Tupolev Tu-160

The Tupolev Tu-160 (Russian: Туполев Ту-160 Белый лебедь, romanized: Belyj Lebeď, lit. 'White Swan';[1] NATO reporting name: Blackjack) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber and airborne missile platform designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. It is the largest and heaviest Mach 2+ supersonic military aircraft ever built and second to the experimental XB-70 Valkyrie in overall length and top speed. As of 2023, it is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft, the fastest bomber in use and the largest and heaviest variable-sweep wing airplane ever flown.[2]

Tu-160 Belyy Lebed
Tupolev Tu-160 in flight over Russia, August 2005
Role Supersonic strategic heavy bomber
National origin Soviet Union / Russia
Design group Tupolev
Built by Kazan Aircraft Production Association
First flight 18 December 1981
Introduction April 1987
Status In service
Primary users Russian Aerospace Forces
Soviet Air Forces (historical)
Ukrainian Air Force (historical)
Produced 1984–1992, 2002, 2008, 2017, 2021–present
Number built 37 (9 test and 28 serial)

Entering service in 1987, the Tu-160 was the last strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the newly independent Ukraine inherited a fleet of 19 Tu-160s, over half of all aircraft in existence at that time. Following protracted negotiations, 11 Ukrainian Tu-160s were purchased by the Russian Federation while the remainder were scrapped in the late 1990s under the Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction agreement. Following these actions, the sole operator of the type is the Russian Aerospace Forces' Long Range Aviation branch, which had 16 Tu-160s in service by 2016.[3] The type had its combat debut in November 2015 during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, conducting numerous airstrikes using Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles. Various overseas deployments have been conducted, including to distant nations such as Venezuela and South Africa.

Since the early 2000s, the active fleet has been subject to several upgrades, largely focusing on various electronics systems. The Tu-160M modernization program of existing models begun with the first updated aircraft delivered in December 2014. Plans announced in 2015 called for the delivery of 50 new-build Tu-160Ms as well as the upgrading of 16 existing aircraft.[4] In January 2022, the first serial-built TU-160M made a test flight,[5] with two planned for delivery in 2022[6] from 10 on order.[7][4]

Development

Origins

The first competition for a supersonic strategic heavy bomber was launched in the Soviet Union in 1967. In 1972, the Soviet Union launched a new multi-mission bomber competition to create a new supersonic, variable-geometry ("swing-wing") heavy bomber with a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, in response to the US Air Force B-1 bomber project. The Tupolev design, named Aircraft 160M, with a lengthened blended wing layout and incorporating some elements of the Tu-144, competed against the Myasishchev M-18 and the Sukhoi T-4 designs.[8] Work on the new Soviet bomber continued despite an end to the B-1A and in the same year, the design was accepted by the government committee. The prototype was photographed by an airline passenger at a Zhukovsky Airfield in November 1981, about a month before the aircraft's first flight on 18 December 1981. Production was authorized in 1984, beginning at the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO).[9]

Modernization

In 2002, the Russian Defence Ministry and KAPO agreed to modernise 15 Tu-160s.[10] In July 2006, the first overhauled and partially modernized aircraft was accepted into Russian service after testing; it reportedly received the capability to use conventional weapons but was not upgraded with new avionics as previously planned.[11] The first modernized aircraft capable of carrying the new long-range Kh-555 conventional cruise missile was delivered to the Russian Air Force in April 2008;[12][13] a follow-up contract for the modernization of three more aircraft is estimated to cost RUR3.4 billion (US$103 million).[14]

Tu-160 Aleksandr Novikov in flight over Russia

The modernization appeared to be split into two phases, first concentrating on life extension with some initial communication–navigation updates, followed by engine upgrades after 2016.[15] In November 2014, a Tu-160 upgraded with new radar and avionics performed its first flight.[12] The aircraft was delivered to the Russian Air Force as the Tu-160M model in December 2014.[16][17] The phase I update was due to be completed by 2016, but industrial limitations may delay it to 2019 or beyond.[18] Although Kuznetsov designed an NK-32M engine with improved reliability over the NK-32 engines, its successor company has struggled to deliver working units. Metallist-Samara JSC had not produced new engines for a decade when it was given a contract in 2011 to overhaul 26 of the existing engines; two years later, only four had been finished.[18] Ownership and financial concerns hinder the prospects of a new production line; the firm insists it needs a minimum of 20 engines ordered per year but the government is only prepared to pay for 4–6 engines per year.[18][19] A further improved engine was bench tested in 2012 and projected to potentially enter production as early as 2016.[15]

