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Supersonic bomber Tu 160. Airplane "White Swan": specifications and photos

In the 60s of the last century, the Soviet Union focused on the development of missile weapons, and strategic aviation, represented by Tu-95 and M-4 with subsonic speeds, was considered incapable of overcoming the air defenses of NATO countries.

The decision of the United States to create a new strategic supersonic bomber B-1 pushed the Soviet leadership to adequate countermeasures. The Council of Ministers decided to start preparing a draft of a modern intercontinental strategic supersonic aircraft, which later received the designation TU-160, and the pilots who bore the affectionate name - "White Swan".

History of the Tu 160 aircraft project

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

In 1969, the Tupolev Design Bureau joined the project with experience in creating a supersonic passenger aircraft 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 the work on the project to the Tupolevites, as they have great 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, in total, 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 Experiment enterprise.

Tu 160 scheme

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

Description of the Tu 160

The design of the machine is built on an integral aerodynamic layout with a low-lying wing with a sweep variable 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, at the back there are flaps. In front of the flaps, a flaperon and an spoiler were built into the structure of the console.

The radio-transparent radome of the antenna hides inside the on-board radar for viewing the front sphere. In the space between the cockpit and the surveillance radar units, there is a Sopka radar designed for flights at low altitude with rounding 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 air navigation, the other for the use of weapons. The seats are equipped with a catapult.

Under the inflow of the wing, there are multi-mode air intakes in front, which regulate the incoming flow and supply it to the engines. The cross-section of the intake channels changes, from rectangular smoothly to round. The power plant consists of four NK-32 turbojet engines, located 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 serves as a rudder. On the fixed part of the keel, a turning mechanism and the rotary stabilizer itself are attached.

The landing gear of the aircraft is made according to a tricycle design, the main landing gear on each support has six wheels that retract 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 placed between the weapons compartment and the cockpit.

The design of the aircraft allows placing 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. Refueling in flight 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 for shooting false targets and traps.

At the bottom of the nose of the aircraft there is an OPB-15T optical-electronic sight for precise bombing and a viewing television camera in the front lower sphere. The inertial navigation system, the astronavigation system and the equipment of the satellite tracking system make it possible to fly with high accuracy, displaying the location of the aircraft on the navigator's indicators.

The performance data of the Tu 160 bomber

Tu 160 "White Swan"

Flight characteristics of Tu 160

Maximum speed at an altitude of 12 thousand. m - 2200 km / h.
The maximum speed at the ground is 1030 km / h.
Cruising speed - 850-920 km / h.
Climb rate - 70 m / sec.
The practical range without refueling is 14 thousand km.
Ceiling - 15,600 m.
Combat radius - 7300 km.
The flight duration is 14.5 hours.

The power plant of the Tu 160

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

The dimensions of the Tu 160

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 Tu 160 weight

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

Armament of the Tu 160

On a drum-type installation - 6 КРВБ Х-55СМ / 101/102.
Short-range missiles Kh-15 - 12 pcs.

Interesting about the strategic bomber Tu 160

Forty-four world records were registered on the account of the "White Swan".

Each board 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.

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

In the world, this is perhaps the largest aircraft with a variable sweep wing.

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

Video: n Uplift of cruise missiles at terrorist targets in Syria from the Tu 160

Tu-160 with increased wing sweep Supersonic flight

Strategic missile carrier-bomber Tu-160 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 on board 45 tons of rockets and bombs different class! This 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 relief terrain ! When flying Shoot down Tu-160 in this mode it's enough difficult! On board Tu-160 installed about 100 electronic cars! Fuel on the Tu-160 not that how on ordinary airplanes. It nitrided and burns out only in engines aircraft! Design fuel tanks is such that they divided into parts, respectively, upon penetration one tank all fuel is not lost aircraft! Maximum speed Tu-160 - 2 speeds of sound at high altitude ( 2500 kilometers per hour or 695 meters per second)!

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

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

When making Tu-160 for improvement weight and strength characteristics was applied titanium. During the production of this aircraft in the USSR for the first time a special vacuum welding with an electron beam.

Some technical characteristics of Tu-160: maximum speed flight at a minimum height of 1300 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 25 tons per second each; maximum height flight 21 000 meters; maximum range flight without refueling in the air 13 300 kilometers; the maximum time finding in the air without refueling 15 hours; the plane is equipped air refueling system. For takeoff Tu-160 fit strip, long from 1 700 meters .

In times the USSR was nominated 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 stayed in Ukraine at a strategic airbase in Priluki. At that moment time Russian leadership basically doubted what are the planes generally needed country. Started difficult negotiations with Ukraine on the transfer of aircraft to Russia. V 1999 year managed to agree on transfer of 8 aircraft Tu-160, in exchange forgiveness Ukraine's debts per petroleum products. Rest aircraft by 1999 year Ukraine already managed to cut for scrap! 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 nuclear, so and in non-nuclear war. He must overcome long distances to the borders enemy on subsonic speed, but pass air defense enemy at supersonic speed! Strategic missile bombers, including Tu-160, always on combat missions fly in pairs!

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

DATA FOR 2017 (standard replenishment)

Tu-160 (product 70) - BLACKJACK / RAM-P

Tu-160S (product 70-03) - BLACKJACK
Tu-160M - BLACKJACK
Tu-160M2 - BLACKJACK-M

Heavy multimode strategic bomber with variable sweep wing. Created in the OKB MMZ "Experience" A.N. Tupolev, chief designer from 1975 to 2010, Valentin Ivanovich Bliznyuk. In general terms, the aircraft is similar to the project of the M-18 multi-mode bomber of the V.M. Myasishchev Design Bureau. The initial version of the Tu-160 had an ogival wing and was designed on the basis of the Tu-144 (1969-1972). Preliminary research and development work on the Tu-160 with a variable-geometry wing began in 1972. The design of the final version - product 70, the Tu-160M project, the "K" aircraft began in 1975 by order of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated June 26, 1974 and the resolution of the Council of Ministers USSR N 1040-348 from 19.12.1975. Draft design and creation of a full-size model of Tu-160 - 1976-1977.

The Tu-160 model was approved at the end of 1977. The production of the first three prototypes (machines 70-01 for flight tests, 70-02 for static tests, 70-03 for pre-production aircraft) began in 1977 at MMZ "Experience" (production of the fuselage - Kazan aircraft plant, wing and stabilizer - Novosibirsk aircraft plant named after V. Chkalov, cargo compartment doors - Voronezh aircraft plant, chassis - Gorky aircraft plant). At the same time, preparations began for serial production at the Kazan Aviation Plant No. 22 (it was originally planned to launch production at the Ulyanovsk Aviation Plant). In May 1980, prototype 70-01 was built and transported to the LII airfield in Zhukovsky. The final assembly of the aircraft was completed in January 1981 and ground tests of the aircraft began. Roll-out of the 70-01 aircraft to the airfield - August 18, 1981. System and equipment checks began on October 22, 1981 and November 14, 1981 under the control of the crew of B.I. Veremey, the aircraft made its first run. The first photo in the West was taken from a civilian plane taking off from Bykovo airport on November 25, 1981 - the plane was named RAM-P ("Ramenskoye", unidentified model of equipment No. 16).

