Russian Air Force received advanced upgraded TU-160
Tu-160 (NATO classification - Black Jack) with advanced combat capabilities was received by the Strategic Air Force Aviation, Russia. It differs from previous series of TU-160’s with extended combat capability and advanced equipment. Tu-160 is equipped with modern on-board digital computers, new avionics, which allow maximum use in order to address combat mission information received from space satellites. In addition, the new aircraft can use bombs and not just missile armament.
The plane was named Vitaly Kopylova, who headed the Kazan airline from 1973 to 1993. First flight on a new serial Tu-160 carried on 28 December 2007.
Tu-160 carries 12 cruise missiles of long range. It can carry bomb armament of different designation with an overall mass of up to 40 tons.
The strategic supersonic rocket carrier- bomber Tu-160 is intended to deliver nuclear and conventional weapon in the remote military geographic regions and the deep inside the continental theaters of war.
The Blackjack has a crew of four, maximum takeoff weight - 275 tons, operational range of 14000km and Service ceiling of 16 thousand meters.