23-2-2024 (MOSCOW) Russian President Vladimir Putin took to the skies aboard a modernised Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber on Thursday (Feb 22), a move likely perceived in the West as a deliberate display of Moscow’s nuclear prowess. The massive swing-wing aircraft, codenamed “Blackjacks” by Nato, is an upgraded version of a Cold War-era bomber designed by the former Soviet Union for the delivery of weapons over long distances in the event of nuclear war.
State TV broadcasted images of Putin descending a ladder from the plane after the flight, where he spoke to reporters, describing it as a reliable and modernised aircraft suitable for the Russian Air Force. Putin, widely expected to secure another six-year term in the upcoming election, undertook the flight amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the recent death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny in prison.
The Tu-160M, also known as “White Swans” in Russia, took off and landed at a Kazan factory runway responsible for producing the modernised supersonic aircraft. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov maintained that the flight path was a military secret. The Tu-160M, equipped with a crew of four, boasts the capability of carrying 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles, with a non-stop flight range of 12,000 km without refuelling.
Russia’s nuclear doctrine outlines the circumstances under which a Russian president would contemplate deploying a nuclear weapon, typically in response to an attack involving nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. Putin’s flight on the modernised Tu-160M comes amidst strained relations between Russia and the West, with former President Dmitry Medvedev warning of the risk of nuclear conflict since Moscow’s military involvement in Ukraine in 2022.
Under a 2018 contract, ten modernised Tu-160M bombers are slated for delivery to the Russian Air Force by 2027, each costing 15 billion roubles (S$215 million). Tupolev, the manufacturer, claims the upgraded version is 60% more effective than its predecessor, boasting significant enhancements in weaponry, navigation, and avionics. Putin, having previously flown an older version of the Tu-160 in 2005, strategically utilises such displays to underscore Russia’s military capabilities on the global stage.
