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| (Max071086) |
The Tupolev Tu-22M (NATO reporting name: Backfire) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1960s. According to some sources, the bomber was believed to be designated Tu-26 at one time.
The Tupolev Tu-22M is a long-range aircraft capable of performing nuclear strike, conventional attack, antiship, and reconnaissance missions. Its low-level penetration features make it a much more survivable system than its predecessors.
Carrying either bombs or AS-4/Kitchen air-to-surface missiles, it is a versatile strike aircraft, believed to be intended for theater attack in Europe and Asia but also potentially capable of intercontinental missions against the United States.
The Backfire can be equipped with probes to permit inflight refueling, which would further increase its range and flexibility.
During the Cold War, the Tu-22M was operated by the Soviet Air Forces (VVS) in a missile carrier strategic bombing role, and by the Soviet Naval Aviation (Aviacija Vojenno-Morskogo Flota, AVMF) in a long-range maritime anti-shipping role. Significant numbers remain in service with the Russian Air Force, and as of 2014 more than 100 Tu-22Ms are in use.
The Tupolev Tu-22M incorporates a long variable sweep wing fuselage design. The aircraft features a stepped cockpit and variable-geometry outer wing panels. The tail fin is swept-back and tapered with a square tip. The flats mounted on the centre of body are pointed with blunt tips and each wing includes a centre section and two outer panels. The outer wings are attached to the centre section through hinged joints.
Tu-22M3 has a length of 42.4 m, maximum wing span of 34.2 m, and a height of 11.05 m. The empty weight and maximum takeoff weights of the aircraft are 53,500 kg and 126,400 kg respectively.
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| (Dmitriy Pichugin) |
The aircraft is provided with hard points to carry Kh-22 stand-off missiles, Kh-15 nuclear or Kh-15P anti-radar missiles and FAB-250 or FAB-1500 free fall bombs. The wing and fuselage pylons and internal weapons bay are provided with a capacity to carry 24,000 kg of weapons payload. The aircraft is also armed with a double-barrelled GSH-23 (23 mm) gun in remotely controlled tail turret.
The aircraft is fitted with PN-A/PN-AD bombing-navigation radar system, Argon-2 radar fire-control system and a TV-based backup optical bomb sight. The countermeasures are provided by a radar warning receiver, radio-frequency jammers, and updated defensive countermeasures gear.
The Tupolev company has sought export customers for the Tu-22M since 1992, with possible customers including Iran, India and the People's Republic of China, but no sales have apparently been made. Unlike the Tu-22 bomber, Tu-22Ms were not exported to Middle East countries that were threatened by the US military presence in the region.
During 2001, India signed a lease-to-buy contract for four Tu-22M aircraft for maritime reconnaissance and strike purposes. At the time, the aircraft were to be delivered with Raduga Kh-22 cruise missiles.
In January 2013, reports emerged that China had signed a purchase agreement for the production and delivery of 36 Tu-22M3s, under the Chinese designation of H-10, with many components to be manufactured domestically in China under a technology transfer agreement with Russia and Tupolev. Sales of the Russian-built Raduga Kh-22 long-range anti-ship missile and the fleet's intended use as a maritime strike platform have also been speculated upon. Rosoboronexport has reportedly denied any sales or negotiations with China regarding the Tu-22M.
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| (@UAC_Russia_eng) |
On 16 September 2017, a Tu-22M3 overran the runway at Shaykovka Air Base due to an aborted take off. The aircraft was written off. All four crew members survived without injury.
On 22 January 2019, a Tu-22M3 crash-landed after a training flight while attempting to make a landing at the Olenya (air base) near the city of Olenegorsk in Russia's Murmansk region. Three of the four crew members died in the crash. A video shows the aircraft making a hard landing, which instantly ruptured the airframe and detached the forward cockpit area.
The Tu-22M3 is powered by two Kuznetsov NK-25 turbofan engines installed in the body with large air intakes and dual exhausts. Each engine produces a maximum thrust of 25,000 kg and delivers an improved fuel economy.
