https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-16
The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting name: Badger) was a twin-engined jet strategic
bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 60 years, and the
Chinese licence-built Xian H-6 remains in service with the People's Liberation
Army Air Force.
The Tupolev design bureau began work on the Tu-88 ("Aircraft N") prototypes in
1950. The Tu-88 first flew on 27 April 1952. After winning a competition against
the Ilyushin Il-46, it was approved for production in December 1952. The first
production bombers entered service with Frontal Aviation in 1954, receiving the
service designation Tu-16. It received the NATO reporting name Badger-A.
It had a new, large swept wing and two large Mikulin AM-3 turbojets, one in each
wing root. It could carry a single massive FAB-9000 9,000-kg (19,800 lb)
conventional bomb (the Russian equivalent of the British Grand Slam bomb) or
various nuclear weapons to a range of around 4,800 km (3,000 mi).
Although the Tu-16 began as a high-altitude, free-fall bomber, in the mid-1950s
it was equipped to carry early Soviet cruise missiles. The Tu-16KS-1 (Badger-B)
version could carry AS-1 missiles over a combat radius of 1,800 km (1,125 mi).
These very large weapons were aerodynamically similar to the Mikoyan-Gurevich
MiG-15 fighter, fitted with either a nuclear or conventional warhead, had a
range of about 140 km (90 mi). They were intended for use primarily against US
Navy aircraft carriers and other large surface ships. Subsequent Tu-16s were
converted to carry later, more advanced missiles, while their designations
changed several times.
A versatile design, the Tu-16 was built in numerous specialized variants for
reconnaissance, maritime surveillance, electronic intelligence gathering
(ELINT), and electronic warfare (ECM). A total of 1,507 aircraft were
adaptation, the Tupolev Tu-104, saw passenger service with Aeroflot. The Tu-16
was also exported to Indonesia, Egypt, and Iraq. It continued to be used by the
Air Forces and naval aviation of the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia until
1993.
Role
Strategic bomber
Manufacturer
Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
Designer
Tupolev
First flight
27 April 1952
Introduction
1954
Retired
1993 (in former Soviet Union nations)
Primary users
Soviet Air Force
Egyptian Air Force
Iraqi Air Force
Indonesian Air Force
Number built
1,509
Variants
Tupolev Tu-104
Tupolev Tu-124
Xian H-6
Specifications (Tu-16)
General characteristics
Length: 34.80 m (114 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 33.00 m (108 ft 3 in)
Height: 10.36 m (34 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 165 m2 (1,780 sq ft)
Empty weight: 37,200 kg (82,012 lb)
Gross weight: 76,000 kg (167,551 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 79,000 kg (174,165 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (652 mph; 567 kn)
Range: 7,200 km (4,474 mi; 3,888 nmi)
Service ceiling: 12,800 m (41,995 ft)
Wing loading: 460 kg/m2 (94 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.24
Armament
remote turrets and manned tail turret, with the occasional addition of one fixed
forward in the nose
Missiles:
Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of free-fall weapons
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