Model of the M-18 multi-mode bomber of the Myasishchev Design Bureau, project, 1970-1972.

General form, Tu-160 projections from the draft design and the model created during the development of the draft design, 1975 (Gordon E., Tu-160. M., Polygon-press, 2003)

The first image of the Tu-160 known in the West is the same "satellite" image of the Tu-160 (taken from a civil aircraft taking off from Bykovo airport on November 25, 1981, DoD USA).

The first flight of the prototype (product 70-01) - December 18, 1981 (crew of B.I. Veremey, co-pilot S.T. Agapov, navigators - M.M. Kozel, A.V. Eremenko). The production of two experimental series (8 aircraft) has begun at the Kazan aircraft plant. Start of testing - 1983. The first flight of the pre-production Tu-160 (70-03) - October 6, 1984 (crew of S.T. Agapov). The first flight of the first serial Tu-160 (crew of V.V. Pavlov, aircraft 01-01 from the first experimental series) - 10.10.1984, the second (No. 01-02) - 16.03.1985, the third (No. 02- 01) - 25.12.1985, the fourth (No. 02-02) - 15.08.1986 Tu-160 (No. 70-01) first reached the speed of sound during tests in February 1985. One aircraft was lost during the tests ( # 01-02, spring 1987, the crew ejected). The first two Tu-160 experimental series entered the 184th Guards DA regiment in Priluki in Ukraine on April 17, 1987 before the completion of state tests. Large-scale production of Tu-160S (name in the series) at the plant named after S.P. Gorbunov in Kazan - May 1987 State tests of Tu-160 were carried out in 1989 (completed in the middle of the year, 4 launches of X- 55). There is no data on the official acceptance of the Tu-160 into service until 1991. The aircraft has 44 world records (see the FAI website). By default, the data of the serial Tu-160.

The second copy of the Tu-160 in flight, 1992 ().

Tu-160 "Alexander Novikov" board number 12, registration number RF-94109, probably Engels, 2013 (photo - Vadim, http://russianplanes.net/id107472).

Tu-160 "Valery Chkalov" (publication - 2012, photo - V. Savitsky, http://www.mil.ru).

The second prototype of the Tu-160 (70-03) at the MAKS-1995 air show, Zhukovsky, 08/27/1995 (photo by Paul Nann, http://www.paulnann.com)

The message on the website of the Ministry of Defense of Russia dated 02/07/2012 states that one Tu-160 is being converted into a modification of the Tu-160M at one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex (probably at the Kazan aircraft plant).
On April 29, 2015, the media reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu instructed to work out the issue of resuming production of Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers at the Kazan Aviation Plant named after I. Gorbunova (). On May 28, 2015, in a press statement, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev said the resumption of production of the Tu-160 would make sense when ordering at least 50 aircraft, but the media interpreted his statement as an announcement of plans to purchase 50 new Tu-160s () ...

Aircraft structure- integrated circuit of the airframe, differential all-rotating stabilizer and all-rotating upper part of the keel. The two payload compartments are located in tandem (one behind the other). The main materials of the airframe are titanium - alloy OT-4 (the central supporting beam of the fuselage 12.4 m long and 2.1 m wide, up to 20% of the airframe mass), heat-treated aluminum alloys V-95-T2, AK-4 and VT-6, steel alloys and composite materials (about 3% of the mass of the structure). The aircraft hydraulic systems use IP-50 base oil, a 4-channel system with a working pressure of 280 kg / cm 2. The aircraft is equipped with a toilet, a kitchen, a berth. The radio-absorbing coating is applied to the engine air intakes (graphite) and on the aircraft nose (special paint on an organic basis), the glazing is made with mesh filters, the engines are shielded. The aircraft is equipped with a "hose-cone" refueling system receiver. In serial production, the components of the airframe were produced - wings and motorcycle compartments - Voronezh aircraft plant, tail and air intakes - Irkutsk aircraft plant, chassis - Kuibyshevsky aggregate plant, fuselage. center section and nodes of rotation of wing consoles - Kazan aircraft plant.

Assembling a model-strength analogue of the Tu-160 on a scale of 1: 3 at the MMZ "Experience", 1976-1977. (Gordon E., Tu-160. M., Polygon-press, 2003)

The cockpit from the inside during the construction of the first copy of the Tu-160 - aircraft 70-01, 1977

(Gordon E., Tu-160. M., Polygon-press, 2003)

Assembly of the fuselage of the first instance of Tu-160 - aircraft 70-01 in the shop of MMZ "Opyt"

(Gordon E., Tu-160. M., Polygon-press, 2003)

Air intakes and main landing gear of the Tu-160 "Valery Chkalov" at the Engels airbase, early November 2012 (photo - RostovSpotter,).

Airplane control is carried out by an analog EDSU with 4-fold redundancy in the pitch, roll and yaw channels, as well as with the implementation of the principle of electronic stability. In the course of modernization according to the 2006 model, there is a possibility of installing a digital EDSU.

DDrivers:

- preliminary design of Tu-160 - 4 x TRDDF NK-25 OKB KMZ "Trud" chief designer ND Kuznetsov (Kuibyshev)

- Tu-160- 4 x three-shaft TRDDF NK-32 (product "R") OKB KMZ "Trud" chief designer ND Kuznetsov (Kuibyshev - later - Samara). The beginning of R&D of the engine - 1970, testing since 1977 on Tu-95, series - since 1986. Engine thrust 14000 kg, afterburner - 25000 kg. The engines are equipped with an adjustable air intake (on the B-1B it is not), the radar, the IR signature of the engines and the specific fuel consumption are reduced. The engine control system is electric with hydromechanical redundancy (in the process of modernization it can be replaced by a digital control system). Till 1986, prototype and serial Tu-160 engines were fitted with prototype engines tested at Trud KMZ.

Engine length - 6000 mm
Diameter (through the air intake) - 1460 mm
Turbine diameter - 1000 mm
Dry weight - 3400 kg

Engine compressor weight - 365 kg
Gas stagnation temperature in the turbine - 1375 degrees C

Specific fuel consumption of the engine (speed<1M) - 0.72-0.73 кг/кгс в час

Specific fuel consumption of the engine (speed> 1M) - 1.7 kg / kgf per hour

Engine service life - 250 hours (prototypes and first series) - increased to 750 hours by 1991
Total motor service life as of 2007 - 3000 hours with a motor overhaul life of 1000 hours

In the niche of the left strut of the main landing gear there is a TA-12 gas turbine auxiliary power unit that provides power to the aircraft.

