Tupolev Tu-142

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-142

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http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/ins...a-s-1795375146

Interesting read about "Inside The Russian Bomber That’s Been Flying America’s
Coastline"...fairly long article but worth the read if you're an aviation nut
like me! It's about the TU-95 from which the 142 was developed from.

The Tupolev Tu-142 (NATO reporting name: Bear F/J) is a maritime reconnaissance
and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft derived from the Tu-95 turboprop
strategic bomber. A specialised communications variant designated Tu-142MR was
tasked with long-range communications duties with Soviet ballistic missile
submarines. The Tu-142 was designed by the Tupolev design bureau, and
manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery Plants from 1968
to 1994. Formerly operated by the Soviet Navy and Ukrainian Air Force, the
Tu-142 currently serves with the Russian Navy.

Developed in response to the American Polaris programme, the Tu-142 grew out of
the need for a viable Soviet ASW platform. It succeeded the stillborn Tu-95PLO
project, Tupolev's first attempt at modifying the Tu-95 for maritime use. The
Tu-142 differed from the Tu-95 in having a stretched fuselage to accommodate
specialised equipment for its ASW and surveillance roles, a reinforced
undercarriage to support rough-field capability, improved avionics and weapons,
and enhancements to general performance. The Tu-142's capability was
incrementally improved while the type was in service, eventually resulting in
the Tu-142MZ, the final long-range Tu-142 with highly sophisticated combat
avionics and a large payload. Tupolev also converted a number of Tu-142s as
avionics (Tu-142MP) and engine (Tu-142LL) testbeds.

Even as the Tu-142MK entered service, its Korshun-K STS was already becoming
obsolete. Work began on yet another improved Tu-142, resulting in the Tu-142MZ
("Bear F" Mod. 4) with the Korshun-KN-N STS. This consisted of Nashatyr-Nefrit
(Ammonia/Jade) ASW avionics, which included the Zarechye sonar system. As well
as the RGB-1A and RGB-2 buoys of the Berkut, the Tu-142MZ was compatible with
the RGB-16 and RGB-26 buoys. When working with the ASW avionics, these buoys
provided 50% greater coverage. The Kuznetsov NK-12MV were replaced by the
more-powerful NK-12MP engines, and for the first time, the Tu-142 had an
independent engine-starting capability with the addition of the TA-12 auxiliary
power unit.[ This variant was distinguished from earlier "Bear Fs" by the chin
fairings housing several antennas.


Role
Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft

National origin
Soviet Union
Russia

Design group
Tupolev

Built by
Kuibyshev Aviation Plant
Taganrog Machinery Plant

First flight
18 July 1968

Introduction
December 1972

Status
Out of production, in service

Primary users
Soviet Navy (historical)
Russian Navy
Indian Naval Air Arm (historical)
Ukrainian Air Force (historical)

Produced
1968–1994

Number built
100

Developed from
Tupolev Tu-95

Throughout its operational history, the Tu-142 demonstrated significant
capabilities. On 19–22 August 1974, four Tu-142s shadowed a foreign submarine in
the Barents Sea; one of the aircraft was reported to have maintained continuous
contact for 2 hours and 55 minutes. In 1975, a Tu-142 managed to trail a Soviet
submarine for 3 hours and 16 minutes. On 10 October 1977, a group of five
Tu-142s tracked a US submarine in the Philippine Sea; one of the Tu-142s
reportedly trailed the submarine for 4 hours and 5 minutes. Soviet Tu-142s,
besides operating domestically, were sent to friendly overseas bases in Angola,
Cuba, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Yemen. In the early 1990s, with the dissolution of
the Soviet Union, the Soviet fleet of Tu-142s was handed to the Russian Navy,
although the Ukrainian Air Force gained a few Tu-142s that had been left in its
territory. Ukrainian Tu-142s were later dismantled as a result of the bilateral
START I treaty signed between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1991,
which came into effect in late 1994.

Besides the Tu-142's military applications, a one-off Tu-142MP was used to test
a new ASW suite. Another Tu-142 was converted to replace the Tu-95LL for the
testing of turbojet engines. Designated Tu-142LL, the ASW equipment and armament
were removed to allow an engine test bed to be carried under the belly. Some of
the engines installed were the NK-25 for the Tu-22MZ, RD36-51A for the Tu-144D,
and the NK-32 for the Tu-160. The first Tu-142MK was converted for an airborne
laboratory role, setting several altitude-in-horizontal and time-to-altitude
records in its class.

Specifications (Tu-142MZ)

General characteristics
Crew: 11–13
Length: 53.08 m (162 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 50.00 m (167 ft 8 in)
Height: 12.12 m (39 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 311.10 m² (3,348.76 ft²)
Empty weight: 90,000 kg (198,000 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 185,000 kg (407,848 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Kuznetsov NK-12MP turboprops, 11,033 kW (14,795 shp) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 925 km/h (500 kt, 575 mph)
Cruise speed: 711 km/h (384 kt, 442 mph)
Combat radius: 6,500 km (3,454 nmi, 3,977 mi)
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)





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