The Russian Tu-160 "White Swan" strategic bomber is capable of delivering 45 tons of payload in a supersonic mode. This was announced by military expert Alexey Leonkov.
According to him, if we compare the ship with foreign analogues, it is in many ways superior to its closest competitors, such as the American B-1B and B-52. The maximum combat load of the Tu-160 is 45 tons.
The Tu-160 can fly at a speed of more than 2.2 Mach. At the same time, it can fly at this speed at full load. Supersonic mode is supported for 45 minutes.
The range of the Tu-160 far exceeds the capabilities of the American B1-B, the aviation expert emphasized.
Later, the Tu-160M appeared. The modernization consisted in the fact that the aircraft received modern airborne, sighting and navigation systems and electronic warfare systems to protect against weapons of the "surface-to-air" type and "air-to-air".
The "White Swan" is designed to work with nuclear and conventional weapons on targets in remote areas. The Tu-160 is the largest supersonic aircraft in the history of military aviation.
Earlier www1.ru reported that Russia will have a satellite group for military intelligence and communications.