The United Aircraft Corporation released a video yesterday, August 23rd, showing the first flight of the TU-95MSM Bear (upgraded TU-95). The aircraft made its maiden flight on 22 August at the Taganrog Aviation Plant in Taganrog.

The aircraft's flight lasted about 2,5 hours of flight time and several aircraft systems were checked.

Upgrades to the TU-959MSM include a new Novella-NV1.021 radar, a new flight control and information display system, and the Meteore-NM2 airborne defense complex, among other improvements.

Первый полет совершил первый опытный глубокомодернизированный стратегический ракетоносец Г.М. Berieva в Таганроге pic.twitter.com/rMwZ1HjPpc

— United Aircraft Corp (@UAC_Russia) August 23

The aircraft's engine was modified to generate more power, thus improving the performance of the classic Russian strategic bomber.

However, the classic counter-rotating propellers and other essential systems for the aircraft's flight still continue.

“This is an aircraft with a new set of weapons, new onboard electronics, new modified engines, new propellers. The plane's combat capabilities doubled after this modernization.", said Yuri Slyusar, director general of the United Aircraft Corporation, published the website The Aviationist.

However, it is not just the Bear that is undergoing a modernization process. The supersonic TU-160 is also getting update.

The same happens with the TU-22, lighter bombers than the TU-95 and TU-160, but which represent a considerable force in the use of bomb delivery.