The first flight of Tu 160. Valentin Bliznyuk Chief Designer of Design Bureau "Tupolev"

Tu-160 is a supersonic strategic missile carrier with variable wing geometry. Designed to destroy the most important targets with nuclear and conventional weapons in remote military-geographical regions and deep in the rear of continental theaters of military operations.

The full-scale development of the Tu-160 supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber was launched at the Tupolev Design Bureau in 1975. Based on the proposals and recommendations of TsAGI, an aerodynamic layout of a multi-mode aircraft was developed, which practically combined the capabilities of the Tu-95 aircraft with a high aspect ratio swept wing, with a change in the sweep angle of the wing consoles in flight, worked out on the Tu-22M long-range bomber, in combination with the central integral part of the aircraft, partially implemented on the SPS Tu-144.

Tu-160 aircraft saved character traits heavy classic bomber - cantilever monoplane scheme, high elongation wing, four engines mounted on the wing (under its fixed part), tricycle landing gear with a nose strut. All missile and bomb weapons are placed inside in two identical weapon compartments. The crew of the air strategic ship, consisting of four people, is located in a pressurized cabin located in the nose of the aircraft.

The first flight of the Tu-160 aircraft was performed on December 18, 1981 by the crew of the lead test pilot Boris Veremey. Flight tests confirmed the provision of the required characteristics, and since 1987 the aircraft began to enter service.
In NATO, the car was assigned the preliminary designation "RAM-P", later the aircraft was given a new code name - "Blackjack".

Flight- specifications:

Dimensions. Wingspan 55.7/35.6 m, aircraft length 54.1 m, height 13.1 m, wing area 360/400 sq. m.

Number of places. Crew - four people.

Engines. Under the wing, in two engine nacelles, four turbofan engines NK-32 (4x14.000 / 25.000 kgf) are placed. Behind the niche of the left support of the main landing gear is the APU. Engine control system - electric, with hydromechanical duplication. There is a retractable fuel receiver of the in-flight refueling system (Il-78 or Il-78M are used as tanker aircraft).

Masses and loads, kg: maximum takeoff 275,000, normal takeoff 267,600, empty aircraft 110,000, fuel 148,000, normal payload 9000 kg, maximum combat load 40,000.

flight data. Maximum speed at high altitude 2000 km/h, maximum speed near the ground 1030 km/h, landing speed (with a landing weight of 140,000 - 155,000 kg) 260-300 km/h, maximum rate of climb 60-70 m/s, service ceiling 16,000 m, practical flight range with normal load 13,200 km , with a maximum load of 10,500 km, takeoff run (at maximum takeoff weight) 2,200 m, run length (landing weight 140,000 kg) 1,800 m.

Armament. Two internal cargo compartments can accommodate various payloads with a total weight of up to 40,000 kg. It includes strategic cruise missiles (12 units on two multi-position drum-type launchers) and Kh-15 aeroballistic hypersonic missiles (24 units on four launchers).

In the future, the composition of the bomber's armament is planned to be significantly strengthened by introducing a new generation of high-precision cruise missiles into its composition, which have an increased range and are designed to destroy both strategic and tactical ground and sea targets of almost all classes.

The aircraft has a high level of computerization of on-board equipment. Information system in the cabins it is represented by electromechanical indicators and indicators on monitors. Traditional steering wheels for large machines have been replaced with control sticks similar to those used on fighters.

In service air force The Russian Federation now has 15 Tu-160s. The leadership of the Russian Air Force plans to increase the number of such aircraft to 30.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

In mid-January 2018, the Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber with serial number 0804 began flight tests for the first time, and on the 25th, the aircraft, named after the first commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force Pyotr Deinekin, was demonstrated to the president. Why does Russia need a Soviet aircraft and what kind of future is being prepared for it, says.

