- Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack Jet Bombers Bomber
- Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack Jet Bombers Jet
- Tu-160 Blackjack Bomber
- Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack Jet Bombers Aircraft
An RAF Tornado F3 intercepts a Russian Tupolev Tu160 “Blackjack” supersonic strategic bomber as it nears British airspace in 2010. The Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO codename: 'Blackjack') is a supersonic, variable sweep wing, strategical heavy bomber aircraft. The Tu-160 is the largest and heaviest military aircraft (beside Transports) currently in existence. The Tupolev Tu-160 entered service in 1987 and 16 aircraft are currently in service with the Russian Air Force. A Tupolev Tu-160 with Soviet officers in front, September 1989 In April 1987, the Tu-160 entered operational service with the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment located at Pryluky Air Base, Ukrainian SSR. The regiment previously operating Tu-16 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers became the first unit that received the Tu-160. The deal includes eight Tupolev 160 Blackjack bombers and three Tupolev 95 Bears. The 11 strategic bombers and 600 air-launched missiles exchanged by Ukraine to Russia in payment for the gas debt were transfered in mid-February 2000. Two Tu-160 bombers flew from Priluki in the Ukrainian Chernigov region for the Russian air base in Engels.
How does the Russian Tupolev Tu-160 compare to the U.S. B1 Bomber ?
Ту-160 против B-1B Lancer: битва «стратегов» / Tu-160 against the B-1B Lancer
The Tu-160–while it looks similar to the B-1B–is a very different aircraft. The Soviet Union designed the Blackjack primarily as a means to deliver a nuclear strike during World War Three. However, the Soviets designed the jet mainly as a means to deliver nuclear-tipped cruise missiles–though the aircraft retained the ability to do low-level penetration. As such, the Tu-160 is much larger and much faster than the B-1B–with a maximum takeoff weight of over 606,000lbs and top speed greater than Mach 2.05. By contrast, the B-1B weighs in at 477,000lbs.
The Rockwell International B-1B Lancer strategic bomber and the Russian Tu-160 Blackjack look visually similar and even share some overlap in their mission sets, however, the two aircraft are quite different.
The B-1A was originally designed as a high-altitude supersonic penetrator before the Carter administration cancelled the program in 1977 after it became apparent that the new bomber would not be able to survive against new Soviet air defenses. Instead, the Carter Adminstration emphasized ballistic missiles and authorized the development of what would eventually become the Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit stealth bomber. However, the development of the stealth bomber was not made public and would remain classified for years to come.
Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack Jet Bombers Bomber
Powerplant: four 245.18 kN (55,140 lb st) Trud/Samara NK-32 afterburning turbofans
Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack Jet Bombers Jet
Dimensions: length 54.1m (177 ft 6 in); height 13.1m (42 ft 11 in);wing span 65° sweep 35.6m (116 ft 9½ in); wing span 35° sweep 50.7m (166 ft 4 in); wing span 20° sweep 55.7m (182 ft 9 in)
Weights: empty 117000 kg (257,937 lb); Max Take-Off Weight 275000 kg (606,261 lb)
Tu-160 Blackjack Bomber
Performance: max level speed Mach 2.05 or 2200 km/h (1367 mph); max level speed at sea level 1030 km/h (640 mph);ceiling 15600m (51,181 ft)
Armament: up to 12 KH-55 nuclear or KH-555 conventional long-range cruise missiles or 24 Kh-15 short-range nuclear attack missiles carried in two internal weapon bays; in theory up to 40000 kg (88,183 lb) of freefall nuclear or conventional bombs.
Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack Jet Bombers Aircraft
- Sources:
- Donald, D. (ed.), (2003).Tupolev Bombers, p. 151, AIRtime Publishing Inc., USA.