Whether you know the Russian Tupolev Tu-160 as the Blackjack, or the White Swan is up to you.
Brief History
The Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan or the NATO name ‘Blackjack’is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. It is the largest and heaviest Mach 2+ supersonic military aircraft ever built and next to the experimental XB-70 Valkyrie in overall length.
As of 2020, it is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft, the fastest bomber in use and the largest and heaviest variable-sweep wing airplane ever flown.
Entering service in 1987, the Tu-160 was the last strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union. As of 2016, the Russian Air Forces’s Long Range Aviation branch has at least 16 aircraft in service.
The Tu-160 active fleet has been undergoing upgrades to electronics systems since the early 2000s. The Tu-160M modernization programme has begun with the first updated aircraft delivered in December 2014.
South African 2019 Visit
Last year October 23rd, two Russian Aerospace Forces Tupolev Tu-160 bombers touched down at Air Force Base Waterkloof in a ground breaking visit to South Africa.
The aircraft arrived at approximately 16:30, later than expected due to a delayed takeoff in Russia due to bad weather. They were originally scheduled to arrive in South Africa on 22 October but were delayed by more than a day due to technical issues.
They departed Engels, refuelled over the Caspian Sea and then headed 11 000 kilometres non-stop to South Africa.
When they entered South African airspace, the Tu-160s (registrations RF-94112 and RF-94102) were escorted by three South African Air Force (SAAF) Hawks and a pair of SAAB Gripen fighter aircraft, with all the aircraft practicing interception and escort training missions during the visit.
