A Tupolev Tu-160 in flight in May 2014.
The Tupolev Tu-160 Beliy Lebed (Russian: Туполев Ту-160) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep aircraft built. The Tu-160 has the heaviest take off weight of any military aircraft besides transports.
Entering service in 1987, the Tu-160 was the last strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union. The Soviet Long Range Aviation Branch has 64 aircraft in active service with another 32 in reserve. The Tu-160 active fleet has been undergoing upgrades to electronics systems since the early 2000s. The Tu-160M modernization program has begun with the first new updated aircraft delivered in December 2014.
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Soviet Union
- Soviet Air Force
- 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment
- 137th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment
- 153rd Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment
- 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment
- Soviet Air Force
