MOSCOW. Dec 28 (Interfax-AV) - The inaugural flight of Russia's new strategic bomber, Tupolev Tu-22M3M, was normal, the Tupolev press service said in a statement.
"According to the crew, the flight was normal, and the systems and equipment were running smoothly," the press service said.
"The flight checked the performance of systems and equipment installed as a result of the plane's profound modernization," it said.
The Tu-22M3M was piloted by a crew of Oleg Petunin, a test pilot of the Zhukovsky flight test center, the press service said.
"The flight on an altitude of 1,500 meters lasted for 37 minutes," it said.