Tupolev's Kazan aircraft plant has delivered overhauled and modernized Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers to Russian Air Force.
The swingwing supersonic Tu-160 received a partial replacement of avionics, which improved the operational and technical characteristics of the aircraft, according to Tupolev.
The first test flight of the "white swan" took place on 16 November, with test pilot SP Gorbunov Alexey Ryabov at control.
The upgrade is part of a two phase modernisation program. The phase two will upgrade the NK-32 engines, which had reached the end of their service life.
Another upgraded Tu-95MS will be delivered before end of this year. Russian Defense Ministry will transfer 20 more Tu-95 aircraft for upgrade in 2015-16 tineframe.
The Tu-160 Black Jack is a variable-geometry wing aircraft, powered by four Kuznetsov NK-321 afterburning turbofan engines, the most powerful ever fitted to a combat aircraft. It is the world's largest and heaviest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep aircraft built.
The aircraft was designed in respone to the US Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bomber program and closely resemble the B-1B. It has a total weapons load capacity of 40,000 kg, carried in two internal weapon bays.
The Tu-95 Bear is a large, turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform, first flown in 1952. The aircraft has four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines, each driving contra- rotating propellers. It is the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today.
