Tu-160 strategic bomber
The Tu-160 strategic bomber, also known as the Tupolev Tu-160, is a Russian variable-sweep wing heavy supersonic strategic bomber. Its NATO designation is "Blackjack". The Russian Air Force calls it the White Swan. Thirty-five were actually produced by the Soviet Union, including two experimental and three production versions.
Main data
Dimensions: crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defense system operator), overall length: 54.1m, wingspan: full swept-back (20° swept-back) 35.60m, fully deployed (65° swept-back) 55.70m, overall height: 13.1m, wing area: 360 m?, empty weight: 118,000kg. Weight load: normal takeoff weight: 267,600kg, maximum takeoff weight: 275,000kg, maximum landing weight: 155,000kg, maximum fuel capacity: 160,000kg, (internal) maximum weapons load: 40,000kg, powerplant: four Russian-made Kuznetsov NK-32 turbofan engines, onboard equipment: "Clam pipe (Obzor-K) search radar, Sopka terrain radar, active and passive electronic countermeasures (ECM), armament: 2 magazines with swivel mounts, 4 underwing mounts. Weapons include: all types of free-fall bombs in Russian service Kh55MS turbofan-powered cruise missile (NATO designation AS-15 "Kent" Kent) Kh15P short-range attack missile.
Research and development history
The Tu-160 is a variable-sweep wing heavy supersonic strategic bomber developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau of the former Soviet Union, which began with the Soviet government's proposal for a new strategic bomber program. The initial program design was based on a bidding process involving the Tupolev, Miya, and Sukhoi Design Bureaus. The design proposed by the Tupolev Design Bureau was called the 160 program, and was very similar to the pre-research program for the Tu-244 (Tu-144B), a second-generation supersonic transport aircraft.
Equipment
Only the Russian Air Force is currently equipped with 16 Tu-160 strategic bombers in the world.