The Tu-160 NATO reporting name: Blackjack is a heavy multi-mission strategic bomber designed for operations starting from subsonic speeds and low altitudes to speeds over Mach 1 at high altitudes. the two weapons bays will accommodate different mission-specific masses, as well as strategic cruise missiles, short-range guided missiles, nuclear and standard bombs, and mines. Its basic armament of short-range guided missiles and strategic cruise missiles allows it to deliver nuclear strikes to targets with preassigned coordinates. in the future, once the aircraft is equipped with high-precision standard weapons it may used against mobile or tactical targets.
The TU-160 can carry up to 12 Kh-55 long range missiles and Kh-15 short range missiles. The weapons bays can accommodate different loads: carries numerous bombs: From fee falling nuclear and regular up to 1500 kg bombs. The bomber isn't equipped with artillery armament.
The Tu-160 equipped with a combined navigation-and-weapon aiming system, RID; [radar] for detecting targets on the ground and sea at long range distances, an optical-electronic bombsight, an automatic terrain-following system, and active and passive radio-electronic warfare systems, as well as a probe-and-drogue airborne refueling system.