Yesterday

Tu-160 is considered the largest and heaviest supersonic aircraft in the world. According to open data, the maximum speed of the car is 2,230 kilometers per hour, the flight range is 13,900 kilometers, the altitude is 22 kilometers, and the wingspan is up to 56 meters. The Tu-160, capable of carrying up to 40 tons of weapons, was the Soviet response to the American B-1 Lancer. The purpose and basic characteristics of both aircraft are comparable to each other.

The first flight of the B-1 Lancer took place in 1974, while the Blackjack (as the Americans called the Tu-160) flew only in 1981. The Soviet machine was created by the Tupolev Design Bureau, which received part of the documentation for the competing projects M-18 / 20 of the Myasishchev Design Bureau and T-4MS.

The aerodynamic design of the Tu-160 resembles the supersonic Tu-22M, which also uses a swept wing that is variable in flight, in addition, the new machine, like the Tu-144, the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft, received an integral layout, in which the fuselage actually acts as a continuation of the wing and thus thereby providing an increase in lifting force.

Although the Tupolev Design Bureau used its own developments conceptually when creating the Tu-160, in practice the machine was developed from scratch. The new product became a serious challenge for the Soviet aviation industry, to which she found an answer that has not lost its relevance to this day.

In just three years, the Kuibyshev Design Bureau of Kuznetsov created the NK-32 engine for the Tu-160, it is planned to develop (instead of the Ukrainian D-18T) units for the An-124 Ruslan military transport aircraft and the Russian strategic bomber-missile carrier of the new generation PAK DA (Promising Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation).

The Tu-160, which does not have static stability (the position of the center of gravity of the machine changes as fuel consumption and weapons are dropped), became the first Soviet serial heavy aircraft equipped with an electrical remote control system (for the first time in the world, such a scheme was developed in the 1930s by the same Tupolev Design Bureau passenger aircraft ANT-20 "").

The Tu-160 also received a new Baikal airborne defense system, which allows tracking, jamming or distracting enemy air defense systems with false targets, and elements to reduce the radar and infrared visibility of the aircraft.

Serial production of the Tu-160 was launched at Gorbunov, who previously produced the Tu-4, Tu-22 and Tu-22M. The assembly of the new machine required the construction of not only additional workshops, but also the introduction of new technologies. In particular, the enterprise introduced electron-beam welding on titanium, from which the center section of the aircraft was created. This technology, lost by the plant ten years ago, has now been restored.

In total, 36 Tu-160s were built by 1992, while at the Gorbunov plant, there were four more vehicles in varying degrees of readiness. In 1999, the 37th aircraft flew, and in 2007, the 38th. "Pyotr Deinekin" became the 39th Tu-160. Today, Russia has 17 operational aircraft, at least nine Tu-160s have been sawn up by Ukraine. The remaining 11 were given to museums, were used for tests or were in emergency situations.

Today

The Tu-160s available to Russia will undergo modernization. In particular, the aircraft will receive new NK-32 engines of the second series, avionics and an onboard defense system, as well as more long-range and powerful strategic missiles (already in the Tu-160M2 modification). These innovations, which will increase the effectiveness of Blackjack by 60 percent, will be tested on the Tu-160M "Pyotr Deinekin", which so far differs slightly from the Tu-160 model.

To date, Blackjack has taken part in hostilities only during the operation in Syria, where it attacked positions (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) with Kh-555 cruise missiles (range up to 2,500 kilometers) and Kh-101 (hit targets at a distance up to 7,500 kilometers).

It looks like Blackjack is on the way to a resurgence. In addition to upgrading existing aircraft to the Tu-160M2 version, the Russian military expects to receive ten more such aircraft from Gorbunov's Kazan Aviation Plant, the contract value is 160 billion rubles. In this case, 27 Tu-160M2s will be at the disposal of the Russian Aerospace Forces by the mid-2020s.

Tomorrow

The developments and technologies used in the Blackjack modernization are planned to be used in the creation of new aircraft. It is from the Tu-160M2 that the new-generation strategic bomber-missile carrier PAK DA (Promising Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation) will receive an engine, avionics elements and an onboard defense system. Unlike the Tu-160, the PAK DA being developed will turn out to be a subsonic aircraft, since it initially relies on the use of high-precision weapons.

