Russian President Vladimir Putin gets ready to fly on a modernized Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber, in Kazan, Russia February 22, 2024. Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a flight aboard a modernized Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber on Thursday, potentially signaling Moscow’s nuclear capabilities to the West. The aircraft, known as “Blackjacks” by NATO, represents an updated iteration of a Cold War-era bomber that the former Soviet Union would have utilized for long-distance weapon delivery in nuclear warfare scenarios. President Putin, upon disembarking from the aircraft, affirmed its reliability and modernization, suggesting its readiness for acceptance into the Russian Air Force.
The flight took place amidst strained relations between Moscow and the West due to Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and the controversial demise of opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Some observers note that current tensions between the two major nuclear powers rival or exceed those observed during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
The event, extensively covered by state television, showcased the Tu-160M, colloquially referred to as “White Swans,” taking off and landing at a facility in Kazan responsible for manufacturing the modernized supersonic aircraft. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that the flight path was classified information. The duration of the flight, with President Putin onboard, was reported to be approximately 30 minutes.
The Tu-160M, operated by a crew of four, boasts the capability to transport 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and maintain a non-stop flight range of 12,000 km (7,500 miles) without refueling. Russia’s nuclear doctrine outlines the circumstances under which the country’s president would contemplate the use of nuclear weapons, primarily in response to a nuclear or mass destruction weapons attack, or in the face of conventional weapons threatening the state’s existence.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev, presently serving as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has frequently cautioned against the potential for nuclear conflict with the West, particularly since Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in 2022. However, President Putin, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of Russia’s armed forces, has maintained that the state’s existence is not imperiled, rejecting the notion of employing nuclear weapons against Russia.
President Putin’s flight marks a revisitation to the Tu-160 aircraft, having previously flown in an earlier variant during a training exercise in 2005. Under a contractual agreement signed in 2018, the Russian Air Force is slated to receive 10 of the modernized Tu-160M nuclear bombers by 2027, each priced at 15 billion roubles ($163 million). Tupolev, the aircraft’s manufacturer, asserts that the modernized version boasts a 60% increase in effectiveness compared to its predecessor, featuring notable enhancements in weaponry, navigation, and avionics.
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