Let’s Explore The Sleek And Sophisticated Tu-160 Bomber

Construction Of The Tupolev Tu-160 Bomber

The project was led by the Tupolev Design Bureau, which had extensive experience designing and producing large, complex aircraft for the Soviet military. The development process was challenging, with numerous technical hurdles to overcome, but the team persevered and eventually succeeded in creating one of the most advanced bombers of its time.

Production began in 1984 and, although initial plans called for the construction of 100 aircraft, when production was stopped in 1992, only 36 bombers had been built due to Strategic Arms Limitations restrictions. The aircraft is powered by four NK-321 – 25,000 kg / 55,025 lb thrust turbofans mounted in pairs beneath the fuselage centre section, can climb up to 70m / 230 ft per second and reach heights of over 18,000 m / 59,000 ft.

Terrain-following radar guides the aircraft at high speeds and low levels, and all four crew members have ejection seats. The bomber, which is controlled by a fighter-style control column and a fly-by-wire system, can be refuelled in-flight using a probe-and-drogue system. The variable-geometry wings can shift from 20 degrees up to 65 degrees, enabling flight at both supersonic and subsonic speeds.

The Tu-160 has the capacity to carry up to 12 Kh-55 long-range missiles and Kh-15 short-range missiles, along with free-fall nuclear and conventional weapons. The bomber is not equipped with any defensive armament, but it features an extensive electronic countermeasures facility.

Development of the bomber began in May 1987. Until the end of 1991, 19 Tu-160 bombers served in Ukraine and, on the collapse of the old USSR, the aircraft became Ukraine’s property. The aircraft and associated air-launched missiles were subsequently the subjects of intense negotiations because Russia wanted the aircraft back. A deal was finally struck in exchange for the cancellation of an enormous gas bill between the two countries.

In July 1999, the Russian Ministry of Defence reportedly ordered one Tu-160 strategic bomber, and the cost was said to be 45 million rubles. Studies have also been conducted on the aircraft’s use as a launch platform for the Burlak space-launch vehicle, which is designed to carry payloads of up to 500 kg / 1100 lb in polar orbits. The launch vehicle would be carried beneath the fuselage of the aircraft, which would give it a head start to a high altitude, thus eliminating the need for excessive heavy fuel loads for launch from the earth’s surface.

Since the early 2000s, the active fleet of the Tu-160 bomber has undergone a series of impressive upgrades, with a particular focus on advanced electronics systems. The Tu-160M modernization program represents a remarkable achievement in the ongoing development of this iconic aircraft, with the first updated model delivered in December 2014. In a bold show of confidence, plans were announced in 2015 for the delivery of 50 new-build Tu-160Ms, as well as the upgrading of 16 existing aircraft.

The results have been truly stunning, with the latest serial-built TU-160M taken to the skies for a test flight in January 2022. With an impressive 10 on order, two of these magnificent machines are set to be delivered in 2022 alone. The ongoing development of the Tu-160 is a testament to the unrelenting commitment of the Tupolev Design Bureau to excellence and innovation in the aviation industry.

Throughout the construction phase, it is essential to acknowledge that the redevelopment of the advanced Tu-160 marked a momentous accomplishment for the Russian aviation industry. This achievement stands as a testament to the ingenuity and expertise of the engineers and designers who wholeheartedly devoted themselves to the project. Despite the challenges and obstacles they encountered, their determination paid off, resulting in the creation of an aircraft that remains a vital cornerstone of Russia’s strategic defence capabilities.

The Exact Design Analysis Of The Tupolev Tu-160

The Tupolev Tu-160 is an advanced variable-geometry wing aircraft. Its advanced design includes a fly-by-wire control system and a blended wing profile, which allows for maximum manoeuvrability and flexibility in flight. Full-span slats on the leading edges and double-slotted flaps on the trailing edges, combined with a cruciform tail, provide exceptional lift and stability.

