Tu-160
Strategic bomber (LRA)
Largest and heaviest operational bomber in the world; variable geometry, supersonic. Carries long-range cruise missiles (Kh-101/102, conventional and nuclear) for stand-off strike far beyond the reach of air defence. A core element of Russian strategic deterrence.
Learn more in the AirDefense Academy →Dimensionsfor imagery analysis
- Length × wingspan × height
- 54.1 × 55.7 m (wings spread 20°; 35.6 m swept 65°) × 13.1 m
- Max. take-off weight
- 275,000 kg
- Empty weight
- 110,000 kg
- Dimension source
- Wikipedia; WEG (ODIN)
General
- Role
- Strategic stand-off bomber
- Crew
- 4
- Max speed
- Mach 2.05
- Ceiling
- 52,500 ft
- Range
- ≈ 6,640 NM (unrefuelled)
- Base
- Engels-2 (since Sep 2026, 16 large shelters (≈ 63 × 63 m, peak ≈ 17 m) under construction at Engels-2; the first three frames were nearly finished on 12 Oct — AviVector via Defence Blog, RU Mil Tracker e-20261014-07)
Armament
- Cruise missiles
- Kh-101 / Kh-102 (≈ 1,350+ NM)
- Earlier
- Kh-55SM
- Load
- 2 internal rotary launchers, 12 missiles
Threat
- Primary threat
- Stand-off cruise-missile salvos — launch box far from target
- Countermeasure
- Intercept launch box / cruise missiles in flight
- Threat level
- Strategic — deterrence
News archive 4
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
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Tupolev says Tu-160M bomber rebuilt on 'entirely new technological base', with 80% of systems modernized
Tupolev general director Yuri Abrosimov says the Tu-160M strategic bomber (NATO: Blackjack) keeps the outward silhouette of the Soviet-era Tu-160 but was "created on an entirely new technological base with active use of digital technologies", with 80% of its systems and equipment modernized, including avionics, navigation and engines. His comments were publ…
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Satellite Images Reveal russian Tu-160Ms Being Armed with Kh-101 Missiles at Engels and Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3 Bomber Deployments at Olenya (Defense Express)
Defense Express reports on new satellite imagery published by the monitoring site AviVector showing Tu-160M strategic bombers being loaded with Kh-101 cruise missiles at Engels airbase. According to the outlet, the images suggest Russia brings its bombers to Engels one at a time and arms them with cruise missiles in the same sequence, so that the intervals…
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Russia builds the first three of 16 large bomber shelters, each about 63 x 63 m, at Engels-2 after repeated Ukrainian drone strikes (Defence Blog)
Russia has nearly finished the steel frames of the first three of 16 planned large aircraft shelters at Engels-2 in Saratov Oblast, the main base of its strategic bomber fleet. Defence Blog reports this based on satellite imagery published by the open-source analysis group AviVector. An Airbus Defence and Space image dated 12 October shows three shelter fra…
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Sanctions Push Russia's Aviation Industry Into Crisis, Forcing Rostec Restructuring
Ukrainian defense-news outlet Defense Express reports, citing Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU), that Western sanctions have pushed Russia's aviation industry into a structural crisis. Since 2022, sanctions have cut Russia off from Western engines, avionics, precision components and maintenance support, driving what the report describes as growi…