The Tupolev design bureau will develop a new-generation strategic bomber aircraft for the Russian Air Force, as per a new contract signed with the Russian defence ministry.

The contract, signed at this year’s MAKS-2009 air show near Moscow, will kick-start the research and development process for the new aircraft.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The new bomber is expected to replace the existing planes that will become obsolete by 2020.

The new plane will deploy a wide selection of high-precision weapons and have range of new combat capabilities allowing it to apply new methods of carrying out deterrence tasks.

The current fleet that is the mainstay of Russia’s strategic air force command includes Soviet-era Tu-95MC Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers and Il-78 Midas aerial tankers.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact