What a weird roll-out. No factory, no tooling, no operators seen around. Jus a big barn door of an empty hangar opening (on a rather elegantly shaped) plane… Next time I fish my last can of beer in the fridge, I will call it too a “roll out”* !

I guess that you want to show the aircraft coming from a pristine hangar for PR reasons. In any case, another photo appeared of the same aircraft before. It was also being towed out of a hangar, but the quality of the photo was really low.

I thought the Tu-160M designation was for upgrading the existing Tu-160 with new avionics system, cockpit displays, and rebuilt engines. (Addition- the “M” retains a modernized Obzor-K but the M2 gets a new active array in development?)

Yes, according to russian sources existing Tu-160Ms will be upgraded to M2 standrd.

Tu-160M2 would be new build aircraft with NK-32-02 engines.

And eventually in existing ones. Lack of engines was affecting the fleet availability.

New to me: photo of the Su-25UB upgrade done for Peru by the Belorussians, including Kh-58 capability:

A year ago Peru was looking for a modernisation for it’s Su-25 fleet. It was mentioned in the blog diana-mihailova, but the post was deleted. Below you will find some information about the Su-25 fleet. It seems that Peru chose the Belorussian option. Kazakhstan is also supposed to modernise it’s Su-25 fleet in Belarus.

https://alejandro-8.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/condicion-tecnica-y-modernizacion-de.html

Thanks for the links Jō Asakura.

The $676.6 million modification to an existing contract is for the production of six lot 41 F/A-18E and eight F/A-18F fighter jets.

Is there any reason for this modification? I have had a look and it seems that the contract was for 7 EA-18Gs and 5 F/A-18Es.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1096345/

Il-102 static frame

If looking at the lastest Saab Gripen C/D offer to Bulgaria, a fleet of 18 Gripen C/D would be in the range of USD 1.25 billion. Another western(ish) option for a supersonic low cost fighter would be the KAI golden eagles. Looking at the Iraqi deal, 24 T-50IQ cost them usd 1.1 billion. The Philippines FA-50PH deal was USD 425 million for 12 aircraft. I think those are the only 2 low cost brand new supersonic fighters that is available right now. I don’t think non western types such as the JF-17 or the L-15B would even be considered.

A while ago Saab stated that it would keep both versions of the Gripen in production. Also, the F-16 production line is still open.

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/2017/05/09/saab-three-really-good-opportunities-for-gripen/

The Chinese order for 2 Be-200 is confirmed, with an option for another 2.

Argentina would also be keen in acquiring 3:

https://ria.ru/world/20170621/1497005169.html

It seems that RSK MiG did not drop the M/M2 designation. From the latest take-off magazine:

In addition, to meet the requirements of some of the customers, there will be production of the MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 multirole tactical fighters commonised with the MiG-35 and MiG-35UB in terms of airframe and basic aircraft systems, but featuring somewhat more modest capabilities in terms of avionics and weapons.

Each pair of the fighters features a 90-per cent or more degree of commonality, with the singleseater and twinseater having the same design of their fuselage forward sections and cockpit canopy with the singleseater’s rear combat station occupied by an extra fuel tank or additional avionics units, if the customer wishes so.

http://en.take-off.ru/pdf_to/to41.pdf