On 2 February 2020, the modernized Tu-160M performed its first test flight at the airfield of the Kazan Aviation Plant named for I. Gorbunov.[20] Deliveries started later that year, five aircraft were equipped with the new engines by August 2022.[21]

Resumed production

In 2008, Russia revealed plans for one new Tu-160 to be delivered every one to two years with the aim of increasing the active inventory to 30 or more aircraft by 2025–2030.[22] On 29 April 2015, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on order of President Putin,[23] announced that Tu-160 production would resume.[24] In May 2015, TASS reported that the Russian Air Force would purchase at least 50 KAPO-built Tu-160s.[25] General Viktor Bondarev stated that development of the PAK DA will proceed alongside Tu-160 production.[25]

On 16 November 2017, a newly assembled Tu-160, built from an unfinished airframe, was unveiled during a roll-out ceremony at KAPO, signifying a restoration of certain production techniques such as electron-beam welding or titanium work reportedly lost after the termination of serial production in 1992. According to Dmitri Rogozin, the serial production of wholly new airframes for the modernized Tu-160M2 should begin in 2019 with deliveries to the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2023.[26][27] The aircraft, named Petr Deinekin, after the first commanding officer of the Russian Air Force, performed its maiden flight in January 2018 and began flight testing the same month.[28] It performed its first public flight on 25 January 2018, during President Vladimir Putin's visit to KAPO plant.[29] The same day, a contract for ten upgraded Tu-160M2s was signed.[30][31][32] On 12 January 2022 a new-build[33] Tu-160M had its first low altitude basic test flight.[34] It is planned to deliver two new-build Tu-160M in 2022[6] with production increasing until all 50 on order new aircraft are delivered. In December 2022, United Aircraft Corporation announced that the second new-build Tu-160M and the fourth modernized Tu-160M were starting flight tests.[35] It was also reported that the first new Tu-160 had completed factory testing.[36]

Other proposed variants
Tu-160 with Burlak launch vehicle

A demilitarized, commercial version of the Tu-160, named Tu-160SK, was displayed at Asian Aerospace in Singapore in 1994 with a model of a small space vehicle named Burlak[37] attached underneath the fuselage.

In January 2018, Vladimir Putin, while visiting the KAPO plant, floated an idea of creating a civilian passenger supersonic transport version of Tu-160.[38] Experts quoted by the news media were skeptical about the commercial and technological feasibility of such a civilian conversion.[30][39]

Design
Cockpit view of a Tu-160
Blended wing profile

The Tu-160 is a variable-geometry wing aircraft. The aircraft employs a fly-by-wire control system with a blended wing profile, and full-span slats are used on the leading edges, with double-slotted flaps on the trailing edges and cruciform tail.[40] Titanium constitutes around 30% of the aircraft's 110-tonne (240,000 lb) empty weight, and the largest component (the swing wing hinge) weighs six tonnes (13,000 lb).[34] The Tu-160 has a crew of four (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, and defensive systems operator) in K-36LM ejection seats.[41]

The Tu-160 is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-32 afterburning turbofan engines, the most powerful ever fitted to a combat aircraft. Unlike the American B-1B Lancer, which reduced the original Mach 2+ requirement for the B-1A to achieve a smaller radar cross-section, the Tu-160 retains variable intake ramps, and is capable of reaching Mach 2.05 speed at altitude.[42] The Tu-160 is equipped with a probe-and-drogue in-flight refueling system for extended-range missions, although it is rarely used. The Tu-160 has an internal fuel capacity of 130 tonnes (290,000 lb).[43] In February 2008, Tu-160 bombers and Il-78 refueling tankers practiced air refueling during air combat exercise, as well as MiG-31, A-50 and other Russian combat aircraft.[44]

The aircraft carries a TsNPO Leninets Obzor-K (Survey, NATO: Clam Pipe)[45] radar for tracking ground and air targets, and a separate Sopka Terrain-following radar.[46] Although the Tu-160 was designed for reduced detectability to both radar and infrared signature,[47] it is not a stealth aircraft.