Strategic bomber TU-160, the so-called " White Swan” or Blackjack (baton) in NATO terminology, represents a unique aircraft.
The TU-160 has excellent technical characteristics: it is the most formidable bomber that can also carry cruise missiles. This is the largest supersonic and graceful aircraft in the world. Developed in the 1970-1980s at the Tupolev Design Bureau and has a variable sweep wing. It has been in service since 1987.

The TU-160 bomber was the "response" to the US AMSA ("Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft") program, under which the notorious B-1 Lancer was created. The TU-160 missile carrier, in almost all characteristics, was significantly ahead of its main competitors Lancers. The speed of the Tu 160 is 1.5 times higher, the maximum flight range and combat radius are just as much greater. And the thrust of the engines is almost twice as powerful. At the same time, the "invisible" B-2 Spirit cannot stand any comparison, in which, for the sake of stealth, literally everything was sacrificed, including distance, flight stability and payload.

Quantity and cost of TU-160

Each TU-160 long-range missile carrier is a one-piece and rather expensive product, it has unique technical characteristics. Since their inception, only 35 of these aircraft have been built, while an order of magnitude fewer of them have remained intact. This aircraft is the only product that has received its name. Each of the built aircraft has its own name, they were assigned in honor of champions ("Ivan Yarygin"), designers ("Vitaly Kopylov"), famous heroes ("Ilya Muromets") and, of course, pilots ("Pavel Taran", "Valery Chkalov " and others).

Before the collapse of the USSR, 34 aircraft were built, with 19 bombers remaining in Ukraine, at a base in Priluki. However, these machines were too expensive to operate, and for a small Ukrainian army they just weren't needed. Ukraine offered to give 19 TU-160s to Russia in exchange for Il-76 aircraft (1 to 2) or for writing off the gas debt. But for Russia it was unacceptable. In addition, the United States influenced Ukraine, which actually forced the destruction of 11 TU-160s. 8 aircraft were handed over to Russia for the cancellation of the gas debt.
As of 2013, the Air Force had 16 Tu-160s. There were prohibitively few of these aircraft in Russia, but their construction would have cost a huge amount. Therefore, it was decided to upgrade 10 bombers out of the 16 available to the Tu-160M standard. Long-range aviation in 2015 should receive 6 modernized TU-160s. However, in modern conditions even the modernization of the existing TU-160 cannot solve the assigned military tasks. Therefore, there were plans to build new missile carriers.

In 2015, Kazan decided to consider the possibility of starting production of the new TU-160 at the facilities of KAZ. These plans have taken shape as a result of the formation of the present international situation. However, this is a difficult but solvable task. Some technologies and personnel were lost, but, nevertheless, the task is quite feasible, especially since there is a backlog - two unfinished aircraft. The cost of one missile carrier is about 250 million dollars.

The history of the creation of the TU-160

The design task was formulated back in 1967 by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The design bureaus of Myasishchev and Sukhoi were involved in the work, which offered their own options a few years later. These were bombers capable of developing supersonic speed and overcoming air defense systems on it. The Tupolev Design Bureau, which had experience in developing the Tu-22 and Tu-95 bombers, as well as the Tu-144 supersonic aircraft, did not participate in the competition. As a result, the Myasishchev Design Bureau project was recognized as the winner, but the designers did not have time to celebrate the victory: after some time, the government decided to close the Myasishchev Design Bureau project. All documentation for the M-18 was transferred to the Tupolev Design Bureau, which joined the competition with the "Product-70" (future TU-160 aircraft).