The aircraft is constructed from titanium, which accounts for about 30% of its 110-tonne ( 240,000 lb ) empty weight. The largest component, the swing-wing hinge, weighs an impressive six tonnes ( 13,000 lb ). The Tu-160 is manned by a crew of four skilled professionals, including a pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, and defensive systems operator, who all sit in K-36LM ejection seats for safety.

The Tu-160 bomber boasts four Kuznetsov NK-32 after-burning turbofan engines, which are the most potent engines ever used on a combat aircraft. Unlike the B-1B Lancer, which sacrificed its original Mach 2+ requirement to achieve a smaller radar cross-section, the Tu-160 retains variable intake ramps, allowing it to reach an impressive Mach 2.05 speed at altitude. The Tu-160 is also equipped with a probe-and-drogue in-flight refuelling system that enables extended-range missions, even though it is rarely used.

Additionally, the bomber’s internal fuel capacity is a massive 130 tonnes ( 290,000 lb ), providing plenty of fuel for long-range operations. In 2008, Tu-160 bombers, Il-78 Candid refuelling tankers, MiG-31 Foxhound, A-50 Mainstay, and other Russian combat aircraft conducted an air combat exercise to practice air refuelling.

Despite not being a stealth aircraft, the Tu-160 still maintains an impressive weapons-carrying capacity. It is equipped with two internal bays, with each bay capable of holding 20,000 kg ( 44,000 lb ) of free-fall weapons or a rotary launcher for nuclear missiles. Additionally, the aircraft has the ability to carry more missiles externally, with a total weapons load capacity of 40,000 kg ( 88,000 lb ). The Tu-160’s unique design lacks any form of defensive weapons, making it the first post-World War II Soviet bomber to lack such defences. However, in 2020, officials made an announcement that the Russian Air Force plans to equip the Tu-160 with new hypersonic missiles, specifically the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.

The Tu-160 and B-1 Lancer may exhibit some similarities at first glance, but they belong to different combat aircraft classes. The Tu-160’s primary role is serving as a strategic missile carrier, functioning as a standoff missile platform. Additionally, it surpasses the B-1B in size and speed, boasting a slightly greater combat range. However, the B-1B features a larger combined payload capacity when equipped with an external payload. One notable visual distinction is that the B-1B adopts a subdued dark grey colour scheme to minimize visibility, while the Tu-160 is painted anti-flash white, earning it the nickname “White Swan” among Russian airmen.

The Operations of the Tupolev Tu-160 Bomber

The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS long-range strategic bombers were used by the Russian Air Force to conduct attacks on November 17, 2015, as part of their military participation in the Syrian Civil War. The attacks were carried out in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo using Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles launched from the Mediterranean. These attacks employed 34 to 83 cruise missiles to destroy 14 significant targets. The Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were also deployed to fire unguided missiles at multiple alleged ISIS locations. The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS were utilised in the battle for the first time, making it their combat debut.

Two Tu-160 bombers set a stunning world record for the distance and time of a non-stop flight for this type of aircraft on September 19, 2020. They bravely navigated through the vast and dangerous airspace over the neutral waters of the central part of the Arctic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi, and Barents seas, showcasing the incredible capabilities of these warplanes while in the air for more than 25 hours and travelling an astounding 20,000 kilometres.

On November 11, 2021, the Belarusian Defense Ministry made a significant announcement that reverberated through the region. They revealed that two Russian Tu-160s had undertaken a bold and formidable training mission over Belarus, accompanied by Belarusian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30s. This display showcased the strength and prowess of the Russian and Belarusian militaries.

The Tu-160 bomber played a prominent role in the dramatic and devastating 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian sources reported that on 6 March 2022, a Tu-160, together with a Tu-95MS strategic bomber, unleashed a barrage of eight powerful cruise missiles – believed to be the Kh-101 – at the Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport, unleashing destruction and chaos from the Black Sea area. And the nightmare wasn’t over. On 26 June 2022, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat revealed that four to six more Kh-101 cruise missiles had been launched by Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers at the heart of Kyiv from the Caspian Sea area, leaving death and devastation in their wake.