Tupolev Tu-160 at the 2013 Moscow Victory Day Parade

Weapons are carried in two internal bays, each capable of holding 20,000 kg (44,000 lb) of free-fall weapons or a rotary launcher for nuclear missiles; additional missiles may also be carried externally. The aircraft's total weapons load capacity is 40,000 kg (88,000 lb).[48] No defensive weapons are provided; the Tu-160 is the first post-World War II Soviet bomber to lack such defenses. In 2020, officials stated that the Russian Aerospace Forces is planning to arm the Tu-160 with new hypersonic missiles, in particular the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.[49]

While similar in appearance to the American B-1 Lancer, the Tu-160 is a different class of combat aircraft; its primary role being a standoff missile platform (strategic missile carrier).[34] The Tu-160 is also larger and faster than the B-1B and has a slightly greater combat range, though the B-1B has a larger combined payload with external payload.[50] Another noticeable difference is that the B-1's colour scheme is usually subdued dark gray to reduce visibility; the Tu-160 is painted with anti-flash white, giving it the nickname among Russian airmen "White Swan".[51][34]

On 16 September 2023, Commander of the long-range aviation Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash announced that Russian Tu-160s were outfitted with the newest Kh-BD cruise missile with range of 6,500 km. Each bomber can carry 12 missiles separated on two rotary launchers.[52]

Operational history
A Tu-160 with Soviet officers in front, September 1989

In April 1987, the Tu-160 entered operational service with the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment located at Pryluky, Ukrainian SSR.[53] The regiment, previously operating Tu-16 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, was the first unit to receive the Tu-160. Squadron deployments to Long Range Aviation began that same month. The Tu-160's first public appearance in a parade came in 1989. During 1989 and 1990, a total of 44 world speed flight records in its weight class were set. In January 1992, Boris Yeltsin decided to end serial production of the Tu-160; 35 aircraft were completed by this time. Russia also unilaterally suspended flights of strategic aviation over remote regions.[10]

A total of 19 Tu-160s were based inside the newly independent Ukraine during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. On 25 August 1991, the Ukrainian parliament decreed that the new nation would take control of all military units on its territory; a Defence Ministry was created that same day. By the mid-1990s, the Pryluky regiment had lost its value as a combat unit; 19 Tu-160s were effectively grounded due to a lack of technical support and spare parts. Ukraine considered the Tu-160s to be a bargaining chip in economic negotiations with Russia and of limited military value. While Russian experts, who examined the aircraft at the Pryluky Air Base in 1993 and 1996, assessed their technical condition as good, the US$3 billion price proposed by Ukraine was considered by Russia to be unacceptable. In April 1998, amid stalled negotiations, Ukraine decided to commence scrapping the fleet under the Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction agreement. In November, the first Tu-160 was deconstructed at Pryluky.[54]

In April 1999, Russia resumed talks with Ukraine, proposing to purchase eight Tu-160 and three Tu-95MS bombers manufactured in 1991 (those in the best technical condition), as well as 575 Kh-55SM cruise missiles. An agreement was reached and a US$285 million contract was signed, the value of which was deducted from Ukraine's debt for natural gas. On 20 October 1999, a group of Russian military experts went to Ukraine to prepare the aircraft for the flight to Engels-2 air base. On 5 November, the first two aircraft, a Tu-160 and a Tu-95MS, departed Pryluky. During the following months, the balance were flown to Engels-2.[54]

Russian President Vladimir Putin inside the cockpit of a Tu-160 in August 2005

Alongside buying Ukrainian Tu-160s, Russia pursued other means to expanding its fleet. In June 1999, the Russian Defence Ministry and KAPO signed a contract for a delivery of a single near-complete bomber. Named Aleksandr Molodchiy, it was the second aircraft in the eighth production batch. It arrived at Engels-2 on 10 September and was commissioned into service on 5 May 2000.[54] The unit operating the fleet from Engels-2 was the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment which was formed up in early 1992 and received six aircraft by 1994. By the end of February 2001, the fleet stood at 15 with the addition of the eight Ukrainian Tu-160s and the new-build.[54][55] The fleet was reduced to 14 due to the crash of the Mikhail Gromov during flight trials of a replacement engine on 18 September 2003.[56][55] On 5 July 2006, a Tu-160 named Valentin Bliznyuk, named after the Tu-160's chief designer, entered service with the Russian Air Force after completing its overhaul, bringing the total number back to 15.[11] Built in 1986, it was formerly used as a test aircraft by Tupolev.[10]

