Plant trials of Tu-22M3M to run from Sept to late Dec - Tupolev chief
MOSCOW. Aug 13 (Interfax-AVN) - Plant trials of the first extensively modernized Tu-22M3M long-range bomber will be completed before the end of the year, Tupolev general director Alexander Konyukhov said.
"Plant trials of the first Tu-22M3M will begin in September and will last until late December. The aircraft will then go the stage of state trials," Konyukhov told Interfax, when asked about trials of Tu-22M3M.
"As a result of state trials, a decision will be made on the number of the aircraft that will be modernized as part of the first batch," he said.
On August 7, the Tupolev press service told Interfax that the first sample of a modernized Tu-22M3M was created.
On August 7, the Tupolev press service told Interfax that a trial sample of the Tu-22M3M bomber was created. The ceremony of passing the aircraft for ground and flight trials will take took place on August 16.
According to official information, Russia has more than 100 Tu-22M3.
Russian military have actively used Tu-22M3 to deliver strikes on ISIL, a terrorist organization banned in Russia. The aircraft took off from the Russian territory. They flew over Iran and Iraq and delivered a group strike on the terrorists.