MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. A heavily upgraded Tupolev Tu-95MSM strategic missile-carrying bomber performed a test flight, the press office of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced on Monday.

"Under the test program, a heavily upgraded Tu-95MSM missile-carrying bomber performed a new flight. During the flight, all the necessary tests of its systems and equipment were carried out," the press office said in a statement.

A required set of upgrade work was carried out on the bomber as part of its modernization to improve its performance. In particular, the upgrade considerably improved the aircraft platform’s efficiency and reliability for accomplishing assigned missions, it said.

The work to upgrade the Tu-95MS strategic bomber to the Tu-95MSM level is being carried out by the Tupolev and Beriev Aircraft Companies (both are part of the United Aircraft Corporation), it said.

The Tu-95MSM is a strategic missile-carrying bomber prototype and a new modification of the world’s fastest Tu-95MS turboprop aircraft.