Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called the resumption of production of Tu-160 strategic missile carriers by the Kazan Aircraft Plant (KAP) a common victory, a task he set for the enterprise several years ago.
During his visit to KAP on Friday, the minister climbed into the cabin of the Tu-160 built at the plant, where he was told about the combat potential of the new aircraft, which had increased significantly compared to its predecessors. During his tour of the shop floors, the minister was told that the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin was promptly fulfilled, which allowed resuming the production of the Tu-160 - restoration of the electron-beam welding units: it became possible to weld and anneal the main power elements of the structure. As a result - in December 2020 a new Tu-160 was removed from the slipway and handed over to the shop floor for final assembly. The defense minister climbed into its cabin.
"What we talked about five or six years ago is done. This is our common victory," the minister said, addressing the plant workers. He also watched the flight of the deeply upgraded Tu-22M3M long-range bomber.
Shoigu was reported that this is the second prototype. All routine maintenance work on the aircraft was completed, all required flights were made, during which the automatic control systems were tested, lighting and technical equipment in the nighttime and radio communication equipment on different frequencies were checked. The aircraft passed the preliminary flight test program and was ready to be handed over for further testing.
Then there was a review of deeply upgraded combat aircraft Tu-160M, samples of KAP-manufactured products, as well as the exhibition of unmanned aerial vehicles, which, in particular, drones Altius-RU and Forpost were demonstrated.
Kazan Aviation Plant produces special-purpose aircraft based on Tu-214 standard design, repairs and modernization of Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft, reproduction of Tu-160, experimental design work on new products and their testing as well as production and delivery of aircraft units and components in cooperation with other enterprises of United Aircraft Corporation.
Kazan Helicopter Plant
Afterward, the minister of defense checked the fulfillment of the state defense order by the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KHP), inspected infrastructure facilities, production shops and samples of products manufactured.
Shoigu climbed into the cabin of the Mi-8MTV-5M, where he was briefed on the main advantages of this machine as compared to its predecessor version. Among them, in particular, the performance of night flights in the group with the use of night vision goggles, replacement of foreign components and others.
The minister was also introduced to the Cyberprom project, developed by students of the Tupolev Kazan National Research University, who won the All-Russian competition Personnel for the Digital Industry.
Kazan Helicopters remains the largest manufacturer of medium helicopters, with a full cycle of equipment from design to mass production. In 2007 the KHP joined the holding company Russian Helicopters.
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Photo: official website of the President of RT
Based on materials TASS