On 22 April 2006, the commander of the Long-Range Aviation Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov reported a pair of Tu-160s flew undetected through a US-controlled sector during a military exercise in the Arctic.[10][57]

On 17 August 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the resumption of strategic aviation flights stopped in 1991.[58][59] On 14 September 2007, British and Norwegian fighters intercepted two Tu-160s in international airspace near the United Kingdom and Finland, as they were patrolling the North Atlantic.[60][61][10] On 25 December 2007, two Danish Air Force F-16s were scrambled to intercept two Tu-160s near Danish airspace.

On 11 September 2007, according to Russian government sources, a Tu-160 deployed a massive fuel-air explosive device, called Father of All Bombs, for its first field test.[62] Some US military analysts expressed skepticism that the weapon was actually delivered by a Tu-160.[63]

On 28 December 2007, a new Tu-160 named Vitaly Kopylov performed its first flight. The bomber joined the Russian Air Force on 29 April 2008, increasing the total number of aircraft in service to 16.[10][64][65]

In early 2008, Tu-160s took part in an exercise with the Russian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean.[10]

On 10 September 2008, two Tu-160s made an unprecedented deployment to Russia's ally Venezuela as part of military manoeuvres amid increasingly tense relations between Russia and the United States. The Russian Defence Ministry said Vasily Senko and Aleksandr Molodchiy would conduct training flights over neutral waters before returning to Russia. They were escorted by NATO fighters as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean.[66]

A Tu-160 is intercepted by an RAF Tornado F3 in March 2010

On 12 October 2008, Tu-160s were involved in the largest Russian strategic bomber exercise since 1984. A total of 12 bombers including Tu-160 and Tu-95 aircraft conducted a series of launches of their cruise missiles. Some bombers launched a full complement of missiles. It was the first time that a Tu-160 had ever fired a full complement of missiles.[67]

On 10 June 2010, two Tu-160s carried out a record-breaking 23-hour patrol with a planned flight range of 18,000 km (9,700 nmi), having flown along Russia's borders and over neutral waters in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.

In August 2011, Russian media claimed that only four of the sixteen Tu-160s were flight worthy.[18] Flight International reported eleven were combat-ready by mid-2012;[15] between 2011 and 2013, eleven were observed in flight.[68]

On 1 November 2013, Aleksandr Golovanov and Aleksandr Novikov entered Colombian airspace on two separate occasions while flying from Venezuela to Nicaragua. Noting a lack of clearance, the Colombian government issued a letter of protest to the Russian government after the first violation.[69] In the second violation, two Colombian Air Force IAI Kfirs stationed at Barranquilla intercepted and escorted the two Tu-160s out of Colombian airspace.[70][71]

A Tu-160 launching a Kh-101 cruise missile at targets in Syria, November 2015[72]

On 17 November 2015, as part of the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, several Tu-160 and Tu-95MS long-range strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out airstrikes at in Idlib and Aleppo provinces using the Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles fired from the Mediterranean. In total, between 34 and 83[73] cruise missiles were fired, destroying 14 targets. In addition, Tu-22M3 strategic bombers hit numerous claimed IS targets with unguided ammunition. This also marked the combat debut for the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS.[74][75]

In August 2018, a number of Russian military aircraft including two Tu-160, Tu-95MS strategic bombers and Il-78 aerial tankers were deployed for the first time to the Russian Far East as part of a long-range tactical flight exercise, flying 7,000 km non-stop flight from their home base in Saratov Oblast to Chukotka. During the exercise, the crews practised combat use of cruise missiles at the Komi Test Range and performed aerial refueling.[76][77]

In November 2018, a modernized Tu-160M test-fired a full complement of 12 Kh-101 cruise missiles at the Pemboi Test Range in the northeastern region of Komi Republic.[78]