The following requirements were imposed on the future bomber:
flight range at an altitude of 18,000 meters at a speed of 2300-2500 km / h within 13 thousand km;
flight range near the ground in 13 thousand km and at an altitude of 18 km in subsonic mode;
the aircraft must approach the target at subsonic cruising speed, overcome enemy air defenses - at cruising speed near the ground and in supersonic high-altitude mode.
the total mass of the combat load should be 45 tons.
The first flight of the prototype (Product "70-01") was carried out at the airfield "Ramenskoye" in December 1981. The product "70-01" was piloted by test pilot Boris Veremeev with his crew. The second copy (product "70-02") did not fly, it was used for static tests. Later, a second aircraft (product "70-03") joined the tests. The supersonic missile carrier TU-160 was launched in mass production 1984 at the Kazan Aviation Plant. In October 1984, the first serial machine took off, in March 1985 - the second serial, in December 1985 - the third, in August 1986 - the fourth.

In 1992, Boris Yeltsin decided to suspend the ongoing serial production of the Tu-160 if the US stopped mass production of the B-2. By that time, 35 aircraft had been produced. KAPO by 1994, KAPO handed over six bombers to the Russian Air Force. They were stationed in the Saratov region at the Engels airfield.
The new missile carrier TU-160 ("Alexander Molodchiy") in May 2000 became part of the Air Force. The TU-160 complex was put into service in 2005. In April 2006, it was announced that tests of the upgraded NK-32 engines, designed for the TU-160, were completed. New engines are characterized by increased reliability and significantly increased resource. In December 2007, the first flight of a new production aircraft TU-160 was carried out. Colonel-General Alexander Zelin, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, announced in April 2008 that another Russian bomber would enter service with the Air Force in 2008. The new aircraft was named "Vitaly Kopylov". It was planned that three more combatant TU-160s would be upgraded in 2008.

Specifications

TU-160 has the following specifications:
Crew: 4 people.
The length is 54.1 m.
The wingspan is 55.7 / 50.7 / 35.6 m.
The height is 13.1 m.
The wing area is 232 m².
The weight of the empty aircraft is 110,000 kg.
The normal takeoff weight is 267,600 kg.
The maximum takeoff weight is 275,000 kg.
Type engines 4×TRDDF NK-32.
The maximum thrust is 4 × 18,000 kgf.
Afterburner thrust is 4 × 25,000 kgf.
The mass of fuel is 148,000 kg.
The top speed at altitude is 2230 km/h.
The cruising speed is 917 km/h.
The maximum range without refueling is 13,950 km.
The practical range without refueling is 12,300 km.
The combat radius is 6000 km.
The flight duration is 25 hours.
The practical ceiling is 21,000 m.
The rate of climb is 4400 m/min.
The length of the run / run is 900/2000 m.
Wing load at normal takeoff weight is 1150 kg/m².
Wing load at maximum takeoff weight is 1185 kg/m².
The thrust-to-weight ratio at normal takeoff weight is 0.36.
The thrust-to-weight ratio at maximum takeoff weight is 0.37.

