Tupolev Tu-160 in flight over Russia, August 2005 Supersonic strategic heavy bomber National origin Soviet Union / Russia Design group Tupolev Built by Kazan Aircraft Production Association First flight 18 December 1981 Introduction April 1987 Primary users Russian Aerospace Forces Ukrainian Air Force (historical) Produced 1984–1992, 2002, 2008, 2017, 2021–present Number built 37 The type was involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian sources, on 6 March 2022, a Tu-