Description
The Tupolev Tu-160 Beliy Lebed (or White Swan,[1] Russian: Туполев Ту-160, NATO reporting name: Blackjack) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.
The Tupolev Tu-160 Beliy Lebed (or White Swan,[1] Russian: Туполев Ту-160, NATO reporting name: Blackjack) is asupersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep aircraft built.
Entering service in 1987, the Tu-160 was the last strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union. The Long Range Aviationbranch of the Russian Air Force has 16 aircraft with fewer in active use. The Tu-160 active fleet has been undergoing upgrades to electronics systems since the early 2000s. The Tu-160M modernisation programme has begun with the first new updated aircraft delivered in December 2014.