The Kazan Aircraft Production Organisation (KAPO) has received a contract to upgrade the Russian air force's 15 Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack supersonic strategic bombers.
The work is to begin this year once the air force has selected one of the upgrade packages offered by Tupolev, according to reports from Moscow.
Tupolev has offered several upgrade packages which are believed to concentrate on improvements to the aircraft's weapons-targeting systems and electronic warfare equipment. An already signed Tupolev Tu-95 Bear upgrade deal includes integration of the Raduga Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) cruise missile.
The air force has demanded that the upgrade be based on "purely Russian solutions" without foreign equipment.
The swing-wing Tu-160 is in service with the 22nd heavy bomber aviation division at Engels airbase in central Russia. Tupolev says they could stay in service until 2030 when a new strategic aircraft should be ready.
Last year, air force officials stated that the Russian defence ministry has funded research and development for such an aircraft. Sukhoi and Tupolev are understood to have made bids.
Source: Flight International