Design features

The White Swan aircraft was created with the wide use of proven solutions for the machines already built in the design bureau: Tu-142MS, Tu-22M and Tu-144, and some components, assemblies and part of the systems were transferred to the aircraft without changes. "White Swan" has a design in which composites, stainless steel, aluminum alloys V-95 and AK-4, titanium alloys VT-6 and OT-4 are widely used. keel and stabilizer, tricycle landing gear. The mechanization of the wing includes double-slotted flaps, slats, flaperons and spoilers are used for roll control. Four NK-32 engines are mounted in the lower part of the fuselage in pairs in engine nacelles. APU TA-12 is used as an autonomous power unit. The airframe has an integrated circuit. Technologically, it consists of six main parts, from F-1 to F-6. A radar antenna is installed in the leaky bow in a radio-transparent fairing, behind it is a leaky radio equipment compartment. The one-piece central part of the bomber with a length of 47.368 m includes the fuselage, which includes the cockpit and two cargo compartments. Between them is the fixed part of the wing and the caisson compartment of the center section, the tail section of the fuselage and engine nacelles. The cabin is a single pressurized compartment, where, in addition to the crew jobs, the electronic equipment of the aircraft is located. The wing on a variable-sweep bomber. The wing with a minimum sweep has a span of 57.7 m. The control system and the rotary assembly are generally similar to the Tu-22M, but they have been recalculated and strengthened. Wing of caisson structure, mainly made of aluminum alloys. The turning part of the wing moves from 20 to 65 degrees along the leading edge. Three-section double-slotted flaps are installed along the trailing edge, and four-section slats are installed along the leading edge. For roll control, there are six-section spoilers, as well as flapperons. The inner cavity of the wing is used as fuel tanks. The aircraft has an automatic electrical remote control system with redundant mechanical wiring and fourfold redundancy. Management is dual, handles are installed, not handwheels. The aircraft is controlled in pitch with the help of an all-moving stabilizer, in the course - with an all-moving keel, in roll - by spoilers and flaperons. The navigation system is a two-channel K-042K. The White Swan is one of the most comfortable combat aircraft. During the 14-hour flight, pilots have the opportunity to get up and warm up. Also on board there is a kitchen with a cabinet that allows you to heat up food. There is also a toilet, which was not previously on strategic bombers. It was around the bathroom during the transfer of the aircraft to the military that a real war took place: they did not want to accept the car, since the design of the bathroom was imperfect.

Armament

Initially, the TU-160 was built as a missile carrier - a carrier of cruise missiles with long-range nuclear warheads, designed to deliver massive strikes on areas. In the future, it was planned to expand and modernize the range of transportable ammunition, as evidenced by the stencils on the doors of the cargo compartments with suspension options for a huge range of cargo.

The TU-160 is armed with Kh-55SM strategic cruise missiles, which are used to destroy stationary targets with given coordinates, their input is carried out before the bomber takes off in the missile's memory. The missiles are located in six pieces on two MKU-6-5U drum launchers, in the cargo compartments of the aircraft. Short-range hypersonic aeroballistic missiles Kh-15S (12 for each MKU) can be included in the armament for short-range engagement.
After appropriate re-equipment, the bomber can also be equipped with free-fall bombs of various calibers (up to 40,000 kg), including single bomb clusters, nuclear bombs, sea mines and other weapons. In the future, it is planned to significantly strengthen the composition of the bomber’s weapons through the use of high-precision cruise missiles of the latest generation Kh-101 and Kh-555, which have an increased range and are also designed to destroy both tactical sea and ground, and strategic targets of almost all classes.

Tu-160 with increased swept wings Supersonic flight

Tu-160 strategic bomber bomber recognized flagship Russian distant aviation! In Russia he is called White Swan! On the Tu-160 established 44 world records! He is able to carry 45 tons of rockets and bombs different class! it 24 hypersonic missiles, 12 strategic cruise missiles missiles, guided bombs caliber up to 1.5 tons. Tu-160 has enough high maneuverability. He is able to fly at low altitude with contouring terrain ! When flying Tu-160 in this mode to bring down it's enough difficult! On board Tu-160 installed around 100 electronic computers cars! Fuel on the Tu-160 not like that how on ordinary airplanes. It nitrided and burns only in engines plane! Design fuel tanks is that they divided into parts respectively when breaking through one tank no fuel wasted plane! Maximum speed Tu-160 - 2 speeds of sound at high altitude ( 2500 kilometers per hour or 695 meters per second)!

The first once the plane took off at the end of 1981 of the year. Tu-160 was accepted for serial production more before passing all flight tests. Such a rush was caused by the what Americans at that point in time has already been released strategic supersonic missile carrier B-1 B. AT 1988 year Tu-160 was accepted into armament.

Flight characteristics of the Tu-160 much improved, compared to other aircraft of this class, due to such an element in the design of the aircraft as, variable wing geometry! Variable wing geometry - this is sweep angle change wings directly in flight. On the Tu-160 variable wing geometry has been applied for the first time in the USSR, on heavy strategic missile carrier. At a minimum wing sweep significantly run length is reduced aircraft on takeoff and run length at landing, a at maximum wing sweep is achieved maximum speed flight.

