The supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160 received an unusual assessment for its design solutions, which still amaze specialists. Honored test pilot of the "Tupolev" company, Henri Naskidyants, called the Tu-160 one of two domestic aircraft with virtually "alien" architecture.

According to Naskidyants, the Tu-160 stands out among other Russian combat aircraft due to a combination of technical solutions that still look unusual decades later. This primarily refers to supersonic speed and variable-sweep wing – a design scheme that allowed combining high performance across different flight modes.

At the same time, the Tu-160 remains not just a technically complex machine, but an active strategic missile carrier, designed for long-range flights and the use of air-launched weapons.

Naskidyants separately highlighted the turboprop Tu-95. In his assessment, this machine retains its significance due to a combination of reliability, range, and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks. The pilot believes that it is impossible to completely replace the Tu-95 with a similar aircraft.

The Tu-160 is the largest supersonic aircraft and missile carrier with variable-sweep wings in the history of military aviation. Its length is 54.1 m, maximum wingspan is 55.7 m, and maximum takeoff weight reaches 275 tons. Four NK-32 engines allow the aircraft to reach speeds of up to 2.2 thousand km/h. Its practical range exceeds 12 thousand km, practical ceiling is about 16 thousand m, and maximum combat load reaches 45 tons.