MOSCOW, — Russia has restored industrial supply chains and upgraded manufacturing facilities to resume series production of the Tu-160M strategic bomber, according to Tupolev chief executive Yuri Abrosimov. The modernization program has updated approximately 80 percent of the aircraft’s systems and equipment while retaining the external appearance of the Soviet-era Tu-160, known to NATO as the Blackjack.
The four-engine, variable-sweep-wing bomber is a key component of Russia’s nuclear triad. Abrosimov’s comments were published by Rostec and the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Tupolev’s parent company. He said the modernized aircraft uses a new technological foundation with extensive digital processes.
Major Systems and Engine Upgrades
The Tu-160M features updated avionics, aircraft and weapons control systems, navigation equipment, radar, communications equipment and a digital glass cockpit. It is powered by upgraded NK-32-02 engines, also known as NK-32 Series 02, manufactured by UEC-Kuznetsov in Samara.
The engines offer improved fuel efficiency compared with earlier versions. Manufacturer-reported figures indicate a range of more than 12,000 kilometers without refueling, while earlier reporting has associated the engine upgrade with a combat-range increase of around 1,000 kilometers.
According to Abrosimov, the aircraft’s variable-geometry wings and propulsion system contribute to its speed, range, endurance and payload capacity.
The bomber can carry up to 12 long-range cruise missiles in internal rotary launchers. Its weapons options also include missiles with conventional or nuclear warheads and aerial bombs such as the KAB-1500, FAB-1000 and FAB-750.
The onboard electronics use a modular architecture, allowing individual systems to be replaced as newer equipment becomes available without overhauling the entire suite. This approach is intended to simplify future upgrades and expand the aircraft’s mission capabilities.
Rebuilding the Production Network
Restarting production required Tupolev to restore cooperation with suppliers of materials, semi-finished products and aircraft assemblies.
“One of the main difficulties we encountered was restoring industrial cooperation, starting with suppliers of materials and semi-finished products,” Abrosimov said.
At the Kazan Aviation Plant named after S.P. Gorbunov, workshop equipment and flight-test facilities were upgraded. Specialized installations for electron-beam welding and vacuum annealing of large titanium assemblies were also brought into operation. Related Russian industry reporting indicated that about 90 percent of the equipment on some specialized units was replaced.
A shared digital environment now links aircraft design and production. Specialists from the Sukhoi, Mikoyan and Ilyushin design bureaux helped prepare digital documentation, while UAC enterprises use a common digital information system to track design changes and introduce them into manufacturing more quickly.
The program also paired workers and specialists aged 30 to 35 with experienced personnel from the Soviet-era production program to transfer manufacturing knowledge.
Abrosimov described the project as a test of Russia’s engineering and manufacturing tradition, adding that restarting series production strengthens specialized industrial capabilities and technological independence. The first flight of an entirely new-build Tu-160M took place in January 2022, a milestone he recalled watching with other factory employees.
Production Contracts and Deliveries
Russia signed a contract in January 2018 for 10 new Tu-160M bombers, reportedly valued at 160 billion rubles. Deliveries faced repeated delays, but Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced that the Aerospace Forces received two newly built Tu-160M aircraft in late 2025.
The Kazan plant continues to modernize existing Tu-160 bombers while constructing new airframes, combining fleet upgrades with the resumption of new production.
Operational Status
Russia’s Tu-160 fleet remains in service and has been used to launch cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine. An analysis published in May 2026 by the Ukrainian aviation monitoring channel AviVector estimated that approximately seven aircraft from a reported fleet of around 18 Tu-160 and Tu-160M bombers were flying combat missions at the time.
The report also estimated that between seven and nine aircraft were at the Kazan plant for modernization, maintenance or construction. These figures represent AviVector’s assessment and have not been presented here as independently verified fleet-wide data.
The Tu-160M program continues to combine modernization of existing aircraft with new construction, supported by upgraded manufacturing facilities, restored supplier networks and a digital production system.
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