Russia’s Upgraded Tu-95MSM Strategic Bomber Makes Its Maiden Flight

(Source: United Aircraft Corp.; issued Aug. 23, 2020)

The Russian Air Force’s latest strategic bomber, the deeply modernized Tu-95MSM ‘strategic missile carrier, made its first flight on August 23. The flight lasted 2 hours and 33 minutes and reached an altitude of 9,000 meters, and the aircraft performed nominally, UAC said. (UAC photo)

On August 23, before the opening of the Army-2020 International Military-Technical Forum, while inspecting the exhibition of the latest aviation technology at the Kubinka airfield, the General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar informed the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, of the start of flight tests of the first prototype of the deeply modernized Tu-95MSM strategic missile carrier.

Work on the development of the Tu-95MSM is being carried out jointly by PJSC Tupolev and PJSC TANTK im. G.M. Beriev "(part of PJSC UAC of State Corporation Rostec).

The first flight of the Tu-95MSM made the day before at the airfield of G.M. Beriev in Taganrog. The aircraft was piloted by the crew under the guidance of Andrey Voropaev, test pilot of the Zhukovskaya flight test and development base - a branch of Tupolev PJSC. The flight took place in normal mode, at an altitude of 9,000 meters, and lasted 2 hours and 33 minutes. Systems and equipment worked without any remarks.

#Видео Первый глубокомодернизированный ракетоносец #Ту95МСМ впервые поднялся в воздух накануне открытия форума #Армия2020 https://t.co/3l86xNgKIb #ДальняяАвиация #Самолеты #ОПК #ФорумАрмия pic.twitter.com/C9CVTgoN2s

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) August 23, 2020

Yuri Slyusar, General Director of PJSC UAC, Vice President of SoyuzMash of Russia LLC, emphasized: “This is an aircraft with a new armament system, a new on-board electronic equipment complex, with newly modified engines and new propellers. The combat capabilities of the vehicle have doubled after this upgrade. After departure, tests will continue. Modernization of the fleet of strategic missile carriers will continue along this path."

The modernization will significantly increase the navigation accuracy and reliability indicators, extend the service life of the aircraft system, and improve its takeoff and landing characteristics.

As part of the deep modernization, new systems were installed on the Tu-95MSM: weapons control, aircraft control, flight and navigation equipment, an onboard communications system, a radar station, and targeting control equipment. The result of the work carried out will be a significant increase in the efficiency indicators of the aircraft system when used for its intended role.

Tu-95MSM is the first strategic missile carrier, a new modification of the world's fastest turboprop aircraft-missile carrier Tu-95MS. It is designed to carry out combat missions while protecting the country's distant borders.

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