KAZAN. Feb 12 (Interfax) - The Kazan Aviation Plant has implemented the modernization of the Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber for the Russian Defense Ministry, and now Russia should seek to build a commercial supersonic aircraft, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We have just implemented a brilliant project in Kazan: we have essentially created a new machine, the Tu-160 supersonic bomber, for the Armed Forces. And we have adjusted not only the carrier itself, but also the weapons for it. Everything runs like clockwork," Putin said at a meeting with the public in Kazan on Tuesday.
"Why not build a supersonic passenger plane as well?" he said.
The participants in the meeting discussed a proposal that an interactive technical museum be set up inside a restored Soviet-era Tu-144 supersonic airliner in Kazan.
"It's a good idea, and, certainly, it needs to be supported. I promise you that I'll talk to colleagues so that they revisit this project and help you," Putin said.
He warned that the cost of the project should be taken into consideration.
At the end of January 2018, Putin expressed support for building a civilian version of a supersonic aircraft on the basis of the Tu-160.
United Aircraft Corporation chief Yury Slyusar told Putin that the corporation had plans to build such a supersonic passenger plane.