ZHUKOVSKY, Moscow region. Aug 20 (Interfax-AVN) - The Tupolev company is developing a new generation strategic bomber for the Russian Air Force, Tupolev General Director Igor Shevchuk said.
"An agreement has been signed with the Defense Ministry on research work to create a new generation bomber," Shevchuk told Interfax at the MAKS-2009 air show on Thursday.
The research is expected to take three years, Shevchuk said. "In the future, we will continue research and pilot-plan work," he said.
When asked whether the new bomber will be made on the basis of the well-known Tu-160, Shevchuk said, "It will be a new machine."
The Russian Air Force will get the new strategic bomber no earlier than 2020, Shevchuk said.