program. The fundamental significance of today’s event is that the new machine has been completely built from scratch,» said UAC (United Aircraft Corporation) CEO Yuri Slyusar. «The systems and equipment of the new aircraft have been upgraded and modernized by 80 percent.»

Implementation of the program for modernization and production of Tu-160 strategic missile carriers required significant renewal of the aerospace production base.

«Within the framework of the program, more than 40 percent of the workshop equipment was upgraded and modernized at the Kazan aviation plant, a significant part of the team received additional training. For Tupolev, the return to production of the Tu-160 is a major project, which means not only updating the material and technical base and restoring key competencies, but also reaching a new level of possibilities for the design …,» commented Tupolev managing director Vadim Korolev.

The Tu-160 White Swan (NATO code: Blackjack) is a supersonic variable-geometry wing bomber originally designed in Soviet times, with the capability to carry out long-range nuclear strikes using its cruise missiles. The Russian Air Force currently possesses 16 of these aircraft, and together with the Tu-95MS bombers (also undergoing modernization), they represent the offensive mainstay of the Russian Aerospace Force’s strategic aviation.

Given their importance to Russia’s nuclear deterrence strategy, the Kremlin decided to carry out a major upgrade program for its Tu-160s, with new electronics and upgraded NK-32 02 engines, the first prototype of which was launched in early 2020.

But as 16 aircraft are not enough for Russian needs (for example, the USAF will re-motorize its 76 B-52 «Stratofortress» bombers to keep them flying beyond 2050), the construction of 40 additional bombers was also commissioned, of the updated Tu-160M variant.

Thanks to modernization work on existing airframes and newly built Tu-160Ms, the fabulous White Swan will remain the world’s largest (and one of the most beautiful) warplane for many decades to come.