Tupolev Tu-22

The Tupolev Tu-22 (NATO reporting name Blinder) is a Soviet jet supersonic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.

Development

The first prototype, the Tu-105 was flown on June 21 1958. The second changed prototype, the 105A, was flown on September 7, 1959. Despite a prototype crash on December 21, the 105A was accepted for production as the Tu-22B. The first serial-produciton aircraft was flown on June 21, 1960. They were produced at factory No. 22 in Kazan. On July 9, 1961, they were first presented on a parade in Tushino. Upon seeing the slim silhouette of the plane, it was initially given the NATO reporting name 'Beauty,' which later was changed to 'Blinder.' The first series experienced a variety of early problems, but most were progressively improved through the mid-1960s.

The first planes entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1962, starting with the regiments of the 15th Air Division in the western part of the USSR. The Soviet pilots nicknamed it shilo (awl, or, perhaps more colloquially, "prick"). The primary role of the missile-armed Tu-22K force, supported by Tu-22P ECM jammer aircraft, was fighting against naval carrier battle groups. Their cruise speed was subsonic (about 900 km/h), although they reached supersonic speed before an attack. During development and in the field, about 50 aircraft crashed for various reasons (approximately half of the crews saved).

The only Soviet combat use of the 'Blinder' took place in 1988, during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Radar jamming Tu-22PD aircraft covered Tu-22M bombers operating in Afghanistan near Pakistan border, protecting strike aircraft against Pakistani air defence activity.

Some Tu-22B and Tu-22U were exported in the 1970s to Libya and Iraq. On March 29-30, 1978, Libyan Tu-22 aircraft bombed a Tanzanian city, in support of Ugandan forces who were fighting a war with Tanzania. In the 1980s Libyan bombers intervened in the civil war in Chad, and also hit targets in Sudan. Iraqi Tu-22's took part in Iran-Iraq War between 1980 and 1988.

Total production was above 300 aircraft (a number of 311 is sometimes given). The succesor to the Tu-22 was the Tu-22M (Tu-26), which constituted a completely different design.

Variants

Tu-22B - Original free-fall bomber variant. Only 15-20 made, ultimately used mostly for training or test purposes.
Tu-22R, RD, RK, RDK - Reconnaissance aircraft with bomber capabilities. About 130 made, including RDM.
Tu-22RDM - Reconnaissance plane modification from the early 1980s, with instruments in a detachable container.
Tu-22P, PD - Electronic warfare aircraft, about 50 made.
Tu-22K, KD - Bomber variant, carrying the Raduga Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) missile. Produced since 1965. About 100 made, including KP / KDP.
Tu-22KP, KDP - Electronic warfare bomber plane, carrying anti-radiation missile Kh-22P. Produced since 1968.
Tu-22U, UD - trainer version, 46 made.

The variants with a letter "D" were fitted for air refuelling, and produced since mid-1960s.

Description

The aircraft is conventional in layout, with medium wings, swept at 55°. An unusual feature, not copied in any other aircraft, are large engine nacelles above the fuselage, on both sides of a tail fin. The three crewmen had ejection seats that ejected downwards. For armament, the Tu-22K carried 3,000 to 9,000 kg of bombs internally or one Raduga Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) missile, partially recessed in the bomb bay. Reconnaissance variants could carry bombs after removing the reconnaissance equipment.

Specifications (Tu-22)

General Characteristics

Crew: three - pilot, navigator, radio operator
Length: 41.60 m (136 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 23.17 m (76 ft 0 in)
Height: 10.13 m (33 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 162 m² (1,742 ft²)
Empty: kg ( lb)
Loaded: 69,000 kg (151,800 lb)
Maximum takeoff: 92,000 kg (202,400 lb)
Powerplant: 2x Dobrynin RD-7M-2, 124 kN (27,808 lb) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,600 km/h (1,000 mph)
Range: 5,800 km (3,625 miles)
Service ceiling: 13,300 m (4,055 ft)
Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
Wing loading: 425 kg/m² (87 lb/ft²)
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.37:1

Armament

1x AM-23 23mm cannon in tail turret
9,000 kg (19,800 lb) bombs, or
one Kh-22 (AS-4 'Kitchen') cruise missile