Operational since 1987, it’s the largest and heaviest supersonic military aircraft ever built.
It is designed for strategic bombing missions and can carry nuclear weapons.
The Tu-160 has a variable-sweep wing design, allowing for both high-speed and efficient cruising.
It is operated by the Long Range Aviation branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Nicknamed “White Swan,” it can reach speeds over Mach 1 and has a long range.
The Tu-160 has seen limited combat use, including in Syria in 2015.
Modernized versions, Tu-160M models, are currently being produced