In the manufacture Tu-160 for improvement by weight and strength characteristics was titanium is used. During the production of this aircraft in the USSR for the first time special vacuum welding with an electron beam.

Some technical characteristics of the Tu-160: maximum speed flight at a minimum altitude of 1,300 kilometers per hour; cruising speed 917 kilometers per hour; maximum takeoff weight - 275 tons; empty airplane 110 tons; maximum weight fuel 148 tons; 4 engine thrust of 25 tons per second each; maximum height flight 21 000 meters; maximum range flight without refueling in the air 13 300 kilometers; maximum time finding in the air without refueling 15 hours; the aircraft is equipped air refueling system. For takeoff Tu-160 fit band, long from 1 700 meters .

At times USSR was put forward idea, build 100 aircraft Tu-160 on the Kazan aircraft factory , but these plans not destined It was come true. After the collapse USSR 21 airplane Tu-160 remained in Ukraine at the strategic airbase in Priluki. At that moment time Russian leadership basically doubted what are planes generally needed country. started difficult negotiations with Ukraine on the transfer of aircraft to Russia. AT 1999 year managed to agree on transmission 8 aircraft Tu-160, in exchange for forgiveness Ukraine debt per oil products. Rest aircraft to 1999 year Ukraine already managed to cut for scrap metal! On the moment of time 2015 year Russia It has about 20 aircraft Tu-160.

Strategic supersonic bomber bomber Tu-160 was conceived like an airplane capable of flying combat actions like in the nuclear so and in non-nuclear war. He must overcome long distances to the borders enemy at subsonic speed and pass air defense enemy on supersonic speed! strategic bomber bombers, including Tu-160, always on combat missions fly in pairs!

Yet in the 1970s years in the USSR developed projects strategic missile carriers hypersonic flying speed on hydrogen fuel. IN THE USA accepted program creation hypersonic strategic missile carrier by 2025 year !

In the 60s of the last century Soviet Union emphasized the development of missile weapons, and strategic aviation, presented Tu-95 and M-4 with subsonic speeds, was considered unable to overcome the air defense of NATO countries.

The decision of the United States to create a new strategic supersonic bomber B-1 prompted the leadership of the USSR to take adequate retaliatory measures. The Council of Ministers decided to start preparing a project for a modern intercontinental strategic supersonic aircraft, which later received the designation TU-160, and the pilots had an affectionate name - "White Swan".

The history of the Tu 160 aircraft project

The design of the new bomber was entrusted to the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau. By the beginning of the 70s, the projects were submitted for consideration. Both projects turned out to be similar - this is a supersonic machine with four engines and a variable sweep wing, but still the schemes were different.

In 1969, the Tupolev Design Bureau with experience in creating a supersonic passenger aircraft joined the project. Tu-144. Having considered the projects of the Sukhoi and Myasishchev Design Bureau and the out-of-competition project of the Tupolev Design Bureau, it was decided to give work on the project to the Tupolev team, as they had extensive practice in creating supersonic machines.

In addition to the Tupolev Design Bureau, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, the Air Force Research Institute, TsAGI were involved, since 1972 more than 800 organizations have taken part.
The first prototype (designation 70-01) took off from the ground in December 1981 with a crew led by test pilot B. Veremey from the Ramenskoye airfield. The second sample was intended for static tests. The first four samples were made at the Opyt enterprise.

Tu 160 scheme

Serial aircraft were manufactured at the Kazan Aviation Plant. In 1984, on October 10, the series was given a ticket to heaven.

Description of the aircraft Tu 160

The design of the machine is built on an integral aerodynamic layout with a low-lying wing with a sweep that changes in flight. Sweep can be changed from 200 to 650.
The wing is equipped with rich mechanization - on each console there are slats along the entire length, behind - flaps. In front of the flaps, a flaperon and a spoiler were built into the console design.

