Rostec head Chemezov spoke about the progress of modernization and production of the Tu-160M

Specialists of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have done a lot of work to resume production of modernized Tu-160M missile carriers. Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation, told Izvestia.

"For this purpose, the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products was restored, production of airframe units and unique systems was resumed. Our industry does not stand still," the head of the state corporation noted.

According to him, "airplanes receive new complexes and systems, which significantly increases their combat potential".

Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Military Russia portal, recalled that the program to resume production of the Tu-160 strategic bomber began in 2015.

"It is believed that the arrival of several dozen newly produced modern aircraft of this type in long-range aviation will allow the replacement of the entire fleet of Tu-95s with Tu-160Ms. On February 2, 2020, the prototype of the future serial Tu-160M made its first flight - it was exactly the new bomber assembled by the Kazan aircraft plant," the expert said.

Kazan has reconstructed its production facilities to fulfill the program of building new Tu-160 aircraft, resumed production of NK-32 engines for them, and completely updated the aircraft's radio-electronic equipment, Dmitry Kornev recalled.

The Russian Air Force has already received the first new Tu-160s over the past couple of years, and in December 2024 it was announced that in 2025 the long-range aviation will receive four Tu-160M aircraft.

Read more in the exclusive material of Izvestia:

Jump to Tu: what will be the new strategic missile-carrier aircraft be like