The Tupolev Tu-160M (изделие 70М) is a Tupolev Tu-160 serial bomber modernization project, which was launched on October 23, 2014, and will see the modernization of 15 aircraft. In addition to the modernization of existing aircraft, a new production of 10 Tu-160M2s is planned. The work is expected to be completed by 2027.
The Tu-160M (Tu-160M2) uses new NK-32-02 (НК-32-02) engines, which should give the modernised aircraft a range of up to 1,000 km longer. Other changes include a new radar developed by Zaslon called the NV1.70 Novella (НВ1.70 Новелла), a digital cockpit or navigation system NO-70M (НО-70М) (with inertial system BINS-CP-1 (БINS-СП-1), astronavigation system ANS-2009M (АНС-2009М) and digital navigation computer), navigation radar DISS-021-70 (ДИСС-021-70), A737DP satellite navigation receiver (А737ДП), ABSU-200MT autopilot (АБСУ-200МТ), S-505-70 communications system (С-505-70), the BKR-70M self-homing recognition system (БКР-70М), and the Redut-70M airborne defence suite (Redut-70М). A new missile armament is also under development.
A Tu-160 bomber with the serial number 4-05 and the name Igor Sikorsky (RF-94103, fuselage number 14) was chosen for the prototype implementation. This bomber was produced in 1988 and was assigned to 184. Heavy Bomber Regiment stationed in Priluky (fuselage number 22). After the collapse of the USSR it belonged to Ukraine, from where it was transferred to Russia in 1999. The upgraded prototype was first publicly unveiled 16.11.2017 (first roll-out) and made its maiden flight on 02.02.2020, but still with the original NK-32-1 engines. With the new engines, the machine made its first flight 03.11.2020 and 10.03.2021 the aircraft flew from the Kazan production facility to Ramenskoye Airport near Moscow, where the next stage of testing will be carried out.
Note: In the history of Tu-160 development, this is not the first aircraft to use the index M. This index has appeared on some development versions in the past, e.g. in 1972 and 1975, the unrealized hypersonic missile carrier project Ch-90 of the 1990s, or the proposed upgrade in 2006-2007.
Prvý prototyp Tu-160M a jeho letová posádka po úspešnom prelete z Kazane do Moskvy, 10.03.2021
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First flight of the modernized Tu-160M, still with the original NK-32-1 engines, 02.02.2020.
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Ruský výrobca lietadiel OAK realizuje v Kazanskom výrobnom závode KAZ S.P. Gorbunova (patriaceho do skupiny Tupolev) letové skúšky druhého modernizovaného bombardéru Tu-160M (reg. č. RF-94444), ktorý je vybavený už novými motormi NK-32-02. Dňa 17.09.2021 boli realizované letové ukážky pre generálneho riaditeľa štátnej korporácie Rostech Sergeja Čemezova. Ide pôvodne o stroj s v.č. 4-01 pomenovaný Boris Veremej.
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On 12.01.2022 the first flight of the newly built strategic bomber Tu-160M (or Tu-160M2, by which the newly produced machines are called) was carried out from the Kazan Aviation Plant. The flight lasted about 30 minutes and took place at an average altitude of 600 m. It was aimed at checking the stability and controllability of the aircraft in flight. Many technological lines and capabilities (e.g. titanium vacuum welding) had to be restored or often rebuilt for the new production of the aircraft, as the original Tu-160 production line had been closed down and dismantled in the past. In parallel with the resumption of Tu-160 aircraft production in a modernised form, the digitisation of all production and design documentation was carried out.
Although the press release reports on a newly built aircraft, in fact the basis of this particular aircraft (v.no. 8-05) is one of the fuselages produced during the USSR era (it was originally intended to be a 36 series bomber Tu-160) and which was not completed due to the premature termination of production of the type.
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The quartet of Tu-160M bombers, which were presented to Russian President Putin during his visit to the Kazan Aircraft Plant on 21.02.2024, consists of two modernized machines (RF-94105, red 06, v.no. 8-01, named Ilya Muromets, produced in 1994, and RF-94106, red 07, v.no. 8-02, named Alexander Molodchiy, manufactured in 2000) and two newly manufactured machines (Tu-160M2) with production numbers 9-02 (fuselage number red 22) and 9-03 (fuselage number red 23). The aircraft v.no. 9-02 was released from the production hall in December 2022 and made its maiden flight in July 2023. During Putin's visit, a suggestion was made to name this aircraft Mintimer Shaymiev (Mintimer Шаймиев). Flight tests of the third newly produced Tu-160M2 with v.no. 9-03 have probably not yet started.
On February 23, 2024, on the occasion of the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland, President Putin informed the public about the inclusion of 4 Tui-16M bombers into the armament of the Russian Strategic Forces. Due to the uncompleted trials of the aircraft with v.no. 9-03, it is most likely a pair of upgraded aircraft RF-94105 Ilya Muromets and RF-94106 Aleksandr Molodchiy and a pair of newly produced Tu-160M2 RF-66017 Valentina Tereshkova (v.no. 9-01) and v.No. 9-02 with the planned name Mintimer Shaymiev.
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