The plant that exploded in Russia was involved in the development of the next-generation nuclear-powered stealth bomber Envoy, which will carry hypersonic missiles

The day before, an explosion occurred at the Zagorsky Optical and Mechanical Plant in the Moscow region. As it became known, it was involved in the development of a strategic stealth bomber of the next generation.

Here's What We Know

The aircraft is known as the Envoy, Izdeliye 80 and PAK DA. The third name of the bomber is an abbreviation of the project "Perspective Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation". Development began in 2009.

Russian media, after analysing information available on the government procurement website, learnt that Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant has been awarded a contract to perform an integral part of the design work on the Envoy-1OEP/L#. The contract is due in 2027 and the amount was 67 million rubles, i.e. about $700,000 at the current exchange rate.

As for the aircraft, the main designer is the Tupolev company. It was assumed that the strategic bomber-rocket-carrier would be able to make its first flight in 2025 or 2026 and would enter service by 2027.

"Envoy" is a completely new project, not a development of an existing programme. The aircraft will have a flying wing aerodynamic design. It will be a partial replacement for the Tu-95, Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 and will carry missiles with nuclear warheads. The bomber will also be armed with hypersonic weapons, high-precision bombs and will receive the latest means of electronic warfare.

However, it is important to understand that at the moment "Envoy" exists on only graphic images, and its characteristics - only on paper. In particular, it is said that the nuclear bomber will have a range of up to 15,000 km, two engines, payload capacity of up to 30 tonnes and will be able to develop subsonic speed.

Source: @agentstvonews