Russia’s upgraded Tu-160 bomber to undergo government testing

MOSCOW — Russia’s new prototype Tu-160M bomber has completed its second test flight and will now undergo trials with the Defence Ministry.

The December flight of the aircraft, developed by United Aircraft Corp. subsidiary Tupolev, came nearly a year after the first flight in January 2022.

The tests involved maneuvers to check the stability of the bomber at altitudes of 600 and 2,000 meters; the serviceability of its systems; and the functionality of its engines, avionics, flap controls, and gear-down and landing systems, according to UAC. The test program also includes checking suits, helmets, breathing systems and catapult functionality, the company noted.

With the completion of the factory testing program, the company delivered the aircraft to the ministry on Dec. 30 for a second stage of tests. During that stage, officials will confirm the company met the aircraft requirements.

Pilots will perform tests that simulate long-range flight and combat, while also checking capabilities at low altitude.

The tests are expected to last up to three years, according to Vladimir Rigmant, a former assistant to the general director of Tupolev. Rigmant addressed the process in a speech last month at the Tupolev Museum, where he currently serves as director.

The government expects the Tu-160M to enter service in the 2024-2025 time frame.

During the testing process, the bomber will fly in various directions over Russia and international waters, with some events simulating an approach to North America, Rigmant added.

Modernized systems and equipment make up 80% of the Tu-160M, according to the general director of UAC, Yuri Slyusar. Furthermore, the aircraft is using the new NK-32-02 engine, which itself will undergo flight tests.

The aircraft is also expected to carry the latest Russian-made hypersonic weapons. According to Rigmant, several missile launches would need to first successfully hit targets at the Sary Shagan test range in Kazakhstan or the Pemboy test range in the Arctic region.

The airframe of the Tu-160M did not change, and it’s unclear how the newly added technology will interact with the existing structure.

The Tu-160 strategic bomber first flew in 1981. In 2015, the Defence Ministry announced the launch of a program to create a new, modified version, dubbed Tu-160M2, with plans to make 50 upgraded bombers.

In January 2018, the first contract was signed for the construction of 10 new Tu-160M bombers , which would be complete by 2027. There is also a parallel program to modernize 16 existing Tu-160 bombers to the latest version.

Maxim Starchak is a Russia correspondent for Defense News. He previously worked as an editor for the Russian Defence Ministry and as an expert for the NATO Information Office in Moscow. He has covered Russian nuclear and defense issues for the Atlantic Council, the Center for European Policy Analysis, the Royal United Services Institute and more.

莫斯科——俄罗斯新型图-160M轰炸机原型机已完成第二次试飞，现在将接受国防部的测试。

该飞机由联合飞机制造公司子公司图波列夫研制，12 月的试飞距离 2022 年 1 月的首次试飞已近一年。

据联合航空制造集团（UAC）称，测试内容包括检验轰炸机在600米和2000米高度的稳定性；各系统的可用性；以及发动机、航空电子设备、襟翼控制系统、起落架放下和着陆系统的功能。该公司还指出，测试项目还包括检查飞行服、头盔、呼吸系统和弹射器的功能。

工厂测试项目完成后，该公司于12月30日将飞机交付给国防部进行第二阶段测试。在该阶段，官员们将确认该公司是否满足飞机的各项要求。

飞行员将进行模拟远程飞行和战斗的测试，同时还将检查低空飞行能力。

据图波列夫博物馆前馆长助理弗拉基米尔·里格曼特称，测试预计将持续长达三年。里格曼特上个月在图波列夫博物馆发表讲话时谈到了这一过程，他目前担任该博物馆馆长。

政府预计图-160M将于2024-2025年间投入使用。

里格曼特补充说，在测试过程中，轰炸机将在俄罗斯和国际水域上空朝各个方向飞行，其中一些测试模拟了接近北美的情况。

据联合航空制造集团（UAC）总经理尤里·斯柳萨尔介绍，图-160M飞机80%的系统和设备都进行了现代化改造。此外，该飞机还采用了新型NK-32-02发动机，该发动机本身也将进行飞行测试。

预计该飞机还将携带俄罗斯最新研制的高超音速武器。据里格曼特称，此前需要先进行多次导弹试射，成功击中位于哈萨克斯坦萨雷沙甘试验场或北极地区彭博伊试验场的目标。

Tu-160M 的机身没有改变，目前还不清楚新增的技术将如何与现有结构相互作用。

图-160战略轰炸机于1981年首次试飞。2015年，国防部宣布启动一项计划，制造一种新的改进型，称为图-160M2，计划生产50架升级版轰炸机。

2018 年 1 月，签署了建造 10 架新型 Tu-160M 轰炸机的首份合同，这些轰炸机将于 2027 年完成建造。此外，还有一个平行项目，将 16 架现有的 Tu-160 轰炸机现代化升级到最新版本。

马克西姆·斯塔恰克是《防务新闻》的俄罗斯特派记者。他曾任俄罗斯国防部编辑，也曾担任北约驻莫斯科新闻办公室专家。他还曾为大西洋理事会、欧洲政策分析中心、皇家联合军种研究所等机构报道俄罗斯核问题和国防问题。