- Tu-160 modernized (2006)- 4 x modernized turbofan engines NK-32 - NK-321, modernization of engines started in 2004 by Samara JSC "SNTK named after Kuznetsov". The first new engines are ready in April 2006. Engine life has been significantly increased and reliability has been improved. By mid-2006, the engines passed all types of tests, including state flight tests.

In December 1995, the T-144LL aircraft (No. 77114) was prepared on which, until April 1999, a joint Russian-American research program was carried out. Four NK-321 engines were installed on the plane. The first series of flights (19 flights) was completed in February 1998.The second series of flights with a speed of 2 M was carried out from September 1998 to April 1999.

Tu-160M2 - 4 x newly produced turbofan engines NK-32-02, it is reported that in 2017 the assembly of the first copies of the engines began ()

Power supply provided by the auxiliary power plant TA-12 and 4 x integral drive-generators of alternating current., as well as batteries (emergency power supply).

Aircraft performance characteristics:

Crew - 4 people. (two pilots, navigator and operator are accommodated in two cabins).

Length - 54.095 m
Wingspan:

Takeoff / landing - 55.7 m (according to the preliminary design)

Takeoff / landing - 57.7 m (in series)
- in cruising mode - 50.7 m
- at maximum speed - 35.6 m
Stabilizer span:

13.75 m (prototype "70-01" and the first experimental series)

13.25 m
Height - 13.1 (13.2) m
Wing area:

293.15 m2 (basic)

400 m2 (with minimum sweep)

370 m2 (at maximum sweep)

The area of the turning part of the wing - 189.83 sq. M

Flapperon area - 9 sq.m.

Flap area - 39.6 m2

Slat area - 22.16 m2

Spoiler area - 11.76 sq.m
Keel area - 42.025 m2

Keel turning area - 19.398 sq.m

Wing sweep - 20-35-65 deg. in different modes

The sweep of the stabilizer is 44 degrees. (along the leading edge)

Keel sweep - 47 degrees. (along the leading edge)
Chassis track - 5.4 m
The chassis base - 17.88 m
Dimensions of the main wheels - 1260 x 485 mm (2 bogies with 6 wheels)
Nose wheels dimensions - 1080 x 400 mm (1 trolley, 2 wheels)
Weapon compartment dimensions - 2 compartments 11.28 x 1.92 x 1.9 m
The length of the propulsion gondola (without wedge) - 13.78 m

Takeoff weight:

260,000 kg (according to the preliminary design in 1976)

275,000 kg (according to some sources - up to 280,000-285,000 kg)

Normal takeoff weight - 267,600 kg

Takeoff weight for class 1 airfield - 185,000 kg
Landing weight - 140,000-155,000 kg
Empty weight:

103,000 kg (according to the preliminary design in 1976)

110,000 kg
Thrust-to-weight ratio - 0.36 (V-1V - 0.25)
Fuel weight:

148,000 kg (according to the preliminary design in 1976)

140600 kg (148000 kg - according to other data)

171,000 kg (maximum according to Gordon)
Payload mass:

Norm (for the maximum range according to the project) - 9000 kg

Norm - 16330 kg
- maximum actual - 22400-22500 kg
- the maximum allowable - 40,000 kg (according to the project and actually according to some data)

Maximum allowable - 45000 kg (according to other data, V-1V - 34000 kg)

Maximum speed at altitude (according to the project) - 2300-2500 km / h (B-1B - 1328 km / h)

Maximum speed at low altitude (according to the project) - 1000 km / h (B-1B - 1160 km / h)

Maximum speed at an altitude of 13000 m in afterburner operation of the engines at a sweep angle of 65 degrees. - 2200 km / h (2 M)

Maximum operating speed - 2000 km / h (limitation for combat units in order to preserve the airframe resource)
Maximum cruising speed - 1.5 M

Maximum speed at low altitude - 1030 km / h

Record average speed on a closed route of 1000 km with a PN weight of 30.000 kg - 1720 km / h
Record average speed on a closed route of 2000 km with a takeoff weight of 275.000 kg - 1675 km / h
Takeoff speed - 270-370 km / h (with a mass of 150-275 tons)
Landing speed:

260-280 km / h (with a mass of 140-166 t)

260-300 km / h (with a mass of 140-155 t)

Air defense breakthrough at speed:

High height (Hi) - 1.9 M
- at low altitude (Lo) with automatic rounding of the terrain - up to 1 M
Climb rate - 60-70 m / s
Practical ceiling:

18000-20000 m (according to the project)

15000 m (18000 m according to other sources)
Record ceiling with a mass of 275,000 kg - 11250 m

Flight range (without refueling):

Hi-Hi-Hi mode, speed<1М, масса ПН 9000 кг (по проекту) - 14000-16000 км (В-1В - 12000 км)

Hi-Lo-Hi mode (including 2000 km at an altitude of 50-200 m) or at a speed> 1M (according to the project) - 12000-13000 km

Hi-Hi-Hi mode, PN weight 22400 kg with maximum takeoff weight - 12,300 km (V-1V - 10,400 km)

At maximum PN - 10,500 km
Radius of action with one refueling in Lo-Lo-Lo or Hi-Lo-Hi mode - 7300 km
Maximum range at a cruising speed of 1.5 M - 2000 km

Combat radius of the weapon system without refueling (taking into account the range of the KRBD type X-55) - 9150 km
Take-off run - 900-2200 m (weight 150-275 tons)
Mileage - 1200-1600 m (weight 140-155 tons)

The maximum flight time without refueling is 12 hours 50 minutes (1989, the crew of Valery Gorgol - commander of the 184th Guards TBAP, Priluki)
Standard flight time - 12-15 hours
Maximum flight duration - 21 hours (2009, 2 refuelings) and 23 hours (09-10.06.2010, 2 refuelings)
Maximum operational overload - 2.5 G (2G according to Gordon)

Labor costs for preparation for departure for one hour of flight - 64 people / hour

Aircraft preparation time for departure - 3 days (1987, later reduced)

Brake parachute area (3 pieces) - 105 sq.m

Armament(in 2 bomb compartments with revolving ejection launchers):

The initial project of the Tu-160 (1975):

1) 2 x X-45, later X-45M

3) 10-12 x X-55

5) conventional bombs, nuclear bombs, UAB with laser and TV seeker, sea mines.

At the request of the Air Force, it was planned to install a defensive artillery installation with a GSh-6-30 cannon.