On 10 December 2018, two Tu-160s accompanied by an An-124 cargo plane and an Il-62 passenger plane, landed at the Maiquetía airport in Venezuela.[79] On 23 October 2019, two Tu-160s accompanied by an An-124 and an Il-62 visited South Africa as part of strengthening ties between the two nations; the aircraft performed a 13 hours non-stop flight over the Caspian Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean, covering 11,000 km (6,800 mi) with mid-air refueling and landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base in South Africa. It was the Tu-160's first visit to the African continent.[80]

On 11 November 2021, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced that two Russian Tu-160s flew on a training mission over Belarus alongside Belarusian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30s.[81]

The type was involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian sources, on 6 March 2022, a Tu-160 along with a Tu-95MS strategic bomber launched eight cruise missiles, presumably the Kh-101, at the Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport from the Black Sea area.[82] On 26 June 2022, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat reported four to six Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched by Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers at Kyiv from the Caspian Sea area.[83]

Potential operators

In 2022, retired Air Chief Marshal Anoop Raha revealed in response to a question that India was interested in purchasing Tu-160s.[84] Reports have emerged that India is in talks with Russia to acquire six Tu-160s that will make India the only country other than US, Russia and China to have operational strategic bombers.[85][86]

Variants
Tu-160 Vasily Reshetnikov at the Engels-2 air base
Tu-160
Production version.
Tu-160S
Designation used for serial Tu-160s when needed to separate them from all the pre-production and experimental aircraft.[87]
Tu-160V
Proposed liquid hydrogen fueled version (see also Tu-155).[87]
Tu-160 NK-74
Proposed upgraded (extended range) version with NK-74 engines.[87]
Tu-160M
Upgraded version that features new weaponry, improved electronics and avionics, which significantly improves its combat effectiveness.[35]
Tu-160P (Tu-161)
Proposed very long-range escort fighter/interceptor version.
Tu-160PP
Proposed electronic warfare version carrying stand-off jamming and ECM gear (Russian: ПП – постановщик помех "jamming").
Tu-160R
Proposed strategic reconnaissance version.
Tu-160SK
Proposed commercial version, designed to launch satellites via the "Burlak" (Russian: Бурлак, "hauler") launch system.[87]
Tu-160M2
Highly upgraded version featuring low observable coatings,[88][89][90] new avionics, electronics, glass cockpit, communications and control systems, and a number of new weapons, as well as new more powerful and efficient engines giving it greater operational range. It will also have a new defensive system protecting it from incoming missiles.[91][92] The first plane was to be ready by late 2021.[93]

Operators

Current operators
 Russia

Former operators
Ukrainian Air Force Tu-160, 1997
 Soviet Union
 Ukraine

Specifications (Tu-160)
Orthographic projection of the Tupolev Tu-160
Orthographic projection of the Tupolev Tu-160

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003–2004[48]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems officer)
  • Length: 54.1 m (177 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 55.7 m (182 ft 9 in) wings spread (20°)
35.6 m (117 ft) wings swept (65°)
  • Height: 13.1 m (43 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) wings spread
360 m2 (3,875 sq ft) wings swept
  • Empty weight: 110,000 kg (242,508 lb)
  • Gross weight: 267,600 kg (589,957 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 275,000 kg (606,271 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Samara NK-321 afterburning turbofan engines, 137.3 kN (30,900 lbf) thrust each dry, 245 kN (55,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 2,220 km/h (1,380 mph, 1,200 kn) at 12,200 m (40,026 ft)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.05
  • Cruise speed: 960 km/h (600 mph, 520 kn) / M0.9
  • Range: 12,300 km (7,600 mi, 6,600 nmi) practical range without in-flight refuelling, Mach 0.77 and carrying 6 × Kh-55SM dropped at mid range and 5% fuel reserves[100]
  • Combat range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) at Mach 1.5; or 7,300 km (4,536 mi) at subsonic speeds[101]
  • Service ceiling: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 70 m/s (14,000 ft/min)
  • Lift-to-drag: 18.5–19, while supersonic it is above 6[102]
  • Wing loading: 742 kg/m2 (152 lb/sq ft) with wings fully swept
  • Thrust/weight: 0.37

