The backfire remained in production until 1993, and given low flying hours, the extant russian fleet is largely younger in. The design had a lot of teething problems and went though many different test models before the design was considered successful and entered service in 1975. Tupolev design bureau and was intended to replace its predecessor the tu16. Manufactured by tupolev, the tu22 entered service with the soviet military in the 1960s, and the last examples were retired during the 1990s. Only ever operated over the former soviet unions vast northern territory by an elite group of soviet air force aircrew, it was little known even to most russian military personnel and the majority of soviet citizens.
The aircraft was sold to the soviet leadership as a derivative of the older and much less sophisticated tu22 blinder. The initial tu22m2 production version evolved into the improved tu22m3 and the tu22mr reconnaissance version. Nov 19, 2015 the tu 22m3 is the last version of the backfire that is still in service. A russian air force tu22m3 supersonic bomber crashed at olenegorsk airbase, in the murmansk region, shortly after. In the early days of the great war, the bomber was a relatively new concept. The tu 22m design features a variable geometry wing which is also found on contemporary tactical fighters and the american b1b bomber. Tu22ml backfire model a is a preproduction model, with a production run number of only 12. Consequently, the navy has put the test program on hold and is currently working to identify the root cause of these problems. It remained in service until replaced by the much modified tu22m backfire which was introduced in the early 1970s and still remains in service. The aircraft was sold to the soviet leadership as a derivative of the older and much less sophisticated tu 22 blinder. The early aircraft had a range of 1,800 miles but later models had a much increased radius of action through the introduction of inflight refuelling. Download pdf tupolev tu 128 fiddler book full free. Tupolev tu26 tu22m nato backfire although soviet delegates to the salt ii treaty talks.
Achieving initial operating capability in 1972, the bomber was initially misidentified by the west as the tu26 and codenamed backfire. The tupolev tu22m backfire is a supersonic, swingwing development related to the original 1960sera tu22 blinder medium bomber. Badger, and was tupolevs first operational supersonic aircraft. Tupolev tu22 blinder section with description, specifications, pictures and videos. Its combat radius was 1,500 miles though this could be further managed through subsonicsupersonic flight as needed. Achieving initial operating capability in 1972, the bomber was initially misidentified by the west as the tu 26 and codenamed backfire. Aero l159 alca amx international amx dassaultdornier alpha jet dassault mirage iii dassault mirage f1 dassault mirage 2000 dassault rafale eurofighter typhoon panavia tornado saab j 35 draken saab 37 viggen saab jas 39 gripen sepecat jaguar. The tu22m8 is a development of the tupolev tu22m2 bomber, the design for which dates from 1960s when development was first started. The tu22m was based on the tu22s weapon system and used its kh22 missile.
Information series national institute for public policy. The tu22m3 is the last version of the backfire that is still in service. Russia has also upgraded the legacy supersonic tu22m3 backfire. When paired with the modern version of the kh 22 32, or similar indigenously developed supersonic antiship missile, with over a 300 mile range, the great utility of the tu 22 to the chinese military is clear. Even though it is designated as improved version of the tu22, it had so many differences that the tu22m can be seen as a completely different and much more capable aircraft. Ukraine bomber decommissioning and transfer chronology pdf.
Tupolev tu22m backfire, russia discussion in pakistan. The tu22 blinder became the first mass production turbojet bomber of its class. The tu22m backfire bomber was developed in the 1960s as a supersonic, variablesweep. After designing the tu22, the tupolev design bureau started working on a new bomber that was based on the tu22. To further improve aircraft performance, the intake ducts were revised from an f4 phantom ii style of the tu 22m2 to an f14 tomcat style of the tu 22m3 designated backfire c.
Dia initially had estimated the backfire s unrefuelled combat radius at approximately 5,000 km, sufficient to pose a strategic threat to the united states, while the central intelligence agency. All results related to tupolev tu22m backfire found on 80 scale modeling websites and the scalemates kit database. The tu 22m8 is a development of the tupolev tu 22m2 bomber, the design for which dates from 1960s when development was first started. Although its designation may suggest that the tu22m backfire is basically a modified tu22 blinder it is a completely different and new design with only a few small tu22 features maintained.
The first fight of tu22m3 was in 1976 and entered service in 1983. Capable of nuclear and conventional ground attack, it uses a swingwing configuration to achieve both a long cruise range on the order of 30006000km, depending on the specific model and supersonic dash capability. Backfire is a supersonic, variablesweep wing, longrange strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the tupolev design bureau in the 1960s. The tu95 carries the same longrange dualcapable cruise missiles as the. Backfire supersonic flight is still doing a great combat radius, and this supersonic fighter combat radius of the two is really not worth mentioning. A backfire supersonic strategic bomber has crashed in russia. Origin russia type supersonic standoff missile carrier max speed 802 kt 924 mph max range 3100 km 1,926 miles dimensions span 23. The russian federation used the tu22m3 in combat in chechnya during. The aircraft the tu 22m3 backfire c has had a somewhat confusing development history. These doomed aircraft are left to fly until they run out of fuel the ghost planes duration. A wide range of weapons options exist for upgrades of the tu22m3 backfire c pla. The legacy soviet nuclear capable kh22 is reportedly still operational on the backfire.