The aircraft is equipped with tricycle landing gear to support operations on unprepared runways. The nose gear includes backward retractable twin wheels. Each main landing gear unit consists of six wheels in a 2×3 bogie arrangement. These are retracted straight in to the fuselage. The Tu-22M2 was equipped with twin brake slides and a runway arresting hook.
The Tu-22M3 can fly at a maximum altitude of 14,000 m and the rate of climb of the aircraft is 15 m/s. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 900 km/h and maximum speed of 2,300 km/h. The operational range of the aircraft is 7,000 km.
The aircraft can be equipped with refuelling probes to allow in-flight refuelling for extended range.
Variants
- Tu-22M(0). Earliest pre-production variant.
- Tu-22M1. Pilot-production aircraft produced in 1971 and 1972.
- Tu-22M2. The first major production version, entering production in 1972.
- Tu-22M3. The later Tu-22M3 had new NK-25 engines with substantially more power, wedge-shaped intake ramps similar to the MiG-25, wings with greater maximum sweep and a recontoured nose housing a new Almaz PNA (Planeta Nositel, izdeliye 030A) navigation/attack (NATO ‘Down Beat’) radar and NK-45 nav/attack system.
- Tu-22M4. The development of the "Izdeliye 4510" began in 1983. Modernization with the installation of new engines NK-32 (from Tu-160) and with a change in engine air intakes.
- Tu-22MR. Several Tu-22M3, were converted to Tu-22M3(R) with Shompol side looking airborne radar and other ELINT equipment.
- Tu-22DP. Tu-22DP is a long-range interceptor project based on the Tu-22M2 (later on the basis of the Tu-22M3).
- Tu-344.A canceled civilian supersonic aircraft based on the Tu-22M3
- Tu-22M3 SVP-24-22. Modernized Tu-22M3 of the Russian Air Force fitted with a new sighting and computing system SVP-24-22 Gefest, instead of the NK-45 Vachta-2 complex.
- Tu-22M3M. Tu-22M3 for the Russian Air Force with engines from Tu-160M2 (NK-32-02), 80 percent of avionics are replaced or upgraded.
Specifications (Tu-22M3)
General characteristics
- Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapon systems officer)
- Length: 42.46 m (139 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan:
- 34.28 m (112 ft 6 in) spread (20° sweep)
- 23.3 m (76 ft) swept (65° sweep)
- Height: 11.05 m (36 ft 3 in)
- Wing area:
- 183.6 m2 (1,976 sq ft) spread (20° sweep)
- 175.8 m2 (1,892 sq ft) swept (65° sweep)
- Empty weight: 58,000 kg (127,868 lb)
- Gross weight: 112,000 kg (246,918 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 126,000 kg (277,782 lb)
- Maximum take-off weight, rocket assisted: 126,400 kg (278,664 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 54,000 kg (119,050 lb) internal
- Powerplant: 2 × Kuznetsov NK-25 Afterburning turbofan engines, 247.9 kN (55,700 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,300 km/h (1,400 mph, 1,200 kn) at 9,140 m (30,000 ft)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.88
- Range: 6,800 km (4,200 mi, 3,700 nmi)
- Combat range: 2,410 km (1,500 mi, 1,300 nmi) with typical weapons load
- Ferry range: 7,000 km (4,300 mi, 3,800 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,300 m (43,600 ft)
- Rate of climb: 15 m/s (3,000 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 688 kg/m2 (141 lb/sq ft)
- Thrust/weight: 0.45
Armament
- Guns: 1 × 23-mm GSh-23 cannon in remotely controlled tail turret
- Hardpoints: wing and fuselage pylons and internal weapons bay with a capacity of 24,000 kg (53,000 lb) of:
- Up to 3 × Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles in weapons bay and on wing pylons or
- Up to 6 × Kh-15 missiles on a MKU-6-1 rotary launcher in its bomb bay, plus 4 × Raduga Kh-15 missiles on two underwing pylons for a total of 10 missiles per aircraft.
- Up to 4 × Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
- Various sea mines and freefall bombs – 69 × FAB-250 or 8 × FAB-1500 might be typical.
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