The flight range of the deeply-modernized Tu-160M and new Tu-160M2 supersonic strategic bombers will increase by a thousand kilometers (over 620 miles) thanks to new NK-32 02 series engines, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko said Wednesday
SAMARA (Russia) (Pakistan Point news / Sputnik - 05th February, 2020) The flight range of the deeply-modernized Tu-160M and new Tu-160M2 supersonic strategic bombers will increase by a thousand kilometers (over 620 miles) thanks to new NK-32 02 series engines, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko said Wednesday.
The Kuznetsov NK-32 is supposedly the largest and most powerful turbofan jet engine ever fitted on a combat aircraft. The upgraded 02-series of the engine is reportedly a non-afterburning variant.
"These unique engines will be installed on the modernized Tu-160M aircraft, as well as on the newly-built Tu-160M2," Krivoruchko said.
The standard version of the Tu-160 aircraft has a practical flight range of 12,300 km without in-flight refueling.