Basic version of Tu-160 (1981, draft):

1) 12 x AS-15 (Kh-55 / Kh-55M) on two revolving MKU-6-5U
2) 24 x AS-16 (X-15) on four revolving MKU (weapon option not brought to implementation)
3) 4 x nuclear bombs with a capacity of 5, 20 (?), 50 (?) Mt
4) 16 x FAB-1000
5) 22 x FAB-750
6) KAB-1500

Really produced Tu-160 (1987-2009):

1) 12 x AS-15 (Kh-55 / Kh-55SM) on two MKU-6-5U - the basic version of the weapon, state testing of the system - 1989 (the main version is the Kh-55SM, adopted by the Air Force in 1986) ... By 2005, some of the aircraft were converted to use the Kh-555 missiles (for example, the Tu-160 "Pavel Taran", probably also the "Alexander Golovanov" and "Alexander Molodchiy").

In the process of modernization according to the 2006 model, the KRBD Kh-555, Kh-101 and Kh-102, aeroballistic missiles of the AS-16 (Kh-15) type, conventional free-fall bombs and UAB will be included in the armament range.

The aircraft's weapon systems and weapons use schemes were developed jointly with GosNIIAS. From the Tupolev Design Bureau, the creation of a complex of weapons was supervised by L.N.Bazenkov. The main means of destruction (KRBD) were developed by MKB "Raduga" A.Ya.Bereznyak (chief designer I.S.Seleznev).

Equipment:
The main developer of the avionics is NII "Electroavtomatika" (Leningrad, chief designer - ES Lipin).

The Tu-160 sighting and navigation system includes an astro-inertial two-channel navigation system K-042K, an AV-1SM astrovizir developed and manufactured by the Arsenal Central Design Bureau (Kiev), automatic system enveloping the terrain, the GLONASS satellite navigation system (accuracy up to 10-20 m, the modified system manufactured by MKB "Compass" will be installed on all aircraft in the course of modernization starting from 2007) and a multichannel digital communication complex. In total, more than 100 on-board computers are involved in the aircraft systems, incl. the navigator has 8 on-board computers and a PA-3 course plotter (with a movable map, probably digital?). The cockpit is equipped with a standard set of equipment with traditional scoreboards and dials of the Tu-22M3 type. Instead of a steering wheel, a control stick (joystick) similar to a fighter one is used.

The cockpit of the Tu-160 "Valery Chkalov" at the Engels airbase, early November 2012 (photo - RostovSpotter,).

Workplace operator Tu-160, photo 2012 or earlier (Dmitry Avdeev, http://airliners.net).

Workplace of Tu-160 navigator, photo of 2012 or earlier (Dmitry Avdeev, http://airliners.net).

Astrovizir AV-1SM - measures the angular coordinates of stars up to the 4th magnitude against the background of the daytime sky with an error of less than 0.01 degrees.

Astrovizir AV-1SM (Buzanov V.I. KP "Central Design Bureau" Arsenal "- improvement and creation of new optoelectronic aviation equipment. // Aviation and time. Special issue, 2003).

The Obzor-K sighting and navigation system includes the Poisk bombing and navigation radar (detection range of large targets of radio-contrast targets from high altitudes - 600 km or more) and the OPB-15T Groza optoelectronic bomber sight (daytime bombing , or bombing in low light conditions, T - probably "TV"). In the course of modernization, the aircraft can receive a laser designator for the use of corrected aerial bombs with laser seeker with high heights... Missile weapon control system "Sprut-SM" (introduction of target designation into the missile seeker before launch, ensuring the use of CRBM).

The aircraft's radar signature was reduced by additional measures to apply on the nose of a special paint on an organic basis, a graphite radio-absorbing black film on the air intakes and air channels, shielding some engine components, and introducing anti-radar mesh filters into the cockpit glazing. Some of these activities were carried out in combat units.

The Baikal airborne defense complex (BKO) detects and classifies any enemy radar, thermal targets (the Ogonyok heat direction finder is located at the extreme rear point of the fuselage) and provides the use of active electronic warfare equipment, passive submarines and infrared traps (electronic warfare equipment is located in the tail cone ). Modifications to the BKO were completed in April 1990.

Air refueling system with refueling bar GPT-2. Ejection seats K-36DM developed by NPO Zvezda (chief designer GI Severin) with backrests equipped with pulsating air pillows (in the process of serial production). The ejection system is individual and compulsory for the entire crew (launch from any workplace). Ejection is possible in the "0-0" mode (zero speed, zero altitude) - after modifications in the process of development (initially - the minimum ejection speed is 75 km / h). When performing flights on a high-altitude profile, the crew uses high-altitude overalls-spacesuits "Baklan" (there are only prototypes - according to Butovsky, 1995). In standard modes - protective helmet ZSH-7B or ZSH-7AS.

High-rise overalls-spacesuit "Baklan" (Gordon E., Tu-160. M., Polygon-press, 2003)

The modernized complex of onboard equipment is created by joint efforts of JSC Tupolev, FSUE GosNII AS, FSUE OKB Electroavtomatika named after Efimov and GLITs named after Chkalov. On March 26, 2013, the media reported on the completion of ground tests of the equipment complex. As a result of tests on a complex semi-natural stand, specialists received a conclusion on the suitability for flight tests. They are supposed to be held in 2013. Work on updating the onboard equipment is being carried out as part of the first stage of modernization of the Tu-160.

Modifications:

Tu-160M avanproekt(1972) - development of options for the layout of an aircraft with variable wing geometry.

Tu-160M(1975) - the second project of the Tu-160 with an abnormal wing geometry (the name is at the stage of preliminary study of the project).

Tu-160 (product 70) BLACKJACK / RAM-P(first flight - 1981) - bomber from the IG wing of the experimental series.

The first copy of the Tu-160 - 70-01 aircraft based on the LII in Zhukovsky during the start of testing

(Gordon E., Tu-160. M., Polygon-press, 2003)

Tu-160 - carrier of the UAV "Raven"(project, mid-1970s) - on initial stage work on the Tu-160 project provided for the use of the aircraft as a carrier of a strategic supersonic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft"Raven" (Tupolev Design Bureau) with a launch weight of 6300 kg. The design was discontinued in the mid-1970s due to the closure of the UAV program.

Tu-160P(project, mid-1970s) - heavy escort fighter armed with long and medium-range air-to-air missiles. The project has not been implemented.

Tu-160S BLACKJACK(1987) - serial version of the bomber.

Tu-160PP(project, mid-1980s) - jammer aircraft, the design was assumed in accordance with the requirements of the Air Force even at the stage of creating the Tu-160 project. Full-scale design started in the mid-1980s and a full-size mock-up was built. The project has not been implemented.

Tu-160 modernization(project, 1980s) - in the process of studying the modernization of the Tu-160, it was planned to switch to more economical NK-74 engines, replace equipment and retrofit more modern weapons. Probably, this modernization was planned to be carried out before 1996 (our assumption).

