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Tu-22M Backfire
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Serious revision of unsatisfactory Tu-22 bomber, but practically an all-new aircraft. Early production Tu-22M0 was first flown on October 30,1969 and was built in 1969-1971. Nine built. It differed from later variants by ECM/parachute fairing replacing the rear gun turret. Later, when requirement of grass field operation capacity was dropped, parachute was deleted.
In-air refueling capable Tu-22M1 batch also included 9 aircraft. It had an in-air refueling probe and could perform much longer missions with higher payload - if air tanker is available.
Both types serve with naval aviation.
During arms reduction talks, the US claimed that the Tu-26 was an all-new aircraft and a strategic bomber; the USSR said that the ’Backfire’ was a development of the ’Blinder’ and had no strategic capability. As a compromise, the refueling equipment was removed - but still supplied with the aircraft ’spares kit’ and could be installed within few hours on any later model. Same treaty limited production of Tu-22M by 30 airframes/year.
It is a big ’swing-wing’ bomber, used as cruise missile carrier and naval patrol aircraft. Despite its size, Backfire has D-shaped or rectangular (C version) wing root intakes, just like a fighter.
It is almost certain that ’Backfire’ is an entirely new design, but still lacks the range for a strategic role - A.N.Tupolev now claims a radius of action of only 2200km. Its strike capability imposes quite a serious threat for naval targets... here comes a reason of US over-reaction. Well, keep you fleet where it belongs - there will be no threat from a ’Backfire’! |
| Technical
Data |
Photos |
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Role |
Bomber |
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Crew, prs |
4 |
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Ceiling, m |
14,000 |
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Range, km |
5,100 |
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Max speed, kmph |
2,300 |
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Maximum take-off mass, kg |
124,000 |
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Wing area, m2 |
165.0 |
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Wingspan, m |
23.3/34.3 |
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Lenght, m |
42.5 |
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Engines |
2 afterburning turbo-jet NK-25, 245.1kN |
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Payload Capacity, kg |
24,000kg of bombs or missiles |
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