Russia’s Aerospace Forces have taken delivery of two modernized Tu-160M “Blackjack” strategic missile-carrying bombers, marking the first confirmed handover under the long-delayed modernization program, Russia’s defence minister said.

The delivery was announced during a year-end meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry, where Defence Minister Andrey Belousov confirmed that the aircraft had been transferred to operational service. He did not specify whether the bombers were newly built airframes or older Tu-160 aircraft returned to service after overhaul and upgrade.

According to Ukrainian defence outlet Militarnyi, the aircraft were delivered as part of a programme launched in 2018, when Russia signed a contract for 10 Tu-160M bombers reportedly valued at 160 billion roubles. Earlier plans had envisaged production of up to 50 aircraft, but the scope of the programme was later reduced.

The Tu-160M effort has been repeatedly delayed. In 2019, then-defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the first modernized bomber would enter service by 2021, while all 16 Tu-160s in the fleet were to be upgraded to the Tu-160M standard.

Russia’s attempt to restart production of the type has progressed slowly. The first newly built Tu-160M2 conducted its maiden flight in January 2022, becoming the first new Tu-160 airframe produced since the 1990s. A second aircraft was transferred to a flight test facility later that year.

Delivery schedules continued to slip. Russian officials initially expected four aircraft — two modernized Tu-160Ms and two newly built Tu-160M2s — to be delivered by the end of 2023, a target later pushed to 2024 and then to 2025.