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Russia’s new generation strategic bomber to make first flight in 2019 — Air Force

Russia's stealthy strategic bomber is to replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160 planes that are currently in service with Russia’s long range and strategic aviation
Tupolev Design Bureau ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva
Tupolev Design Bureau
© ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva

KRASNOYARSK, February 13 /TASS/. Russia’s prospective Air Complex for Long Range Aviation (PAK DA) will take to the sky in 2019 as planned, Viktor Bondarev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, told journalists on Friday.

"The PAK DA air complex is being created under a road map without any lag. We are planning to make the first flight in 2019 to be followed by a series of trial flights. After that, batch production of the PAK DA air complexes can be launched," Bondarev said adding that the PAK DA is being developed by the Tupolev design bureau and the Kazan Aircraft Production Association.

According to Long-Range Aviation General Anatoly Zhikharyov, Russian troops will start receiving the new aircraft in 2023-2025.

The PAK DA will be a fundamentally new aircraft, not a modernized version of the Tu-160 plane. It is supposed to replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160 planes that are currently in service with Russia’s long range and strategic aviation.