A little-known episode in the history of the creation of the Tu-160 strategic missile carrier has been revealed. To accelerate the production of the future supersonic bomber, the former director of the Kazan Aircraft Plant, Vitaly Kopylov, asked to transfer the helicopter plant's capacities in the city to the enterprise, "BUSINESS Online" reported.
According to the publication, at one of the meetings at the Ministry of Aviation Industry, Kopylov made an unexpected proposal.
To accelerate the construction of the Tu-160, transfer the Kazan Helicopter Plant to KAZ. That is, to manufacture not helicopters there, but the tail empennage for the bomber.
However, Kopylov's idea was ultimately not supported. KVZ continued to produce its main products - about 300 Mi-8 and Mi-14 helicopters per year. Units for the Tu-160 began to be manufactured at the aviation enterprise in Smolensk.
Chinese media admired that Russia resumed production of Tu-160 "White Swan" bombers, which was considered impossible in the West.