Russia rebuilt its Blackjack bomber on a new tech base

Russia’s Tupolev says about 80% of the systems and equipment on its new Tu-160M strategic bomber have been modernized, and that the aircraft’s onboard electronics were designed as a modular architecture so newer systems can be swapped in later without rebuilding the whole suite. Tupolev General Director Yuri Abrosimov made the claims in comments published by Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec and Tupolev’s parent, United Aircraft Corporation. The Tu-160M keeps the outward look of the Soviet-era Tu-160 supersonic bomber, known in NATO as the Blackjack, but most of its systems, including avionics, navigation and engines, have been upgraded, he said. “Outside, the Tu-160M has kept that same recognizable silhouette, but inside it was created on an entirely new technological base with active use of digital technologies. 80% of the systems and equipment were modernized,” said Abrosimov, in remarks translated from Russian. According to Abrosimov, the modular avionics will let Russia integrate newer equipment over time in place of outdated systems, which he said would allow the bomber to keep up with emerging requirements and take on a wider range of missions. He did not specify which systems are new or name any planned additions. The Tu-160 is a four-engine, variable-sweep-wing bomber that can carry up to 12 long-range cruise missiles in internal rotary launchers and serves in the air leg of Russia’s nuclear triad. Under the Tu-160M program, Kazan Aviation Plant is both upgrading older Tu-160s and building new aircraft, and earlier upgrade phases have added a new radar, a digital glass cockpit, new navigation and communication equipment, and NK-32-02 engines. Russia signed a contract in January 2018 for 10 new Tu-160M bombers worth a reported 160 billion rubles. The first newly built aircraft flew in January 2022, but deliveries slipped repeatedly, and Russia’s Aerospace Forces received two Tu-160M bombers in late 2025, The Defence Blog reported. The bombers have been used to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine. Analysis by the Ukrainian aviation monitoring channel AviVector, published in May, found that only seven of Russia’s 18 Tu-160M bombers were flying combat missions, while seven to nine aircraft were at the Kazan plant at any given time for modernization, maintenance or construction, The Defence Blog reported.