Vladimir Putin: The manufacture of Tu-160M is a major step in strengthening the defence capability of the country

On January 25, during his two-days working visit to Kazan, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov and Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, at the meeting with employees of the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Factory, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the manufacture of a strategic bomber- missile carrier Tu-160M is a major step in strengthening the defence capability of the country.

Later on the same day, Putin and Minnikhanov attended the ceremony of signing a government contract between the Russian Federation Defence Ministry and the Tupolev Company on the delivery of the upgraded Tu-160M supersonic strategic missile carriers to the Russian Federation Defence Ministry. The document was signed by Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov and President of the United Aircraft Corporation Yury Slusar.

Russian President emphasized that the contract envisages delivery of the Tu-160M airplanes to the Russian Federation Defence Ministry and ensure the full employment of the factory until 2027.