Russian Army announces receipt of two new Tu-160M bombers
The Russian Aerospace Forces have reportedly been reinforced with two strategic Tu-160M missile carriers, according to Kremlin Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
He claims that these aircraft have already been integrated into the combat aviation fleet, but there is no independent confirmation of this information.
Russian media have not released any photos or videos showing the new bombers at airfields or during test flights. Furthermore, there is no information on when these Tu-160M aircraft were delivered or whether they are fully operational, which raises doubts among military experts and defense analysts.
The Tu-160M is presented by Russian authorities as a “new” strategic bomber, but in reality, it is a modernized version of the Soviet-era Tu-160, which first flew in 1981.
The modernization project includes the installation of updated electronic systems and adaptation of the aircraft to deploy new missile weapons. However, the airframe, aerodynamic design, and core structural elements remain Soviet-era technology.
