Rustam Minnikhanov and Denis Manturov visit the Kazan Aircraft Plant

On February 4, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, who came on a working visit to Kazan, was met by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov at the Borisoglebsoye airport.

During his visit, Manturov visited the Kazan Aircraft Plant named after Gorbunov - branch of Tupolev Aircraft Company and got acquainted with the progress of work under the Tu-160M Advanced Missile-Bomber reproduction programme, as well as on the repair and modernization of the Tu-160 aircraft.

Minnikhanov and Manturov accompanied by the Director General of United Aircraft Corporation Yury Slyusar, Managing Director of Tupolev Aircraft Company Vadim Korolev and Director of the Kazan Aircraft Plant Nikolay Savitsky looked around the newly manufactured strategic missile carrier Tu-160M that made its first flight on 12 January.

The programme for the reproduction of Tu-160 aircraft in the modernized form of the Tu-160M ​​was launched by the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Tu-160M ​​retained its appearance, but was created on a completely new technological base using digital technologies. The new car has 80 percent updated and modernized systems and equipment.

Tatarstan President and Russian Minister of Industry and Trade also met the crew of test pilots of Tupolev Company, who piloted the new aircraft. The flight took place at an altitude of 600 meters and lasted about 30 minutes. The pilots performed maneuvers to test the stability and controllability of the aircraft in the air. 

As part of the Tu-160 strategic missile carriers relaunch programme, more than 40 per cent of the workshop equipment was updated and modernized at the Kazan Aircraft Plant. The world’s largest electron-beam welding and vacuum titanium annealing plant was launched. A significant part of the staff has received additional training.