Tu-160V(draft, 1980s) - a variant of the Tu-160 with liquid hydrogen engines with a modified fuselage design. The project has not been implemented.

Tu-160K "Krechet"(draft, 1983-1984) - a project of equipping the Tu-160 with two air-launched ballistic missiles "Krechet" (Design Bureau "Yuzhnoye") weighing 24.4 tons each.

Combat radius of the complex - 10,000 km

Tu-160M(project, 1990s) - Tu-160 project with modified PN compartments - carrier of 2 hypersonic X-90 missile launchers. The existence of the project has not been confirmed.

Tu-160SK(project, 1992) - carrier aircraft of the Burlak and Burlak-Diana launch vehicles for launching an artificial satellite into orbit.

Tu-161(project, 1990s) - a project for the modernization and development of the Tu-160 as a multi-mode KRBD carrier aircraft.

Tu-160M B # 11 RF-94114 "Vasily Senko". KAPO, Kazan, 06.12.2015 ().

Tu-160M2 - BLACKJACK-M- a project to resume production of Tu-160. Discussion of the resumption of production of the Tu-160 began in the spring of 2015. In July 2015, it was reported that the Tupolev Design Bureau, together with KAPO im. Gorbunov began working on the resumption of production of the Tu-160. Plans have been announced for the production of 50 new Tu-160s (). On October 17, 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the issue of reproduction of Tu-160. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Industry and Trade, UAC, UEC, Tupolev PJSC, RAS and KAPO named after Gorbunov. The reports on the creation of electronic documentation, optimization of production technology and implementation of the "road map" for the reproduction of aircraft and the launch of experimental design work on the Tu-160M2 () were heard. On March 2, 2016, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Viktor Bondarev told the media that the first flight of the new Tu-160 is expected in 2019, and the serial production of the Tu-160M2 will begin in 2023 ().

On October 13, 2016, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Yuri Borisov told the media that it is planned to produce 50 Tu-160M2 in total (the figure may be adjusted later), as well as the fact that the production of a number of elements of the new aircraft has already begun (). On February 27, 2017, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov announced that the first Tu-160M2 will take off in 2018, and in 2020 serial production of aircraft will begin. In December 2016, the completion of the creation of a digital set of documentation for the aircraft was expected - its creation has been completed (). On March 6, 2017, the general director of Tupolev PJSC Alexander Konyukhov told the media that deliveries of the Tu-160M2 to the troops would begin in 2021 ().

On June 2, 2017, the media announced that the industry has begun the production of units for a new aircraft (). Presumably, at the first stage, we are talking about the assembly of the reserve at the Kazan aircraft plant. On June 19, 2017, it was announced that in the future, the Air Force will receive 3-4 Tu-160M2s per year, and a total of 50 Tu-160M2s are planned to be delivered. The first flight of the first Tu-160M2 is expected in March 2018 ().

Price aircraft was:
Until 1990 - 48 million rubles
1991 - more than 70 million rubles
1992 - more than 300 million rubles

Tu-160 ("White Swan") is practically the only aircraft of the USSR Air Force, which was known even before its construction. Back in the early seventies, Secretary General Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev announced the creation of a new strategic bomber.

It was a kind of confrontation with the American B-1B strategist.

History of creation

After several years of development, in 1981, the car was first presented at the airfield in Zhukovsky, surrounded by two Tu-144s. Foreign media headlines immediately began to say that the plane was exposed for propaganda purposes for filming from American satellites.

In fact, the filming was carried out by one of the passengers at the Bykovo airport. After that, the codename of the Ram-P bomber appeared, and according to the NATO code - Blackjack. It was with these names that the world learned about the heaviest strategic supersonic bomber of all time - the Tu-160.

The history of the creation of the Tu-160 goes back to the middle of the 20th century.

MAP Order No.285 of September 15, 1969 announced a competition for the creation of a supersonic multi-mode strategic bomber-carrier of atomic weapons.

The theme of the competition received serial number 18. Several design offices: OKB Tupolev, Myasishchev, Yakovlev and Sukhoi. The Tupolevites had experience in developing strategic bombers Tu-22 and Tu-95 as well. But the competition was won by the Myasishchev Design Bureau with the M-18 bomber.

But due to the small number of design bureaus, the lack of the necessary resources for further work on the project, all materials on this topic were transferred to the design bureau of the MMZ "Experience" of Tupolev. These developments formed the basis of the Tu-160 prototype.

The flight of the first prototype took place at the end of 1981. The bomber went into series already in 1984, in the same year the first production car took off. In 1985, two more aircraft left the workshops.

When designing the new aircraft, the following requirements were taken into account:

The maximum flight range of the Tu-160 was supposed to be 13,000 km at V = 2500 km / h and a flight altitude of 18 km;
Approaching the target at subsonic speed, as well as overcoming air defense at cruising and supersonic speeds .;
The combat load is approaching a weight of 45,000 kg.

The release of the aircraft continued until the collapse of the USSR and was practically stopped after the promise of E.B. Yeltsin to the Americans in the 90s of the last century: do not build up armaments. During his reign, the factories were practically stopped, and there was no talk about serial production.

The Tu-160 bombers, which were on combat duty after the separation of Ukraine, partly remained on its territory, they were partially cut into metal, 6 cars were nevertheless transferred to the Engels airbase in the Saratov region.

Already at this time, all Tu-160s, in addition to the numbers, received their own names. In the late 90s, early 2000s, the production of the Tu-160 was resumed, in 2000 two vehicles entered service. It should be noted that some of the machines were aimed at overhaul and modernization.

In the same 2000, exercises were conducted with the participation of the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS. Here for the first time the famous Kh-555 cruise missile was used, which was suspended only on these types of aircraft. In 2003, two Tu-160s took part in the largest exercises, as well as four Tu-95MS aircraft.

During the exercise, refueling from the Il-78 was used.

In the fall of the same year, emergency- one of the Tu-160 aircraft crashed. The crew took the car away from the dangerous place and died with it.

Strategic aviation has maintained its combat effectiveness by all means for quite a long time - 15 years, starting in 1992. It was a time of low funding and lack of money for modernization. Flights took place only on special occasions or during exercises.

In August 2007, Russian President V. Putin made a statement on the resumption of flights and duty of Long-Range Aviation. That is why strategic bombers began to constantly fly to the farthest corners of the world. The aircraft used alternate airfields for refueling and flew over all the oceans, while demonstrating the power of the NATO bloc.

In 2008, the Kazan plant handed over to the Air Force a new aircraft "Vitaly Kopylov". In November 2017, the next strategist left the workshops, the modernized Tu-160M3, he is being tested and does not yet have a personal name. In 2010, 2 Tu-160 aircraft updated the world record for flight range, which was 18,000 km. During the flight, two refueling in the air was made from the Il-78.

