The Tu-160 supersonic Intercontinental strategic bomber was manufactured by the Tupolev aircraft research and engineering complex joint stock company of Moscow and also the Kazan-Gorbunov Aircraft Production Association in Tatarstan from 1980 to 1992.
The maiden flight of the bomber was completed in December 1981 and it entered service in April 1987. Production has since restarted and a Tu-160 was delivered to the Russian Air Force in may 2000. about 35 aircraft were created of which only 16 are in service in Russia.
The Tu-160 was designated as White Swan due to its maneuverability and anti-flash white end. the aim of the aircraft is the delivery of nuclear and standard weapons deep in continental theatres of operation. The aircraft has all-weather, day-and-night capability and can operate at all geographical latitudes.
The Tu-160 is capable of carrying the strategic cruise missile Kh-55MS, that is known in the West by the Nato designation and codename AS-15 Kent. Up to 12 Kh-55MS missiles can be carried, six in every bay. The Kh-55MS is propelled by a turbofan engine. the max range is 3,000km, and it's armed with a 200kt nuclear warhead.
The weapons bays are also fitted with launchers for the Kh-15P, that has the Nato designation and codename AS-16 Kickback. The Kh-15P Kickback has solid rocket fuel propulsion, which provides a range up to 200km. The Kickback can be fitted with a conventional 250kg warhead or a nuclear warhead. The aircraft is also capable of carrying a range of aerial bombs with a total weight up to 40t.
