ON 20 MARCH 2012, during an extended meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defence's Council, Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, reporting the changes in the armed forces during 2008-11, announced that 'a new long-range air-launched cruise missile [has] entered service'. The minister did not mention the missile's designation, but the announcement probably concerned the Kb-102 strategic nuclear missile. The weapon is a key element of a comprehensive upgrade of Russian Tu-95MS and Tu-100 strategic bombers. A month earlier, in February 2012, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that by 2020, 'more than 10' (which means all) Tu-160 strategic bombers of the Russian Air Force will have been upgraded to Tu-160M standard. According to the release, 'today, the Tu-160M is already being upgraded by industrial facilities. The aircraft will be retrofitted with a new weapons system, allowing the use of future cruise missiles and bombs. The aircraft's equipment is being entirely upgraded'. After the upgrade, 'the combat efficiency of the Tu-160M strategic missile carrier will be doubled.'
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