Tupolev Tu-22M

The Tupolev Tu-22M (NATO reporting name 'Backfire') was a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic bomber developed by the Soviet Union. Significant numbers remain in service with the CIS.

Development

The Tu-22 'Blinder' had not proved particularly successful, in some respects being inferior to the earlier Tupolev Tu-16. Its range and take-off performance, in particular, were definite weak points. Even as the 'Blinder' was entering service, Tupolev OKB began work on an improved successor.

As with the contemporary MiG-23 and Sukhoi Su-17 projects, the advantages of variable-geometry wings seemed attractive, allowing a combination of short take-off performance, efficient cruising, and good high-speed, low-level ride. The result was a new swing-wing aircraft derived from the Tu-22, with some features borrowed from the abortive Tu-98 'Backfin'.

The first prototype, Tu-22MO, first flew 30 August 1964. The resultant aircraft was first seen by NATO around 1969. The bureau number for the Tu-22M was Tu-106, and for several years it was believed in the West that its designation was Tu-26. During the SALT negotiations of the 1980s the Soviets insisted it was the Tu-22M, the misleading designation perhaps serving to suggest that it was simply a derivative of the Tu-22 rather than the far more advanced and capable weapon it actually was.

Only nine of the earliest Tu-22M0 preproduction aircraft were produced, followed by nine more Tu-22M1 pilot-production craft in 1971 and 1972. They were known as Backfire-A' by NATO. The first major production version, entering production 1972, was the Tu-22M2 ('Backfire-B'), with longer wings, extensively redesigned, area ruled fuselage (raising the crew complement to four), twin NK-22 engines with F-4 Phantom II-style intakes, and new undercarriage carrying the landing gear in the wing glove rather than in large pods. These were most commonly armed with long-range cruise missiles/anti-ship missiles, typically one or two Kh-22 (AS-4 'Kitchen') weapons. Some Tu-22M2s were later requipped with more powerful NK-23 engines and redesignated Tu-22M2Ye.

The later Tu-22M3 (NATO 'Backfire C'), which first flew in 1980, had new NK-25 engines with substantially more power, wedge-shaped intakes similar to the MiG-25, and a recontoured nose presumably housing a new radar and nav/attack system. It had a revised tail turret with a single cannon, and provision for an internal rotary launcher for the Kh-15 (AS-16 'Kickback') missile, similar to the American AGM-69 SRAM. Some surviving aircraft have had equipment and avionic upgrades to Tu-22ME standard (which does not have a separate NATO reporting name at this time). A small number, perhaps 10, of Tu-22MR ECM electronic warfare aircraft were also built.

Durig the Cold War, the Tu-22M was operated by the VVS (Soviet Air Force) in a strategic bombing role, and by the AV-MF (Soviet Naval Aviation) in a long-range maritime anti-shipping role.

Total production of all variants was about 500. Around 220 of these formidable aircraft remain in CIS service, although their complexity has led to considerable serviceability problems with the dismal state of the post-Soviet Russian economy. Byelorussia has 52. Ukraine possessed an additional 29, but since the Ukrainian government's renunciation of nuclear weapons, those aircraft have been destroyed, the last in 2004. Some ex-Russian aircraft were offered for export, possibly to Iran.

Specifications (Tu-22ME 'Backfire-C')

General characteristics

Crew: four (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems operator)
Length: 39.60 m (129 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 34.28 m (112 ft 5.75 in) spread (20� sweep); 23.30 m (76 ft 5.5 in) maximum sweep (65�)
Height: 11.05 m (36 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 183.6 m² (1,976.1 ft²) spread; 175.8 m² (1,892.4 ft²) swept
Empty: 54,000 kg (119,050 lb)
Loaded: 124,000 kg (273,296 lb)
Maximum takeoff: 124,000 kg (286,600 lb)
Powerplant: 2x KKBM NK-25 turbofans, 245.2 kN (55,115 lb) afterburning thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 2,000 km/h (1,242 mph) (Mach 1.88)
Ferry Range: 2,410 km (1,498 miles)
Service ceiling: 13,300 m (43,635 ft)
Rate of climb: N/A
Wing loading: 705.6 kg/m� (147 lb/ft�)
Thrust-to-weight: 0.40:1

Armament

1x GSh-23 cannon in remotely controlled tail turret
Internal weapons bay for up to 12,000 kg (26,455 lb) of disposable ordnance
External wing and fuselage pylons for 12,000 kg (26,455 lb) of bombs and missiles
Typical stores include internal rotary launcher for six Kh-15 (AS-16 Kickback) short-range nuclear missiles plus two more Kh-15 or Kh-27 on each wing pylon.

Trivia

The Tu-22M was featured prominently in the Tom Clancy novel, Red Storm Rising, and the movie WarGames.

External links

Globalsecurity.org entry for the Tu-22M (http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/tu-22m.htm)