Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack
Summary
| Category | Bomber |
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| First flight | 19 December 1981 |
| Year of introduction | 1987 |
| Number produced | 37 units |
| Average unit price | $250 million |
Description
This amazing variable-geometry heavy bomber bears a strong resemblance to the American B-1B Lancer, but it boasts larger dimensions. The Tu-160 is capable of performing both low-altitude, low-speed penetration missions and high-altitude, supersonic missions. With a range of up to 14,000 km, the Blackjack can strike any point on the globe. It can carry up to 40,000 kg of conventional or nuclear weaponry. Possible configurations include, for example, 12 Kh-55MS cruise missiles (NATO designation AS-15 Kent) armed with a 200 kiloton nuclear warhead and a range of 3,000 km, or Kh-15P missiles (AS-16 Kickback) with a range of 200 km.
Series production of the Tu-160 began before the prototypes were fully developed and was halted in 1992. At the disintegration of the Soviet bloc, 19 out of the 25 Tu-160s in service were based in Ukraine, which sold them back to Russia in 1995. Production of the Blackjack has recently resumed, with the Russian Air Force receiving one aircraft in May 2000. Several improvements have been made compared to the first generation.
Technical specifications
| Version: Tu-160 Blackjack | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 members |
| Operational range | 14000 km (8699 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 2220 km/h (1379 mph) |
| Wing area | 232 m² (2497.2 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 55.7 m (182.7 ft) |
| Height | 13.1 m (43.0 ft) |
| Length | 54.1 m (177.5 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 16000 m (52493 ft) |
| Empty weight | 109769 kg (241999 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 274877 kg (605999 lbs) |
| Climb rate | 70.0 m/s (229.7 ft/s) |
| Takeoff distance | 2200 m (7218 ft) |
| Powerplant | 4 × turbojets Kuznetsov NK-32 delivering 14016 kgp, up to 24993 kgp with afterburner |
| Ejection seat | Zvezda K-36DM |
Current operating countries
| Country | Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Russia | 15 (+10) | |
Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.
Armament
Missiles payload:
Photo of Tu-160 Blackjack
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