Specifications

The aircraft's popularity in Russia and around the world is primarily due to its technical characteristics. Below are all the basic data that will allow us to assess the scale and size of the Tu-160, nicknamed the "White Swan".

Wingspan - 55.7 meters;
Fuselage length - 54.1 meters;
Aircraft height - 13.1 meters;
Wing area - 232 square meters;
Empty aircraft weight - 110 tons;
Maximum fuel weight - 171.1 tons;
Gross take-off weight - 275 tons;
Maximum flight speed - 2200 km / h;
Landing speed minimum - 300 km / h;
The maximum flight ceiling is 15,000 m;
Range of action - 6000 kilometers;
The required length for take-off is 2000 m;
The maximum mass of weapons is 40 tons.

Tu-160 is currently a combat-ready element of the containment forces. The aircraft performance characteristics are at a level inaccessible to Western manufacturers.

Design features

The design of the Tu-160 is fully consistent with its purpose. This is a monoplane with a variable sweep wing, classic tail and 4 engines in nacelles under the center section.

The description can begin with one of the features of the machine, in which the fuselage is fused into one piece with the center section and tail. With an integral layout, it becomes possible, without increasing the geometric dimensions of the machine, to significantly free up the volume inside it, thereby creating additional space for fuel, weapons and equipment.

The materials from which the Tu-160 aircraft is made are different for different units of the machine. The basis is the aluminum alloy AK4-1chT1, titanium alloy OT-4, as well as high-strength alloys, which also have high toughness. Alloy steel and titanium are used for highly loaded machine assemblies and elements.

The free internal cavities of the aircraft are made of honeycombs, this provides these structures with the necessary rigidity, with a minimum weight. When assembling units and structures, welding, bolted connections and rivets are used. Maintenance the bomber is carried through hatches and removable panels.

Fuselage

The fuselage of the aircraft has a load-bearing skin and is one whole; structurally, it is divided by bulkheads into several compartments. In the central part there is a bomb bay with an MKU-6-5U drum installation serving for placing weapons. In the bow there is a control compartment, an onboard radar and navigation and electronic equipment.

The control compartment is completely sealed and forms a separate production unit under the F-2 index. The cockpit is designed for four crew members. In addition, there is a toilet and a rest room for the crew, in the conditions of a long flight.

The entrance to the compartment is from the bottom, along the stairs.

Behind the control compartment there is a chassis niche with all mechanisms, further to the tail are fuel tanks. The aft fairing houses the elements of radio equipment and a compartment with a braking parachute.

Wing

The aircraft has a variable sweep wing, rather a complex system allows you to optimize the speed and range of flight with significant fuel savings. This is what created the unique performance characteristics of the Tu-160, making it the "star" of the world military aviation.

Chassis

Steering on the steering wheel by the front swivel wheels, the main struts are non-swiveling. The supports are retracted during flight. The hydraulic system retracts and extends the landing gear.

The arrangement of the unit provides for the use of the Tu-160 aircraft on asphalt-concrete runways with a length of 2.5 km.

Power point

This system consists of NK-32 engines, a fuel system, an oil system, an auxiliary power unit TA-12, an engine control system, a power plant operation control system, an alarm and fire extinguishing system.

Engine

The NK-32 engine has a reduced fuel consumption. To make the production of the new unit cheaper, the old NK-25 became the prototype. At the same time, the cost of the aircraft itself was by no means cheap - 7.5 billion rubles. It is known that this is why only 32 aircraft were created, currently 16 aircraft are on alert.

Fuel system

The capacity of the tanks is 171 tons. This fuel is sufficient to fly at maximum range, while driving at cruising speed and optimal ceiling.

Each engine is powered from its own group of tanks, although in the case emergency it is quite possible to transfer from one tank to another or to discharge fuel from a group of tanks, if the others are disconnected from the system.

The air refueling system has a hose-cone pattern. The Il-78 and Il-78M are refuelers.

Armament

The aircraft's armament is also impressive. First, the combat load is 40 tons and can consist of free-fall and guided large-caliber bombs and air-to-surface missiles, including cruise missiles, as well as those carrying nuclear warheads. strategic purpose.

All weapons are located in the bomb compartment of the aircraft, in the MKU-6-5A drum mount

Equipment

The aircraft contains the latest navigation equipment, which consists of a large number of computers.

The Obzor-K aiming system detects and identifies objects at a great distance. The Baikal defense complex detects enemy air defenses, their position, jamming them with interference or puts a false curtain behind the aircraft.

The tail contains containers with reflectors and infrared traps. There is also the "Ogonyok" heat direction finder, which detects enemy missiles and aircraft.

Number of aircraft in the country

To date, the Russian Aerospace Forces is armed with 16 Tu-160 strategic bombers. The government made a decision to completely modernize the aircraft, now called Tu-160M2.

The first flight of the upgraded vehicle is scheduled for February 2018. After that, it is planned to improve each of the Tu-160 machines in service. This contributes to the renewal of Long-Range Aviation and the improvement of the country's defense capability.

Application

Tu-160 aircraft made their first sorties in Syria in the last military conflict. Since 2015, the bomber has made regular successful combat missions, destroying Islamic State targets. At the same time, the strikes were delivered by Kh-555 missiles.

In conclusion, we note that, despite the difficult economic situation, it is thanks to the Tu-160 aircraft that Russia is considered the greatest aviation power.

The entire grouping of long-range strategic aviation is capable of turning the tide of hostilities at any moment.

The ground forces may not represent great combat power, but long-range aviation led by the "White Swans" will adequately repulse any aggressor. At the moment, any military confrontation against Russia is meaningless.

Video



	Supersonic Strategic Missile Bomber
Developer:	Tupolev Design Bureau
Manufacturer:	MMZ "Experience", KAPO
Chief Designer:	Valentin Ivanovich Bliznyuk
The first flight:
Start of operation:
	Operated by
Main operators:	Russian Air Force, USSR Air Force (former), Ukrainian Air Force (former)
Production years:
Units produced:	35 (27 serial and 8 prototypes)
Unit cost:	6.0-7.5 billion rubles or $ 250 million (1993)

Choosing a concept

Testing and production

Exploitation

Modernization plans

The current situation

Modification projects

Design

General features constructions

Power point

Hydraulic system

Fuel system

Power supply

Armament

Instances

Specifications

Flight characteristics

In service

Literature

In art

(factory designation: product 70, according to NATO codification: Blackjack- Russian black Jack) is a supersonic strategic bomber-missile carrier with a variable sweep wing, developed at the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1980s.

It has been in service since 1987. At the beginning of 2013, the Russian Air Force included 16 Tu-160 aircraft.

