KAZAN, Russia (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has completed the flight on a modernized Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber as part of the crew. The flight took about 30 minutes, with the pre-flight preparation taking about another 45 minutes. "Good [experience], that’s not the point. The point is that we are getting new equipment, the equipment is excellent, it is truly of a new generation … of course, it can be accepted into the armed forces," Putin told reporters after the flight.
Putin's flight on the Tu-160M strategic missile carrier has ended, it lasted 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/pHAD7QDzuv — Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 22, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin took a flight on a modernized Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber as part of the crew. The Tu-160M plane 'Ilya Muromets' took off from the runway of the Kazan Aviation Plant.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at the runway of the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant to fly on the upgraded Tu-160M strategic missile carrier.
The day before, Putin inspected a similar aircraft in the factory workshop and climbed into the cockpit at the helm.… pic.twitter.com/ftvFPc58RA — Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 22, 2024 The day before, Putin inspected a similar aircraft in the factory workshop and climbed into the cockpit at the controls. The Tu-160M supersonic aircraft can carry nuclear weapons and is an element of the so-called nuclear triad of the Russian Federation.