Putin Flies on Russia’s Latest Strategic Bomber, Tu-160M: A Look at the Advanced Aircraft’s Capabilities
Putin Flies on Russia’s Latest Strategic Bomber
President Vladimir Putin of Russia took a flight on one of Russia’s latest strategic bombers, the Tupolev Tu-160M. On Wednesday, Putin boarded this aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons. He flew for 30 minutes on the Tu-160M from a jet production plant in Kazan, located 720 kilometers east of Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed this but did not disclose the route during the flight.
During his visit to the Kazan Aviation Plant, Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the advanced Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers, capable of launching missiles at targets up to 6,000 kilometers away. The Kazan Aviation Plant in Russia has prepared four Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers. The leading aircraft of the Russian Air Force, the Tu-160M, can change the course of any conflict by initiating both nuclear and conventional attacks. Russia claims it to be the fastest supersonic bomber in the world with the heaviest payload capacity.
What’s Special about the Tu-160M:
The Russian Tu-160M shares its design and layout with its predecessor but incorporates entirely new technological foundations and digital features. The Tu-160M and M2 upgrades introduce the new K-042K-1 navigation system, ABSU-200-1 autopilot, and NK-32-02 turbofan engines. It’s considered the world’s most powerful combat engine, capable of developing thrust exceeding 55,000 pounds (24,947 kilograms). It features a new Novella NV1.70 radar, a computerized “glass” cockpit, and anti-jamming Electronic Support Measures (ESM).
Russian defense officials mentioned plans to deploy the Tu-160 for attacking American and Japanese targets in Northeast Asia following a rapid deterioration in Russia-Japan relations over the past two years. This move was seen as a response to Tokyo’s stance on the conflict in Ukraine, the revival of disputes over the Kuril Islands with Russia, and efforts to strengthen the America-Japan-South Korea alliance against the Russia-North Korea-China summit. It’s suggested that deploying strategic missile carriers in the Far East should deter threats posed by America and its closest allies in the region.