The aircraft the tu22m3 backfire c has had a somewhat confusing development history. However, with respect to taiwans air defense, the backfire bombers pose a new nightmare, coming on the heels of the su27 fighters. Russian tu22m backfire bombers escorted by su27 flankers. This is the recently completed backfire c that has been lying in state for a while due to other. Tupolev tu22m3 backfire c longrange bomber aircraft. 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. Backfire is a supersonic, variablesweep wing, longrange strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the tupolev design bureau. On classic aircraft are several hundred pages, enabling restorers, owners and people working on older airframes to advertise for parts that they need to keep a particular tupolev tu 22 backfire in airworthy, or preserved static, condition. Each crew had to make n ot less than t wo supersonic flights a year including maneuvers and combat firing.
Drawing a circle of the roughly mile combat radius of the tornado adv, around raf leuchars, the adv seems almost purpose built to interdict any air movement through the uk end of the guik gap, covering iceland, its approaches, and norway and the norwegian sea nearly to narvik. Tu22 blinder tupolev russian and soviet nuclear forces. Trumpeter tu 22 m3 backfire c the display case arc. Here are a few photos of my trumpeter 172 tuploev tu 22m3 backfire.
During one of the sim ilar flights the tu22r got in uncommon atmosphere conditions that took its supersonic wave from 11 000 altitude to the ground. When paired with the modern version of the kh2232, or similar indigenously developed supersonic antiship missile, with over a 300 mile range, the great utility of the tu22 to the chinese military is clear. Unlike the tu 22 however, the tu 28 was a successful supersonic platform and while smaller than the tu 22, it still remains the largest fighter interceptor ever produced. Tupolev tu 128 fiddler available for download and read online in other formats. The bofors mk110 57 mm gun is the standard armament on the lcs. The backfire was not one of its better releases, especially on the heels of their sleek tu22 blinder. Pdf tupolev tu 128 fiddler download full pdf book download. Trumpeter 01655 172 tu22m2 backfire b kit first look. Hi there, though quite a few of you know me through other forums this is the first time ive posted anything finished on the site other than on the arcair section so hi to all you good folks out there. Although its designation may suggest that the tu 22m backfire is basically a modified tu 22 blinder it is a completely different and new design with only a few small tu 22 features maintained.
Experience from the tu 28, plus further advances in propulsion and aerodynamic technologies led to a redesign of the tu 22 10 years after its first flight. The latest variant of the backfire is the third generation tu22m3 backfire c model, which remained in production until 1993. When the new supersonic bomber appeared at the kazan aircraft plant in 1969, it validated the longheld air force prediction of a new soviet bomber. The tupolev tu22m also known as backfire is a longrange strategic and. The earliest origins of the backfire were in the earlier tu22 blinder, a russian analogue to the us b58 hustler.
Tupolev tu22m strategic bomber airforce technology. Tu22 blinder tupolev with performance roughly similar to that of the american b58 hustler, the blinder was capable of supersonic dash and cruises at high subsonic speeds, at least three major variants of the blinder entered operational service in the soviet air forces a freefall bomber, an asm carrier, and a photoelectronic reconnaissance variant. To gain the most efficiency out of the engines of the time, tupolevs designers mounted the engines on either side of the vertical stabilizer to eliminate power loss. A few points of order about matsimuss cold war battle. The air force and tupolev, in order to save face with regards to the tu22s operational deficiencies and to stave off criticisms from the icbm lobby, agreed to pass off the design as an update of the tu22 in their discussions with the government. The tu22m3 is an improved variant of the basic version of tu22. The model was finished using testors model master enamels. In the 2000s, russian backfires resumed combat patrols in international airspace. A russian air force tu 22m3 supersonic bomber crashed at olenegorsk airbase, in the murmansk region, shortly after. So it was welcome news when trumpeter announced a new backfire kit.
But try to check an f14, an f15, an eurofighter 2000 or even a tu22 backfire naval bomber, top speed 1,250kts. The result was a new swing wing aircraft named samolyot 145 aeroplane 145, derived from the tupolev tu22, with some features borrowed from the abortive tu98. In 1962 the first soviet medium range turbojet bomber the tu22 entered service with the soviet union air force. The tupolev tu22m is a supersonic, variablesweep wing, longrange strategic and maritime. Backfire is the nato reporting name for the tupolev tu22m or tu26 bomber. The last examples were retired during the early 2000s.
Manufactured by tupolev, the tu22 entered service with the soviet military in the 1960s. Tu22m3m backfire tupolev the first flight of the newest bombermissile tu22m3m lasted 37 minutes. Self defense test ship events that will adversely affect the operational effectiveness of the combat system if not corrected. According to some sources, the bomber was believed to be designated tu26 at one time. On classic aircraft are several hundred pages, enabling restorers, owners and people working on older airframes to advertise for parts that they need to keep a particular tupolev tu22 backfire in airworthy, or preserved static, condition.