Armament

  • Two internal weapon bays for 45,000 kg (99,208 lb) of ordnance.[103]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. "The upgraded Tu-160 performed its first flight". Russian Aviation. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. "Largest military aircraft by weight, operational bomber". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. "Все бомбардировщики Ту-160 модернизируют". Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 18 June 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. "Russia flies newbuild Tu-160M bomber".
  5. "Первый вновь построенный ракетоносец Ту-160М совершил дебютный полет". 12 January 2022.
  6. "Два Ту-160М пополнят дальнюю авиацию РФ в 2022 году". 4 January 2022.
  7. "Построенный "с нуля" стратегический бомбардировщик Ту-160М совершил первый полёт - "Ростех" -".
  8. Sergeyev, Pavel (30 April 2008). Белый лебедь [White Swan]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  9. Goebel, Greg. "The Sukhoi T-4 & Tupolev Tu-160". AirVectors.net. v1.0.4 – 1 Mar 15 – greg goebel – public domain. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  10. "Померяемся дальней авиацией?". lenta.ru. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  11. Podvig, Pavel (5 July 2006). "Tu-160 returns from overhaul". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.
  12. Jennings, Gareth (20 November 2014). "Russia flies first radar- and avionics-upgraded Tu-160 bomber". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015.
  13. John Pike. "Tu-160 BLACKJACK (TUPOLEV)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  14. Jennings, Gareth (28 July 2013). "Russia continues Tu-160 'Blackjack' bomber modernisation work". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  15. Karnozov, Vladimir (15 October 2012). "IN FOCUS: Russian's next-generation bomber takes shape". Flight International. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013.
  16. Perry, Dominic (19 December 2014). "Russian air force takes first modernised Tupolev bombers". FlightGlobal. Reed Business Information, RELX Group. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  17. "The upgraded Tu-160 performed its first flight". Russian Aviation. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  18. Johnson, Reuben F (11 November 2013). "Further delays for modernisation of Russian Air Force Tu-160 bombers". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013.
  19. Kramnik, Ilya (16 September 2011). Бомбардировщики Ту-160 могут остаться без двигателей [Tu-160 bombers may be left without engines]. Izvestia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  20. "Модернизированный Ту-160М выполнил первый полет". TASS.ru. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  21. "ЦАМТО / / ОДК поставила двигатели для пятого борта Ту-160М". Armstrade.org. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  22. "На КАПО им.Горбунова испытали новый серийный Ту-160" (in Russian). Archived 24 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine Tatar-Inform Information Agency, Kazan, 6 January 2008.
  23. "Построенный с нуля стратегический ракетоносец Ту-160М совершил первый полет".
  24. Stevenson, Beth (30 April 2015). "Russia to reestablish Tu-160 supersonic bomber production line". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015.
  25. "Putin made decision to revive production of Tu-160M strategic bomber – Air Force commander". TASS. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  26. "Путин поздравил авиастроителей с новым стратегическим бомбардировщиком Ту-160М2". Zvezda. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018.
  27. "Рогозин доложил Путину о постройке новых ракетоносцев Ту-160М2". regnum.ru. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018.
  28. "Новый Ту-160 начал летные испытания". bmpd. 25 January 2018.
  29. "Кадры демонстрационного полета Ту-160М "Петр Дейнекин"". Zvezda. 25 January 2018. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  30. "Дальняя авиация получит 10 Ту-160М2 за 160 млрд рублей". Vedomosti. 25 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018.
  31. "Посещение Казанского авиационного завода имени С.П.Горбунова". kremlin.ru. 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  32. Podvig, Pavel (26 January 2018). "First Tu-160M2 takes flight, production contract for ten aircraft signed". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  33. "Вновь изготовленный Ту-160М совершил первый полет".
  34. Dalløkken, Per Erlien (13 January 2022). ""Hvite svaner": Russland har testfløyet det første nybygde Tu-160M". Tu.no (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022.
  35. "ПАО «ОАК»". Telegram. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  36. "ПАО «ОАК»". Telegram. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  37. "Burlak". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010.
  38. Путин предложил сделать на базе Ту-160 гражданский авиалайнер Archived 7 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Zvezda TV, 25 January 2018.
  39. Гражданский авиалайнер на базе ракетоносца Ту-160. Реально ли? Archived 14 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine BBC, 25 January 2018.