The radio-transparent radome of the antenna hides inside the onboard radar for viewing the front sphere. In the space between the cockpit and the surveillance locator blocks is the Sopka radar, designed for flying at low altitude with enveloping the terrain.

The cockpit is designed for four members - two pilots and two navigators, who sit side by side. The first navigator is responsible for aircraft navigation, the other for the use of weapons. Armchairs are equipped with a catapult.

Under the influx of the wing in front are multi-mode air intakes that regulate the oncoming flow and supply it to the engines. The cross section of the intake channels changes, from a rectangular one smoothly turns into a round one. The power plant consists of four NK-32 turbofan engines, placed two on each side of the fuselage.

The keel of the Tu-160 is made of two sections, the fuselage body is rigidly connected to the lower part, and the upper trapezoidal section acts as a rudder. On the fixed part of the keel, the swivel mechanism and the swivel stabilizer itself are attached.

The landing gear of the aircraft is made according to a three-bearing scheme, the main landing gear on each support has six wheels, retractable into a niche on the center section between the air intakes and the weapons compartment. The nose landing gear is two-wheeled, in the retracted position it is located between the weapons compartment and the cockpit.

The design of the aircraft allows you to place 171 tons of fuel in 13 caisson tanks, which at a cruising speed with a sweep of 350 makes it possible to cover a distance of 14 thousand km. In-flight refueling is also provided - the fuel receiver in the form of a retractable rod is located in the bow, in front of the cockpit.

Tu 160 in the air

To fulfill its mission - to break through the enemy's air defense and strike at important strategic targets, it is equipped with the Baikal airborne defense system. This complex includes stations for detecting threats from aviation and air defense systems, electronic warfare stations and automatic devices shooting decoys and traps.

At the bottom of the nose of the aircraft there is an OPB-15T optical-electronic sight for accurate bombing and a viewing camera in the front lower sphere. The inertial navigation system, the celestial navigation system and the equipment of the satellite tracking system make it possible to fly from high precision with the display of the location of the aircraft on the indicators of the navigator.

The performance data of the Tu 160 bomber

Tu 160 "White Swan"

Flight characteristics Tu 160

The maximum speed at an altitude of 12 thousand. m - 2200 km / h.
The maximum speed near the ground is 1030 km / h.
Cruising speed - 850-920 km / h.
Rate of climb - 70 m / s.
The practical range without refueling is 14 thousand km.
Ceiling - 15600 m.
Combat radius - 7300 km.
Flight duration - 14.5 hours.

The power plant of the aircraft Tu 160

Four turbofan engines NK-32 with thrust in cruising mode - 137.2 kN.
afterburner - 245.7 kN.

Tu 160 dimensions

The length of the aircraft is 54.10 m.
The height of the aircraft is 13.10 m.
Wingspan, sweep 200 - 55.7 m.
Wingspan, sweep 350 - 50.7 m.
Wingspan, sweep 650 - 35.6 m.

Aircraft weight Tu 160

Empty, equipped aircraft - 117 tons.
Takeoff maximum - 225 tons.

Tu 160 aircraft armament

On the installation of the drum type - 6 ALCM Kh-55SM / 101/102.
Short-range missiles X-15 - 12 pcs.

Interesting about the strategic bomber Tu 160

Forty-four world records are registered on the White Swan account.

Each side is named after an outstanding designer or famous pilot.

Tu 160 "Valentin Bliznyuk"

Only this strategic bomber can boast of its own kitchen and bathroom; before it, military aircraft were not equipped with such amenities.

"Dubinka" was called in NATO, and Russian pilots affectionately - "White Swan".

It is perhaps the largest variable-sweep wing aircraft in the world.

While on a visit to Russia, Frank Carpucci, the then US Secretary of Defense, inspected and entering the cockpit, touched his head with an electrical shield. Since then, the pilots have nicknamed him "Carpucci's shield."