It is the largest supersonic and variable wing aircraft in the history of military aviation, as well as the heaviest combat aircraft in the world with the largest maximum takeoff weight among bombers. Among the pilots he received the nickname "White Swan".

Story

Choosing a concept

In the 1960s, the Soviet Union developed strategic missile weapons, while the United States relied on strategic aviation. The policy pursued by N. S. Khrushchev, led to the fact that by the beginning of the 1970s the USSR had a powerful system of nuclear missile deterrence, but strategic aviation had at its disposal only subsonic bombers Tu-95 and M-4, already unable to overcome the air defense (air defense) of countries NATO.

It is believed that the impetus for the development of a new Soviet bomber was the decision of the United States to develop, within the framework of the AMSA (Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft) project, the newest strategic bomber - the future B-1. In 1967, the USSR Council of Ministers decided to start work on a new multi-mode strategic intercontinental aircraft.

The following basic requirements were imposed on the future aircraft:

flight range at a speed of 2200-2500 km / h at an altitude of 18000 meters - within 11-13 thousand km;
subsonic flight range at altitude and near the ground - 16-18 and 11-13 thousand kilometers, respectively;
the aircraft was supposed to approach the target at a subsonic cruising speed, and to overcome the enemy's air defense - in a supersonic high-altitude mode or at a cruising speed near the ground;
the total mass of the combat load is up to 45 tons.

Projects

The Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau began work on the new bomber. Due to the heavy workload, the Tupolev Design Bureau was not involved.

By the early 1970s, both design bureaus had prepared their projects - a four-engine aircraft with variable wing geometry. At the same time, despite some similarities, they used different schemes.

The Sukhoi Design Bureau worked on the T-4MS ("product 200") project, which maintained a certain continuity with the previous development, the T-4 ("product 100"). A lot of layout options were worked out, but in the end, the designers settled on an integrated circuit of the "flying wing" type with rotary consoles of a relatively small area.

The Myasishchev Design Bureau also, after conducting numerous studies, came up with a variant with a variable wing geometry. The M-18 project used a traditional aerodynamic design. The M-20 project, built according to the "canard" aerodynamic scheme, was also being worked out.

After the Air Force presented new tactical and technical requirements for a promising multi-mode strategic aircraft in 1969, the Tupolev Design Bureau also began development. Here there was a wealth of experience in solving problems of supersonic flight, obtained in the development and production of the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft Tu-144, including the experience in designing structures with a long service life in supersonic flight, the development of thermal protection of the airframe, etc.

The Tupolevites initially rejected the variable geometry option, since the weight of the mechanisms for turning the wing consoles completely eliminated all the advantages of such a scheme, and took the Tu-144 civilian supersonic aircraft as a basis.

In 1972, the commission reviewed the projects submitted for the competition by the Sukhoi Design Bureau ("product 200") and the Myasishchev Design Bureau (M-18). An out-of-competition project of the Tupolev Design Bureau was also considered. The members of the competition committee most of all liked the project of the Myasishchev Design Bureau, which to a greater extent met the stated requirements of the Air Force. The aircraft, by its versatility, could be used to solve various kinds of tasks, had a wide range of speeds and a long flight range. However, taking into account the experience of the Tupolev Design Bureau in creating such complex supersonic aircraft as the Tu-22M and Tu-144, the Tupolevites were entrusted with the development of a strategic carrier aircraft. It was decided to transfer all materials for further work to the Tupolev Design Bureau.

Although the project of the Myasishchev Design Bureau largely repeated the American B-1 aircraft, V. I. Bliznyuk and other developers did not have full confidence in it, so the design of the aircraft began "from scratch", without the direct use of the materials of the Myasishchev Design Bureau.

Testing and production

The first flight of the prototype (designated "70-01") took place on December 18, 1981 at the Ramenskoye airfield. The flight was performed by a crew led by test pilot Boris Veremey. The second copy of the aircraft (product "70-02") was used for static tests and did not fly. Later, a second flight aircraft, designated "70-03", joined the tests. Aircraft "70-01", "70-02" and "70-03" were produced at MMZ "Experience".

In 1984, the Tu-160 was put into serial production at the Kazan Aviation Plant. The first production vehicle (No. 1-01) took off on October 10, 1984, the second production vehicle (No. 1-02) on March 16, 1985, the third (No. 2-01) on December 25, 1985, the fourth (No. 2-02 ) - August 15, 1986.

In January 1992, Boris Yeltsin made a decision on the possible suspension of the ongoing serial production of the Tu-160 in the event that the United States stops serial production of the B-2 aircraft. By this time, 35 aircraft had been produced. By 1994, KAPO transferred six Tu-160 bombers to the Russian Air Force. They were stationed at the Engels airfield in the Saratov region.

In May 2000, the new Tu-160 (w / n "07" "Alexander Molodchiy") entered the combat composition of the Air Force.

The Tu-160 complex was put into service in 2005. On April 12, 2006, the completion of state tests of the modernized NK-32 engines for the Tu-160 was announced. The new engines are distinguished by a significantly increased resource and increased reliability.

On April 22, 2008, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin, told reporters that another Tu-160 strategic bomber would enter service with the Russian Air Force in April 2008.

On April 29, 2008, a ceremony was held in Kazan for the transfer of a new aircraft to the Armed Forces of the Air Force Russian Federation... The new aircraft was named "Vitaly Kopylov" (in honor of former director KAPO Vitaly Kopylov) and included in the 121st Guards Aviation Sevastopol Red Banner Heavy Bomber Regiment, based in Engels. It was planned that in 2008 three combatant Tu-160s will be modernized.

Exploitation

The first two Tu-160 aircraft (No. 1-01 and No. 1-02) entered the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment in Priluki (Ukrainian SSR) in April 1987. At the same time, the aircraft were transferred to the combat unit until the completion of state tests, which was due to the outstripping pace of the introduction of American B-1 bombers into service.

By 1991, 19 aircraft entered Priluki, from which two squadrons were formed. After the breakup Soviet Union they all remained on the territory of Ukraine.

In 1992, Russia unilaterally terminated flights of its strategic aviation to remote regions.

In 1998, Ukraine began dismantling its strategic bombers with US funds allocated under the Nunn-Lugar program.

In 1999-2000. An agreement was reached, according to which Ukraine transferred to Russia eight Tu-160 and three Tu-95 in exchange for writing off part of the debt on gas purchases. The remaining Tu-160s in Ukraine were disposed of, except for one machine, which was rendered incapable of combat and is located in the Poltava Museum of Long-Range Aviation.

By the beginning of 2001, in accordance with the SALT-2 Treaty, Russia had 15 Tu-160 aircraft in combat formation, of which 6 missile carriers were officially armed with strategic cruise missiles.

