Kazan Aviation Plant (KAZ, part of the United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec) can further develop the Tu-160 "White Swan" strategic bomber-missile carrier program; the aircraft has not exhausted its limits for improvement. This was stated by Andrei Zhukovsky, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategic and Innovative Development of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
According to him, the Tu-160 has a deep modernization potential, and it needs to be further developed.
At the same time, it is important to conduct further research and development work (R&D) to maintain nuclear parity and develop new practical solutions in the long-range strategic aviation of our country.
Zhukovsky added that the presence of the "White Swan" program is a big plus for Tatarstan as a whole.
This is additional financial support, competencies, and the development of a large number of related industries — radio-electronic industry, engine building, and defense-industrial cooperation.
As a reminder, the Tu-160 was developed in the USSR as a response to the appearance of the American supersonic strategic Rockwell B-1 Lancer, but the domestic bomber surpassed it in firepower, dimensions, and speed.
The Tu-160's arsenal includes Kh-55, Kh-101, Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" cruise missiles, and guided munitions of the KAB-1500 type.