Other weapons as described for individual versions. The tupolev tu22m3 backfire c is in a class of its own. The backfire will add a muchneeded antiaccess layer of defense against us naval carrier strike groups operating in the region. Schneider is a senior analyst at the national institute for public policy and a former senior official in the defense department. Tupolev tu22m backfire swingwing supersonic strategic. To further improve aircraft performance, the intake ducts were revised from an f4 phantom ii style of the tu22m2 to an f14 tomcat style of the tu22m3 designated backfire c. Blinder was designed as the soviet air forces first supersonic bomber which was intended to replace the subsonic tu16 nato codename. There are also open reports of longrange nuclear alcms on the russian backfire medium bomber. During the cold war, the tu22m was operated by the soviet air forces vvs in a. The latest variant of the backfire is the third generation tu 22m3 backfire c model, which remained in production until 1993. The tu22m western reporting name backfire was developed from the earlier tu22 design, incorporating variablegeometry outer wing panels. Here are a few photos of my trumpeter 172 tuploev tu22m3 backfire.
Blinder was intended to strike against stationary and limited movement targets mostly sea. True, some planes, like the mig25 or its heir, the mig31 can exceed this roof and act as interceptors. Trumepters 172 tu 22 is available online from squadron. They gave us these bombs, and told us to drop them on someone. Tu22m backfire tupolev russian and soviet nuclear forces.
Russian tupolev 22m backfire landing and taxiing at airshow. In a war against nato, backfires were to pound western ports. During the cold war, the tu22m was operated by the soviet air forces vvs in a missile carrier. The initial tu 22m2 production version evolved into the improved tu 22m3 and the tu 22mr reconnaissance version. Now, before anyone, myself included, gets too wound up about this, lets note that this is a very small amount of data to be drawing conclusions. The first comprehensive account in english of the development and operation of russias least known postwar jet fighter. The backfire was not one of its better releases, especially on the heels of their sleek tu 22 blinder. This is not the first backfire kit on the market in this scale, esci release both the backfire b and backfire c at a time when little detailed information was available. Nato codenamed backfire, the tu22m2 was the first fullproduction variant and it was designated backfire b. The tu22m was first used in combat in afghanistan from 1987 to 1989. Information and pictures on the aircraft, tu22m backfire. Manufactured by tupolev, the tu 22 entered service with the soviet military in the 1960s. Blinder was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the soviet union and the worlds first aircraft of its class. Russias modernization programs for strategic nuclear bombers.
However, with respect to taiwans air defense, the backfire bombers pose a new nightmare. The tu22m design features a variable geometry wing which is also found on contemporary tactical fighters and the american b1b bomber. Backfire, is a soviet longrange supersonic missilecarrying bomber with a variable sweep wing. This book looks at the design and development of the aircraft up to the introduction of the type m backfire. Backfire tu22mr in 1985, the longrange reconnaissance aircraft. The tu22 left something to be desired, and in the 1980s it led to a much improved successor, the tu22m. The tu22 was one of the few soviet bombers to see combat.
Read download tupolev tu 128 fiddler pdf pdf download. The navy has discovered severe problems during the ddg sdts ed. It had two podmounted engines above the rear fuselage, one on either side of the vertical stabilizer, and fixed sweptback wings. Russias most powerful bomber until the tu160 blackjack was introduced, the tu22 backfire was and remains a nuclear capable strike aircraft that comprised the bulk of the soviet airborne nuclear deterrent as well as a potent arm of soviet naval aviation that posed a major threat to us carriers. It can carry up to three cruise missiles of the as4 kitchen kh22 type, or as many as ten shorter. Tupolev tu 22 backfire aircraft spares, parts and information. Dec, 2006 russian tupolev 22m backfire landing and taxiing at airshow. In addition to conventional bombing, the aircraft was suitable for naval missile strike missions. Navy, according to the soviets date in the negotiations saying, backfire is to deal with a tight sea and air protection of the large offshore fleet and design.
Boyne in brief designed, built by tupolev e first flight aug. Tu22m2 backfire model b was the production model plane during the initial. Despite its speed, it was inferior to the tu16 with respect to combat radius. Nato codenamed backfire, the tu 22m2 was the first fullproduction variant and it was designated backfire b. This was reported on 28 decembner 2018 in the press service of pjsc tupolev. It was the first soviet supersonic bomber and was used for. The tu22m3 was used by russia for combat operations in chechnya in 1995. The earliest origins of the backfire were in the earlier tu 22 blinder, a russian analogue to the us b58 hustler. In conceptual terms, it could best be considered a larger supersonic equivalent to the rafs 1960s vbombers, armed with a more evolved equivalent to the rafs avro blue steel mk.
652 843 823 1079 521 219 654 807 853 413 735 38 859 1473 545 747 520 1329 325 1275 1547 910 247 1018 1393 923 629 96 322 527 824 1457 1339 137 905 1106 430