In 2002, the Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with KAPO for the modernization of all 15 Tu-160 aircraft.

On September 18, 2003, during a test flight after repairing the engine, a disaster occurred, the aircraft with tail number "01" crashed in the Sovetsky district of the Saratov region during landing. Tu-160 fell to a deserted place 40 km from the home airfield. There were four crew members on board: commander Yuri Deyneko, co-pilot Oleg Fedusenko, as well as Grigory Kolchin and Sergei Sukhorukov. They all died.

On April 22, 2006, the commander-in-chief of long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force, Lieutenant General Khvorov, said that during the exercise, a group of modernized Tu-160 aircraft entered US airspace and remained unnoticed. However, there is no objective evidence this information does not have.

On July 5, 2006, the Russian Air Force adopted the modernized Tu-160, which became the 15th aircraft of this type (w / n "19" "Valentin Bliznyuk"). The Tu-160, which was transferred to the combat strength, was built in 1986, belonged to the Tupolev Design Bureau and was used for testing.

As of the beginning of 2007, according to the Memorandum of Understanding, there were 14 Tu-160 strategic bombers in the combat composition of the Strategic Nuclear Forces (one bomber was not declared in the START data (w / n “19” “Valentin Bliznyuk”)).

On August 17, 2007, Russia resumed flights of strategic aviation in remote regions on an ongoing basis.

In July 2008, there were reports of the possible deployment of Il-78 fuel tankers at the airfields of Cuba, Venezuela and Algeria, as well as the possible use of airfields as backup for the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS.

On September 10, 2008, two Tu-160 bombers (Alexander Molodchiy with w / n 07 and Vasily Senko with w / n 11) flew from their base in Engels to Libertador airfield in Venezuela, using the Olenegorsk airfield in Murmansk region. On a part of the route through the territory of Russia, missile bombers were accompanied (for cover purposes) by Su-27 fighters of the St. Petersburg Air Force and Air Defense Association, during a flight over the Norwegian Sea Russian bombers intercepted two F-16 fighters of the Norwegian Air Force, near Iceland - two F-15 fighters of the United States Air Force. The flight from the stopover in Olenegorsk to Venezuela took 13 hours. There are no nuclear weapons on board the aircraft, but there are training missiles, with the help of which combat use is being practiced. This is the first case in the history of the Russian Federation that long-range aviation aircraft used an airfield located on the territory of a foreign state. In Venezuela, the aircraft made training flights over neutral waters in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. On September 18, 2008 at 10:00 Moscow time (UTC + 4), both aircraft took off from the Maiketia airfield in Caracas, and over the Norwegian Sea for the first time in last years performed a night refueling in the air from an Il-78 tanker. At 01:16 (Moscow time) on September 19, they landed at the base airfield in Engels, setting a record for the duration of a flight on the Tu-160.

June 10, 2010 - Two Tu-160 strategic bombers set a maximum flight record for the maximum range, Vladimir Drik, an official representative of the press service and information department of the Russian Defense Ministry, told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.

The duration of the flight of the missile carriers exceeded last year's figure by two hours, amounting to 24 hours 24 minutes, while the flight range was 18 thousand kilometers. The maximum volume of fuel during refueling was 50 tons, while earlier it was 43 tons.

Modernization plans

According to the commander of long-range aviation of Russia, Igor Khvorov, the modernized aircraft will be able, in addition to cruise missiles, to hit targets with aerial bombs, will be able to use communications via space satellites and will have improved characteristics of aimed fire. Tu-160M is planned to be equipped new system weapons, allowing the use of advanced cruise missiles and bombs. Electronic and aviation equipment will also undergo a complete modernization.

The current situation

In February 2004 it was reported that construction was planned three new planes, the planes are on the stocks of the plant, the delivery time to the Air Force has not been determined.

Modification projects

Tu-160V (Tu-161)- a project of an aircraft with a power plant operating on liquid hydrogen. It also differed from the base model in the size of the fuselage, designed to accommodate tanks with liquid hydrogen. See also Tu-155.
Tu-160 NK-74- with more efficient engines NK-74 (increased flight range).
- project heavy fighter escort armed with long and medium-range air-to-air missiles.
- the aircraft of electronic warfare, was brought to the stage of manufacturing a full-scale model, and the composition of the equipment was fully determined.
- draft design of the Krechet combat aircraft-missile complex. Development began in 1983, and Yuzhnoye was released in December 1984. It was supposed to place 2 two-stage ballistic missiles (1st stage - solid-propellant, 2nd - liquid-propellant), weighing 24.4 tons on a carrier aircraft. The total range of the complex was assumed to be more than 10,000 km. Warhead: 6 MIRVE IN or monoblock warhead with a complex of means to overcome missile defense. KVO - 600 m. Development was discontinued in the mid-80s.
- carrier aircraft of the Burlak three-stage aerospace liquid system weighing 20 tons. It was assumed that the mass of the payload launched into orbit could reach from 600 to 1100 kg, and the cost of delivery would be 2-2.5 times lower than for rockets of similar carrying capacity with a ground launch. The rocket was to be launched at altitudes from 9 to 14 km at a carrier flight speed of 850-1600 km / h. In terms of its characteristics, the Burlak complex was supposed to surpass the American subsonic launch complex, created on the basis of the Boeing B-52 carrier aircraft and the Pegasus carrier rocket. The main purpose is to replenish the constellation of satellites in conditions of mass destruction of cosmodromes. The development of the complex began in 1991; commissioning was planned in 1998-2000. The complex was supposed to include a command and measurement point based on the Il-76SK and a ground handling complex. The flight range of the carrier aircraft to the ILV launch zone is 5000 km. On January 19, 2000, in Samara, the State Scientific Research and Production Space Center TsSKB-Progress and the Air Launch Aerospace Corporation signed an agreement on cooperation in the creation of the Air Launch Aerospace Rocket Complex (ARKKN).
- Tu-160 modernization project, providing for the installation of new electronic equipment and weapons. It is capable of carrying conventional weapons, for example, 90 OFAB-500U, weighing about 500 kg and a continuous radius of destruction of 70-100 m.

Design

General design features

When creating the aircraft, proven solutions were widely used for the machines already created in the design bureau: Tu-144, Tu-22M and Tu-142MS, and some of the systems and some components and assemblies were transferred to the Tu-160 without changes. Aluminum alloys AK-4 and V-95, stainless steel, titanium alloys OT-4 and VT-6, composites are widely used in the design.

The Tu-160 aircraft is made according to the integrated low-wing design with a variable sweep wing, a tricycle landing gear, an all-turning stabilizer and a keel. High-lift devices include slats, double-slotted flaps; spoilers and flaperons are used for roll control. Four NK-32 engines are installed in pairs in nacelles in the lower fuselage. The APU TA-12 is used as an autonomous power unit.