At least 20 Tu-160 "White Swan" bombers are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) as of the end of 2025. The Technosphere Russia publication made this assessment.
A few days ago, on December 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the delivery of two "White Swans" from the Kazan Aviation Plant (part of the Rostec United Aircraft Corporation).
The previous delivery of missile carriers took place in February 2024. However, it is not yet known whether we are talking about new Tu-160M2 aircraft and those that have been modernized with the designation Tu-160M.
In addition, KAZ has an order for 10 more Tu-160M2s. At least two of them were demonstrated in finished form back in February 2024.
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, size, and speed. The combat aircraft is capable of carrying Kh-101 and Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" missiles.
Andrey Zhukovsky, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategic and Innovative Development of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, noted that the "White Swans" have not yet exhausted their modernization potential and are able to develop further.
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