Tupolev Tu-22M

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22M

The Tupolev Tu-22M (Russian: ??????? ??-22?; NATO reporting name: Backfire) is a
supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber
developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau. According to some sources, the bomber
was believed to be designated Tu-26 at one time.

During the Cold War, the Tu-22M was operated by the Soviet Air Force (VVS) in a
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.

In 1962, with the introduction of the Tu-22, it became increasingly clear that
the aircraft was considerably inadequate in its role as a bomber. In addition to
widespread unserviceability and maintenance issues, the Tu-22’s handling
characteristics proved to be dangerous. Its landing speed was some 100 km/h (60
mph) greater than previous bombers and it had a tendency to pitch up and strike
its tail upon landing. It was difficult to fly, and had poor all-round
visibility. In 1962, Tupolev commenced work on major update of the Tu-22.
Initially, the bureau planned to add a variable-sweep wing and uprated engines
into the updated design. The design was tested at TsAGI’s wind tunnels at
Zhukovsky

During this time, Sukhoi, traditionally a designer of fighter aircraft,
developed the T-4, a four-engine titanium aircraft with canards. A response to
the XB-70, it was to have a cruise speed of 3,200 km/h (2,000 mph), requiring a
massive research effort in order to develop the requisite technologies. Not to
be outdone, Tupolev, whose expertise is with bombers, offered the Soviet Air
Force (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily, VVS) a massively-updated version of the Tu-22.

Compared to the T-4, it was evolutionary design, and thus its appeal laid in its
simplicity and low cost. However, the Soviet government was sceptical about the
need to approve the development of a replacement aircraft so soon after the
Tu-22 had just entered service.[7] The Air Force and Tupolev, in order to save
face with regards to the Tu-22’s operational deficiencies and to stave off
criticisms from the ICBM lobby, agreed to pass off the design as an update of
the Tu-22 in their discussions with the government. The aircraft was designated
Tu-22M, given the OKB code "Aircraft 45", and an internal designation of "AM".
[8]

US intelligence had been aware of the existence of the aircraft since 1969, and
the first satellite photograph of the bomber would be taken in 1970. The
existence of the aircraft was a shock to US intelligence as Nikita Kruschev, who
had been the Soviet premier up to 1964, was adamant that ICBMs would render the
bomber obsolete.


Role
Strategic bomber/Maritime strike

Manufacturer
Tupolev

First flight
30 August 1969

Introduction
1972

Status
In service

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

Produced
1967–1997[1]

Number built
497

Developed from
Tupolev Tu-22

The Tu-22M was first used in combat in Afghanistan. It was deployed December
1987 to January 1988, during which the aircraft flew strike missions in support
of the Soviet Army's attempt to relieve the Mujahideens' siege against the city
of Khost. Two squadrons of aircraft from the 185th GvBAP based at Poltava were
deployed to Maryy-2 air base in Turkmenistan. Capable of dropping large tonnages
of conventional ordnance, the aircraft bombed enemy forts, bases and material
supplies.[18] In October 1988, the aircraft was again deployed against the
Mujahideen. Sixteen Tu-22M3s were used to provide cover to Soviet forces that
were pulling out of the country. The Tu-22Ms were tasked with destroying paths
of access to Soviet forces, attacking enemy forces at night to prevent
regrouping, and to attack incoming supplies from Iran and Pakistan. Working
alongside 30 newly-arrived MiG-27s, the aircraft also from flew missions aimed
at relieving the besieged city of Kandahar.[19][20] The aircraft had its last
Afghan operation in January 1989 at Salang pass.[21]

The Tu-22M suffered from widespread maintenance issues during its service with
the Soviet forces. These stemmed from poor manufacturing quality. The engines
and airframes in particular had low service lives.[22] The Air Force at one
point sought to have Tupolev prosecuted for allegedly rushing the inadequate
designs of the Tu-22M and the Tu-160 into service.[23] This was compounded by
the government bureaucracy, which hampered the provision of spare parts to allow
the servicing of the Tu-22M. With some aircraft grounded for up to six months,
the mission-capable rate of the aircraft in August 1991 hovered around 30–40%

Specifications (Tu-22M3)

General characteristics
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapon systems operator)
Length: 42.4 m (139 ft 4 in)
Wingspan:
Spread (20° sweep): 34.28 m (112 ft 6 in)
Swept (65° sweep): 23.30 m (76 ft 6 in)

Height: 11.05 m (36 ft 3 in)
Wing area:
Spread: 183.6 m² (1,976 ft²)
Swept: 175.8 m² (1,892 ft²)

Empty weight: 58,000 kg (128,000 lb)
Loaded weight: 112,000 kg (246,000 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 124,000 kg (273,000 lb) ; 126,400 kg (278,700 lb) for
rocket assisted TO
Powerplant: 2 × Kuznetsov NK-25 turbofans, 247.9 kN (55,100 lbf) each
Fuel capacity: 54,000 kg (118,800 lb) internally

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.88 (2,303.08 km/h; 1,243.565 kn; 1,431.07 mph) (2,000
kilometres per hour (Mach 1.6; 1,100 kn; 1,200 mph)) ; at altitude
Range: 6,800 km (4,200 mi, 3,700 nmi)
Combat radius: 2,410 km (1,500 mi, 1,300 nmi) with typical weapons load
Service ceiling: 13,300 m (43,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (2,950 ft/min)
Wing loading: 688 kg/m² (147 lb/ft²)
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 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.
Various freefall bombs – 69 × FAB-250 or 8 × FAB-1500 might be typical.

The Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) long-range cruise missile was tested on the Tu-22M[61]
but apparently not used in service.