Tu-160 news

KAPO to Upgrade Tu-160

An upgrade version of the Tu-160 strategic bombers and missile carriers, which it is planned to begin in 2002 at the Kazan` Aviation Production Association /KAPO/, will depend on the volumes and quality of the financing of this work.

A highly-placed representative of the Tupolev firm announced this to Interfax-AVN on Thursday /10.01.02/. According to him, the firm has developed several variants of upgrade for the Tu-160. ``The engineering side of the upgrade on any of the variants is assured in full by the Russian developers of the equipment and the enterprises which manufacture this equipment,`` the source noted. He also reported that the chief customer has approved and supported the proposals of the Tupolev firm for the upgrade of airplanes of this type.

According to Interfax-AVN, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense has signed an agreement with KAPO for the overhaul and upgrade of all 15 Tu-160 from the make-up of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.

According to the plans of the military department, the Tu-160 airplanes will remain in commission until 2030 with the condition of uninterrupted upgrade on the composition of the avionics and armament.

Source: 11.01.02, Vremya i Dengi

Translated by Roy Cochrun /http://www.toad.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/royfc/today/acft_news.html/

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