  40. Bergmans, Werner (1996–2011). "Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack". Fighter-Planes.com. Werner Bergmans, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  41. Duffy, Paul; Kandalov, Andrei I. (1996). Tupolev: The Man and His Aircraft (illustrated ed.). Warrendale, PA: SAE International, 1996. p. 170. ISBN 1560918993. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  42. "Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber". RIA Novosti. 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  43. "Aircraft Museum – Tu-160 'Blackjack'." Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Aerospaceweb.org, 16 August 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  44. "Tu-160 bombers practice air refueling in Feb 2008 exercises" Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  45. "Overscan's guide to Russian Military Avionics". Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  46. "Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack'". MILAVIA. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  47. Lake, Jon (2002). The Great Book of Bombers: The World's Most Important Bombers from World War I to the Present Day. St, Paul. MN: MBI Publishing Company. p. 481. ISBN 978-0760313473.
  48. Jackson 2003, pp. 425–426.
  49. "Hypersonic Missiles Are Making Russia's Tu-160 Bombers Deadlier Than Ever". nationalinterest.org. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  50. The Directory of the World's Weapons 1996, p. 140.
  51. "'White swan' – Russian supersonic aircraft". Moscow Top News. 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  52. "Tu-160 bombers outfitted with novel cruise missiles — top brass". TASS. 16 September 2023.
  53. Miller, David (1998). The Cold War: A Military History (Pimlico 2001 ed.). London: John Murray, Random House. p. 162. ISBN 1-44813793-4.
  54. Butowski, Piotr. "Russia's Strategic Bomber Force". Combat Aircraft. 4 (6): 552–565.
  55. "Ту-160 принят на вооружение". take-off.ru. December 2005. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  56. "Russian supersonic bomber crashes". Ananova. Associated Press. 18 September 2003. Archived from the original on 20 September 2003.
  57. "Russians claim bomber flights over US territory went undetected". FlightGlobal. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  58. "Russia orders long-range bomber patrols". USA Today. 17 August 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  59. "Russia Resumes Patrols by Nuclear Bombers". The New York Times. 17 August 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019.
  60. Satter, Raphael G. "NATO jets intercept Russian warplanes." Archived 5 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine USA Today, 14 September 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  61. Bugajski, Janusz (2008). Expanding Eurasia: Russia's European Ambitions (illustrated ed.). Washington, D.C.: CSIS Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0892065455.
  62. "Russia tests giant fuel-air bomb." Archived 29 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 12 September 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  63. Axe, David and Daria Solovieva. "Did Russia Stage the Father of All Bombs Hoax?" Archived 15 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine Wired, 4 October 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  64. "Модернизированный Ту-160 передали в состав ВВС России". oreanda.ru. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  65. "ВВС России получили новый самолет". ntv.ru. 29 April 2008.
  66. "Russian bombers land in Venezuela." Archived 27 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 11 September 2008.
  67. "Russia plans biggest missile test for 24 years." Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph, 7 October 2008.
  68. Axe, David (13 November 2013). "We Just Hunted Down All of Russia's Long-Range Bombers". War is Boring. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.
  69. "Colombia enviará nota de protesta a Rusia por violación del espacio aéreo" [Colombia will send a note of protest to Russia for violation of airspace]. El Espectador (in Spanish). 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  70. "Colombia says Russian bombers violated its airspace". Reuters. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  71. "Colombia Protests Violation of Airspace by Russian Bombers". The Moscow Times. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  72. "Russian bombers fly around Europe to strike Syria in 8,000 mile show of strength". The Daily Telegraph. 20 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  73. Russlands militære intervensjon i Syria – bakgrunn, gjennomføring og konsekvenser (PDF) (in Norwegian) (FFI-RAPPORT 16/00500 ed.). Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. 15 March 2016. ISBN 978-82-464-2723-2.
