Could Blackjack bombers reach USA?

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"?

Mike wrote:

Remember the Soviet "Blackjack" bomber that the U.S.S.R. started to
deploy in the late 1980s?

First flight 18 December 1981. First production flight 10 October 1984.
Operational with 184th GvTBAP at Priluki, Ukraine, 17 April 1987.

Currently approx 15 operational at Engels, Russia.

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

Same general shape, very much larger and supersonic. Max take-off weight
606,260lb - (B-1B - 477,000lb).

Max speed 1,242mph - (B-1B 789mph).

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

Range, loaded on internal fuel - 7,640 miles (B-1B - 3,444 miles)
Equipped for IFR.

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

No

http://mysite.freeserve.com/aircraft_pages/tu-160.html

For a size comparison - scroll down about halfway at :-
http://www.flankerman.fsnet.co.uk/modl_tu160.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers Website - http://www.flankers.co.uk/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++

(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?

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft...60/index.shtml
Though the Tu-160 bears a remarkable resemblance to the American B-1
bomber, the Blackjack is far larger, being the world's largest combat
aircraft. The cockpit contains joysticks similar to those in fighters,
but the Tu-160 does not have any electronic Heads-Up-Displays (HUDs)
like most western aircraft.

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

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/bomber/tu-160.htm
Range
14.000 km (with a load of 9.000kg)
10.500 km (with a load of 40.000 kg)

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/tu160/
The Tu-16 is capable of carrying the strategic cruise missile Kh-55MS,
which is known in the West by the NATO designation and codename AS-15
Kent.
....
The maximum range is 3,000km, and it is armed with a 200-kiloton
nuclear warhead.

-HJC

(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"?

How interesting you should mention it. See
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3406043.stm for today's BBC article
on the B1-ski.

Pondering,
Yossarian

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 20:42:21 +0000, Ken Duffey
wrote:

Mike wrote:

Remember the Soviet "Blackjack" bomber that the U.S.S.R. started to
deploy in the late 1980s?

First flight 18 December 1981. First production flight 10 October 1984.
Operational with 184th GvTBAP at Priluki, Ukraine, 17 April 1987.

Currently approx 15 operational at Engels, Russia.

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

Same general shape, very much larger and supersonic. Max take-off weight
606,260lb - (B-1B - 477,000lb).

Max speed 1,242mph - (B-1B 789mph).

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

Range, loaded on internal fuel - 7,640 miles (B-1B - 3,444 miles)
Equipped for IFR.


Those are brochure numbers for the Blackjack. In the real world (at
least as far as FAI records go) the B-1 has the Blackjack beat in the
paylaod/range department.

In article ,
on 17 Jan 2004 16:29:00 -0800,
Henry J. Cobb attempted to say.....
Though the Tu-160 bears a remarkable resemblance to the American B-1
bomber, the Blackjack is far larger, being the world's largest combat
aircraft.

Say what ?

Larger than a B-52 even ?



--
When dealing with propaganda terminology one sometimes always speaks in
variable absolutes. This is not to be mistaken for an unbiased slant.

(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

Scott Ferrin wrote in message . ..
On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 20:42:21 +0000, Ken Duffey
wrote:

Mike wrote:

Remember the Soviet "Blackjack" bomber that the U.S.S.R. started to
deploy in the late 1980s?

First flight 18 December 1981. First production flight 10 October 1984.
Operational with 184th GvTBAP at Priluki, Ukraine, 17 April 1987.

Currently approx 15 operational at Engels, Russia.

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

Same general shape, very much larger and supersonic. Max take-off weight
606,260lb - (B-1B - 477,000lb).

Max speed 1,242mph - (B-1B 789mph).

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

Range, loaded on internal fuel - 7,640 miles (B-1B - 3,444 miles)
Equipped for IFR.


Those are brochure numbers for the Blackjack.

How about B1 are the cited numbers for B1 are brochure numbers
as well?

In the real world (at
least as far as FAI records go) the B-1 has the Blackjack beat in the
paylaod/range department.

In its department where B1 is the only one amybe. Tu160
is much bigger?much faster and longer lange. Anyway
do you have any doubts about the question asked
"Could Blackjack bombers reach USA?"

Michael

"Yossarian"

How interesting you should mention it. See
for today's BBC article
on the B1-ski.

Pondering,
Yossarian

"Mr Mikhaylov said the long-range bombers would take part in joint
Russian-US exercises over the North Atlantic in 2004. "

Michael must be seething!

TJ

robert arndt wrote:

3 ex-Ukrainian aircraft sold to US as satellite
launchers in 1999..

Some dodgy info there in IDMA 2002/3. It was projected but in the end this
did not take place. It should have been plainly obvious to IDMA researchers
that the sale/project did not go ahead.

TJ