Russia Shows Off Upgraded Nuclear-Ready 'White Swan' Bomber Amid Kyiv Blitz

Russia's state-controlled United Aircraft Corporation announced on Monday the successful debut flight of an upgraded nuclear-capable Tu-160M strategic bomber, as Moscow continues to use long-range aircraft armed with missiles to bombard critical infrastructure in Ukrainian cities.

The flight of the upgraded Tu-160M bomber—one of 50 ordered by Russia's Defense Ministry in 2015—tested the aircraft's stability, control, and the performance of its operating systems including engines and radio-electronic equipment, UAC said in a statement carried by Russia's state-owned Tass news agency.

The original Tu-160—NATO reporting name "Blackjack" and nicknamed "White Swan" by Russian servicemembers due to its distinctive appearance—was adopted by the Russian Air Force in 1987. As of 2016, only 16 remained in service. It was designed to compete with the American Rockwell B-1 Lancer, introduced into service one year before the Tu-160.

In 2015, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the resumption of Tu-160 production, with 50 upgraded Tu-160M designs to be delivered along with upgrades to the 16 remaining aircraft. The first test flight of one of the modernized aircraft took place in January 2022.

Upgrades include new targeting systems, upgraded cruise missiles, and an electronic warfare suite. Russia intends to arm the Tu-160M with the hypersonic, nuclear-ready Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile as part of the upgrade.

Russia's existing Tu-160 fleet has been used alongside the more numerous Tu-95 bomber aircraft to hit targets during Moscow's latest invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its 10th month with no end in sight.

The Kremlin's initial invasion forces were definitively defeated north of Kyiv, and have since been pushed back on fronts in the south and northeast of the country.

Moscow has now pivoted to cruise missile and drone attacks on critical Ukrainian infrastructure, seeking to collapse the national energy grid and freeze Ukrainians into submission.

Temperatures have already fallen below zero across Ukraine, and leaders in Kyiv have urged foreign partners to do more to alleviate the energy crisis and strengthen Ukraine's air defense umbrella.

On Sunday night, Kyiv weathered an attack by 35 Iranian-made "kamikaze" drones. Kyiv city authorities said that 18 of the attacking drones had been shot down, but that the remaining weapons caused "fairly serious" damage.

Sunday's attack was the third in six days on the capital. On Friday, 76 Russian missiles were fired at Ukrainian targets nationwide in what Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said was part of an effort "to leave Ukrainians without light, water and heat." Sixty of the missiles were shot down, Kyiv said.

Tu-160 bombers under the command of Russia's 121st heavy bomber aviation regiment were present at the Engels-2 air force base near the Russian city of Saratov when it was hit by explosions—allegedly from a Ukrainian drone strike, though Kyiv has not confirmed responsibility—in early December.

Initial reports suggested two Tu-95 bombers were damaged in the attack. The Engels-2 base has regularly been used by Russian strategic bombers assigned to fire cruise missiles at Ukrainian infrastructure targets.