  74. Cenciotti, David (17 November 2015). "25 Russian long-range strategic bombers in action over Syria for the very first time". The Aviationist. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  75. Oliphant, Roland; Akkoc, Raziye; Steafel, Eleanor (17 November 2015). "Paris attacks: Cameron to make case for Syria military action as EU troops could be sent to France". The Daily Telegraph. Online. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  76. "Экипажи Ту-160 впервые в истории выполнили посадку на аэродром Анадырь в ходе учения дальней авиации". function.mil.ru. 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  77. "Russian Supersonic Bombers Deploy Near Alaska 'For First Time in History'". themoscowtimes.com. 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  78. "Russian strategic Tu-160 bomber test-fires 12 missiles". TASS. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  79. Vladimir Isachenkov (10 December 2018). "Russia Just Sent Two Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Venezuela". Time. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018. The bombers' deployment follows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's visit to Moscow last week in a bid to shore up political and economic assistance even as his country has been struggling to pay billions of dollars owed to Russia.
  80. "На аэродроме в ЮАР приземлились два российских ракетоносца Ту-160". RIA Novosti. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  81. "Why Are Russian Bombers Over Belarus?". The National Interest. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  82. "Missile strikes on Vinnytsia airfield launched from Black Sea". ukrinform.net. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  83. "Russian missiles on Kyiv launched with Tu-95, Tu-160 bombers – Air Force Command". ukrinform.net. 26 June 2022.
  84. Gaur, Madhavi (20 August 2022). "India to buy Six Tu-160 long-range bombers from Russia". Adda 247. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  85. "Tupolev Tu-160 'White Swan' for Indian Indian Air Force? Facts about world's biggest bomber aircraft". Daily News & Analysis (DNA). 11 August 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  86. Lt. Col. JS Sodhi (23 August 2022). "Tupolev Tu-160: The ace of air warfare". Financial Express. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  87. Aviation and Cosmonautics magazine, 5.2006, pp. 10–11. OCLC 24440468.
  88. "Russia Rolls Out New Tu-160M2, But Are Moscow's Bomber Ambitions Realistic? – The Drive". 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019.
  89. Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat. "Russia to Receive Entire Fleet of Upgraded Supersonic Nuclear-Capable Bombers by 2030". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  90. Majumdar, Dave (23 March 2018). "Here's Why Russia's 'New' Tu-160M2 Could Be NATO's Worst Nightmare". The National Interest. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  91. "Russia to Launch Serial Production of Upgraded Tu-160M2 Strategic Bomber". DefenceTalk.com. 14 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  92. "Russia Says Its Future Bombers Will Have Protection From 'All Missiles' – The Drive". 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019.
  93. "First newly-built Tu-160M to make maiden flight in 4th quarter of 2021".
  94. Long-range aviation received four upgraded Tu-95MS aircraft and one Tu-160 aircraft. (rus). tvzvezda.ru, 23 December 2018
  95. "ЦАМТО / / Сергей Шойгу подвел итоги деятельности ВС РФ в 2022 году и определил задачи на очередной период".
  96. "Ukraine Bomber Decommissioning and Transfer Chronology" (PDF). Nuclear Threat Initiative. April 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  97. "How Americans destroyed Ukraines best Military devices, the Tu 160 Bomber". 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2015 – via YouTube.
  98. "Long Range Aviation Museum". Tourism.Poltava.ua. Cooperative project of Fox Web Workshop and city executive committee Dept. of Culture and Tourism. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  99. Музей дальней авиации, Полтава [Museum of long-range aviation, Poltava] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  100. Taylor 1996, p. 103.
  101. "Tu-160 BLACKJACK (TUPOLEV)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  102. ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ БОМБАРДИРОВЩИКА Ту-160 [Tu-160 bomber specifications] (in Russian). airforce.ru. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  103. "В Минобороны доказали превосходство Ту-160 над американским B-1B". RIA Novosti. 23 December 2018. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.

Bibliography
  • The Directory of the World's Weapons. Leicester, UK: Blitz Editions, 1996. ISBN 978-1-85605-348-8.
  • Eden, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9.
  • Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
  • Nicolaou, Stéphane (July–August 2020). "Toupolev Tu-160: L'arme absolue (2)" [Tupolev Tu-160: The Absolute Weapon, Part 2]. Avions (in French) (235): 86–95. ISSN 1243-8650.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory. London: Brassey's, 1996. ISBN 1-85753-198-1.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tupolev Tu-160.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.