Russia’s new upgraded Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber performed its first flight on Feb. 2, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced.

The first flight was conducted from the S.P.Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Factory runway. The flight took place at an altitude of 1,500 meters and lasted 34 minutes.

Tupolev Tu-160 Beliy Lebed (“White Swan”), also known with its NATO reporting name Blackjack, is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Soviet Union’s Tupolev Design Bureau.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the serial production of Tu-160M2 bombers should begin in 2023. The Russian Aerospace Force intends to purchase no less than 50 such aircraft.