Russia’s State Agency Tass reported that country’s second overhauled and fundamentally upgraded strategic bomber Tupolev-22M3M has performed its first flight. The plane took off from and landed at the airdrome of the Kazan aircraft-building plant. The upgraded bomber is claimed to be capable of carrying cruise missiles X-32 and hypersonic missiles.

The press service of Tupolev (an affiliate of Russian state corporation Rostec) has confirmed the flight, adding that the purpose was to estimate the take-off and landing parameters of the plane and test the IT and control system.

The press service said the second Tupolev-22M3M will begin a series of test flights in the near future.

The newest upgraded missile-carrying bomber Tupolev-22M3M performed its first flight on December 28, 2018. The flight at an altitude of 1,500 meters lasted 37 minutes.