Tupolev design bureau turned 90 years on October 22nd 2012. Development of civil, special-purpose and civil aircraft are the main areas of Tupolev’s activities. AEX.ru
"Under the guidance of the founder of Tupolev design bureau, Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev, and his followers – talented designers, the design bureau has developed over 300 projects of different aircraft. Over19000 “Tu” aircrafthavebeenmanufactured. Tupolev design bureau has not only developed unique aircraft but also tried out innovative technical solutions, which have been used later in other high-tech industries, for example fundamental and engineering science, space industry, etc.", - Tupolev’s press-service noted.
The most famous civil aircraft developed by the design bureau are Тu-124, Тu-134 and Тu-154. Airlines from over 15 countries have been operating Tu-134 aircraft. The medium-haul Tu-154 aircraft was performing domestic and international flights (the jet was exported to 16 countries).
At present the design bureau’s vast experience is used in the network of Tu-204/214 family development. The certification testing of advanced medium-haul Tu-204SM aircraft will be completed in 2012. It is superior to the previous Tu-204s in navigation capabilities, aircraft performance, economics and operational characteristics. It meets up-to-date requirements in the area of efficiency and comfort. The jet is equipped with over 20 new systems and components developed and manufactured by the best enterprises of Russia using state-of-the-art technologies, the design bureau noted.
The design bureau’s key area of activity is development of military aircraft. Tactical, long-range and strategic bombers developed by Tupolev are well-known. At present Tupolev continues work on developing advanced long-range aviation aircraft and maintaining military operational readiness of the existing long-range aviation in cooperation with production facilities and the air forces. The design bureau is also working on fitting the aircraft with new weapons and life-extension of the aircraft systems and components. ThemilitaryТu-160, Тu-95МS, Тu-22М3 aircraftarecurrentlyoperated. The aircraft are used for training and combat missions and they form part of the Russia’s strategic nuclear forces “triad”.
Tupolev design bureau has developed a number of special-purpose aircraft intended for different agencies of Russian Federation. For example, Tu-214OS aircraft was developed in accordance with the order placed by Vega concern on behalf of the Ministry of Defense. Тu-214 SR, Тu-214 PU,Тu-214SUS, Тu-204-300 (VIP-configuration) have been manufactured in accordance with the order of Department of Presidental Affairs. The work on development of special-purpose aircraft continues.
Tupolev has been performing technical re-equipping of the design bureau and juvenation of the personnel in order to keep gained experience and implement state-of-the-art technologies in the area of development, manufacturing and maintenance of the aircraft.
President of Tupolev Company, Alexander Bobrishev, congratulated the employees and veterans of the enterprise on October 22nd 2012 noting that during the years of fruitful work and tough challenges the design bureau was able to save its intellectual potential. Now it keeps developing new aircraft, which meet all the international standards. «Our past, present and future belong to us – to our great collective, which is able to solve the most complicated problems of the national aircraft industry», - A. Bobrishev noted.
