article_snippet: The bomber, also known as the White Swan because of the White Swan shape and huge wingspan, has just re-entered service in the Russian air force following a design overhaul.
article_snippet: Dr Igor Sutyagin, Senior Russian Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, said: ‘The Tu-160M now has greater thrust and fuel efficiency and The Tu-160M can carry a larger payload of conventional missiles.
article_snippet: ‘The test flights were successful and the Russian aircraft is now very potent.
article_snippet: It is the largest bomber in the world.
article_snippet: ‘President Putin has also improved President Putin long-range nuclear missiles such as the Bulava, which is now very hard to detect on launch.
article_snippet: It is lighter and more compact, too, so more warheads can be fitted into a submarine. '
article_snippet: President Putin has also committed to the T-50 low-visibility jet.
article_snippet: the T-50 low-visibility jet could lead to potentially massive changes in the distribution of military power around the world. '
article_snippet: President Putin is doubling the number of President Putin Special Forces troops, as well.
article_snippet: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been following the Blackjack and Russian stealth-jet programmes.