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Putin's flight on Tu-160M to last 40 minutes, its route is secret — Kremlin

Tu-160M is designed to hit the most important targets in remote areas with nuclear and conventional weapons

KAZAN, February 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin's flight on an upgraded strategic bomber Tu-160M (NATO reporting name Blackjack) will last up to 40 minutes, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media.

"The flight will last up to 40 minutes or so," Peskov said.

When asked about the route, he replied it was a "military secret."

Earlier, Putin arrived at the runway of the S.P. Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant. The presidential motorcade drove right up to the airplane. For the flight, Putin put on a special flight suit.

He greeted the crew and boarded the plane.

It was not the first time Putin took a seat in the cockpit of a military aircraft. His first flight on a Tu-160 (the previous version, before upgrade), was in August 2005. Putin then went to the area of a military exercise of long-range aviation and the Northern Fleet.

Tu-160M is an upgraded Tu-160 (Product 70). It is designed to hit the most important targets in remote areas with nuclear and conventional weapons. It is the largest supersonic aircraft in the history of military aviation and the heaviest combat aircraft in the world. The day before, Putin inspected such an airplane inside the plant's workshop and climbed into the cockpit.

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Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov Russia's domestic policy

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