Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggest to UAC that a civilian supersonic airliner be develop based on the Tu-160 bomber.
Putin was at Gorbunov air plant in Kazan to see a demonstration flight of the Tu-160M when he made the suggestion.
Yuri Slyusar, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation, told him that such a plane is already in the pipeline.
Last year, TASS reported that Tupolev has been getting requests from rich individuals to buy a supersonic transport based on the Tu-160.