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The demonstration flight took place at an altitude of 300 metres and lasted about seven minutes. The pilots performed manoeuvres to check the plane’s in-flight stability and controllability. The President congratulated the crew on the successful flight.

Later at the plant Vladimir Putin attended the ceremony of signing a contract 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 Slyusar. The President also talked to employees of the plant.

Vladimir Putin visited the factory along with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov and Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov.

The decision to manufacture strategic missile carriers at the Kazan Aviation Factory was made in 2015. In November 2017, the new plane was towed from the final assembly shop to the plant’s flight test station.

The Tu-160M is the largest swing-wing aircraft, ranking among the most powerful warplanes in the world. The plane will feature a new computerised control system, making it possible to collect, process and display in-flight data using one integral network. Its avionics, communications systems, automatic onboard control system, onboard radar and radio-electronic warfare system will be upgraded. It will also be equipped with a more advanced fuel control system, a centre of gravity control system and an engine control system.

The missile carrier, whose flight Vladimir Putin watched, is named after Army General Pyotr Deinekin, the first Commander of the Russian Air Force, a merited air force pilot, Hero of Russia and holder of over 20 Soviet, Russian and foreign orders.