There is no military equipment similar to Tu-160 heavy strategic bombers in the world, its creation supported the Russian nuclear triad, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"We actually created a new vehicle [Tu-160M]. There is no such equipment in the world, a supersonic, strategic aircraft operating at such speeds, capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Thus, we supported our triad, the nuclear triad," Putin said during his visit to the city of Krasnodar.
The Tu-160M is an upgraded version of the Tu-160 aircraft, which is affectionately referred to as the White Swan by Russian aviators.
The new plane, which had its first flight on January 12, features enhanced engines, advanced avionics, and better weapons control and electronic warfare capabilities.
The only remaining component of the old airplane is the fuselage. The engines were replaced with the NK-32-02 of the 'second series' that allow White Swan to fly a thousand kilometers farther. The aircraft's avionics, radio-electronic apparatus, control systems, and other components were all fully upgraded, according to the experts.