Not Just "White Swan": Putin Proposes Naming Tu-160M After First President of Tatarstan

It was proposed to name the Tu-160M, a new strategic missile carrier, after the first president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev. This initiative was voiced today by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAZ, part of PJSC "Tupolev"), which is the manufacturer of the Tu-160M.

The Tu-160M differs from the basic version with its modernized engines, updated avionics and onboard equipment, as well as new weapon control systems. In addition, the aircraft received an electronic warfare (EW) system.

The Rostec State Corporation announced in July 2023 the start of state joint tests of the first modernized Tu-160M missile carrier. The tests are conducted jointly by the Russian Ministry of Defense and the developer.

The Tu-160, also known as the "White Swan", was developed in the 1970s and remains one of the most powerful supersonic strike aircraft in the world. The basic model of the Tu-160 was first introduced in 1981, while mass production of the machine at the Kazan Aviation Plant was launched three years later. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, production of the Tu-160 was suspended, but the company continued to service existing machines. Years later, the "White Swan" got a second life.

Tu-160M during assembly
Image source RG/Alexander Eshkinin

Alexander Romadanovsky, Director of the Design and Technological Workshop, explained that during operation, the Tu-160 equipment became obsolete and it was decided to deeply modernize it.

We replaced most of the equipment, the automatic onboard control system, the fuel control system, the aviation system, and the armament. The new information and control system made it possible to abandon analog devices. The aircraft cabin is completely digital

Alexander Romadanovsky, Director of the Design and Technological Workshop of KAZ

The Deputy Head of the Flight Test Station and Head of the Engineering and Aviation Service of the Kazan Aviation Plant, Dmitry Kolesov, emphasized that externally the Tu-160M looks like the old version, but internally it is a completely new aircraft with improved characteristics and easier operation for the crew.

During the inspection, the president boarded and even sat at the controls of the modernized missile carrier
Image source Kristina Kormilitsyna/MIA "Russia Today"

The project to build a completely new Tu-160, launched at the initiative of the President of Russia in 2018, was a serious challenge for the Kazan Aviation Plant. The organization of the production of the "White Swan" served as an impetus for the modernization of the plant as a whole.

As part of the implementation of the program under the state contract between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and "Tupolev", the design documentation for the Tu-160M aircraft was completely digitized in a short time, the technology of vacuum welding of titanium products was restored, the production of aircraft fuselage units was resumed, a new cooperation was formed from advanced industrial enterprises in the field of metallurgy, aircraft construction, mechanical engineering and instrument engineering, most of which are part of the Rostec State Corporation.

press service of "UAC"

Difficulties arose in mastering new technologies and restoring production, but in January 2022 a historical event was achieved: the first flight of the new Tu-160M missile carrier was carried out from the airfield of the Kazan plant.