Tupolev Tu-160

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160

The Tupolev Tu-160 Beliy Lebed (or White Swan,[1] Russian: ??????? ??-160, NATO
reporting name: Blackjack) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic
bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It is the
largest and heaviest Mach 2+ supersonic aircraft ever built and second only to
the comparable XB-70 Valkyrie in overall length. It is the largest and heaviest
combat aircraft, the fastest bomber currently in use, and is the largest and
heaviest variable-sweep wing airplane ever flown.

Entering service in 1987, the Tu-160 was the last strategic bomber designed for
the Soviet Union. As of 2016, the Russian Air Force, Long Range Aviation branch
has 16 aircraft remaining, with fewer being airworthy and in service. The Tu-160
active fleet has been undergoing upgrades to electronics systems since the early
2000s. The Tu-160M modernisation programme has begun with the first updated
aircraft delivered in December 2014.

The first competition for a supersonic strategic heavy bomber was launched in
the Soviet Union in 1967. In 1972, the Soviet Union launched a new multi-mission
bomber competition to create a new supersonic, variable-geometry ("swing-wing")
heavy bomber with a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, in response to the US Air Force
B-1 bomber project. The Tupolev design, named Aircraft 160M, with a lengthened
blended wing layout and incorporating some elements of the Tu-144, competed
against the Myasishchev M-18 and the Sukhoi T-4 designs.

The Tu-160 is a variable-geometry wing aircraft. The aircraft employs a
fly-by-wire control system with a blended wing profile, and full-span slats are
used on the leading edges, with double-slotted flaps on the trailing edges. The
Tu-160 has a crew of four (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, and defensive systems
operator) in K-36LM ejection seats.

While similar in appearance to the American B-1 Lancer, the Tu-160 is a
different class of combat aircraft; its primary role being a standoff missile
platform (strategic missile carrier). The Tu-160 is also larger and faster than
the B-1B and has a slightly greater combat range, though the B-1B has a larger
combined payload. Another significant difference is that the colour scheme on
the B-1B Lancer is usually subdued dark gray to reduce visibility; the Tu-160 is
painted with anti-flash white, giving it the nickname among Russian airmen
"White Swan".


Role
Supersonic strategic bomber

National origin
Soviet Union/Russia

Design group
Tupolev

Built by
Kazan Aircraft Production Association

First flight
19 December 1981

Introduction
30 December 2005 (IOC in 1987)

Status
In service

Primary user
Russian Air Force

Produced
1984–1992, 2000, 2008

Number built
27 serial & 8 prototype

On 12 October 2008, Tu-160 bombers were involved in the largest Russian
strategic bomber exercise since 1984. A total of 12 bombers including Tu-160
Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear conducted a series of launches of their cruise
missiles. Some bombers launched a full complement of their missiles. It was the
first time that a Tu-160 had ever fired a full complement of missiles.

On 10 June 2010, two Tu-160 bombers carried out a record-breaking 23-hour patrol
with a planned flight range of 18,000 km (9,700 nmi). The bombers flew along the
Russian borders and over neutral waters in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.[50]

Russian media reports in August 2011 claimed that only four of the VVS' sixteen
Tu-160 were flight worthy. By mid-2012 Flight reported eleven were
combat-ready[4] and between 2011 and 2013 eleven were photographed in flight.

On 1 November 2013, Aleksandr Golovanov and Aleksandr Novikov went into
Colombian airspace in two different occasions without receiving previous
clearance from the Colombian Government. The aircraft was going from Venezuela
to Nicaragua and headed for Managua. The Colombian Government issued a letter of
protest to the Russian Government following the first violation. Two Colombian
Air Force IAI Kfirs stationed at Barranquilla intercepted and escorted the two
Blackjacks out of Colombian airspace after the second violation.

On 17 November 2015, Russia started using Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic
long-range bombers against targets in Syria, along with Kalibr cruise missiles
fired from the Mediterranean. This marked the combat debut of the Tu-160 and
Tu-95.

Specifications (Tu-160)

General characteristics
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems officer)
Length: 54.10 m (177 ft 5 in)
Wingspan:
Spread (20° sweep): 55.70 m (182 ft 9 in)
Swept (65° sweep): 35.60 m (116 ft 9¾ in)

Height: 13.10 m (43 ft 0 in)
Wing area:
Spread: 400 m² (4,306 ft²)
Swept: 360 square metres (3,900 sq ft))

Empty weight: 110,000 kg (242,505 lb; operating empty weight)
Loaded weight: 267,600 kg (589,950 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 275,000 kg (606,260 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Samara NK-321 turbofans Dry thrust: 137.3 kN (30,865 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 245 kN (55,115 lbf) each


Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.05 (2,220 km/h, 1,200 knots, 1,380 mph) at 12,200 m
(40,000 ft)
Cruise speed: Mach 0.9 (960 km/h, 518 knots, 596 mph)
Range: 12,300 km (7,643 mi) practical range without in-flight refuelling, Mach
0.77 and carrying 6 × Kh-55SM dropped at mid range and 5% fuel reserves[71]
Combat radius: 7,300 km[72] (3,994 nmi, 4,536 mi,) 2,000 km (1,080 nmi, 1,240
mi) at Mach 1.5[30]
Service ceiling: 15,600 m (51,181 ft)
Rate of climb: 70 m/s (13,860 ft/min)
Wing loading: 742 kg/m² with wings fully swept (152 lb/ft²)
lift-to-drag: 18.5–19, while supersonic it is above 6[73]
Thrust/weight: 0.37

Armament

Two internal bays for 40,000 kg (88,185 lb) of ordnance including
Two internal rotary launchers each holding 6× Raduga Kh-55SM/101/102/555 cruise
missiles (primary armament) or 12× AS-16 Kickback short-range nuclear missiles.




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