(Yossarian) wrote in message m...
(Mike) wrote in message . com...
Remember the Soviet "Blackjack" bomber that the U.S.S.R. started to
deploy in the late 1980s?

Wasn't this plane a virtual copy of the American B-1 in many ways?

What about it's range? Could the BlackJack bomber have taken off in
the Soviet Union and bombed the United States?

Or was it closer to a medium-range bomber like the "Backfire"?

Tupolev Tu-160
First Designated: "Aircraft 70" in direct response to B-1A, 1973
First Flight: Dec 19, 1981
Initial Order: 100 aircraft; 30 produced before line closed in 1992
Remaining Aircraft: Russia- 15, Ukraine- 19 original, 8 transferred to
Russia in 99/00, 3 ex-Ukrainian aircraft sold to US as satellite
launchers in 1999, rest scrapped
Crew: 4 (two pilots side-by-side, navigator/bombadier, ESO behind
them)
Powerplants: Four Samara/Trud NK-231 turbofans 30,865 lb dry and
55,115lb w/afterburning
Max. Speed @ 40,000': Mach 2.05
Rate of climb: 13,780 fpm
Ceiling: 49,200'
Radius of action @ Mach 1.3: 1,080nm
Max. Range: 12,300km
Internal fuel: 376,990 lb (in-flight refuelling probe also, seldom
used)
Armament: Max. Load 88,185lb comprising free-fall bombs or ASMs in two
internal bomb bays. One rotary launcher can be carried in each bay to
carry 6 Kh-55MS ALCMs or 12 Kh-15P SRAMs.

- "International Directory of Military Aircraft 2002/2003"

Rob