Tupolev Tu-22M | |
|---|---|
| Pays | Union soviétique |
| Rôle | Bombardier stratégique/Frappe maritime |
| Premier vol | 30 août 1969 |
| Construit | 497 |
Lla Tupolev Tu-22M (russe: Туполев Ту-22М; Backfire) est un bombardier supersonique, à aile variable, à longue portée stratégique et maritime développé par le Tupolev Design Bureau. Selon certaines sources, le bombardier aurait été désigné Tu-26 à un moment donné. Pendant la guerre froide, le Tu-22M était utilisé par l’armée de l’air soviétique (VVS) dans un rôle de bombardement stratégique, et par l’aviation navale soviétique (Aviacija Vojenno-Morskogo Flota, AVMF) dans un rôle anti-maritime à longue portée. [2] Un nombre important reste en service dans l’armée de l’air russe et, en 2014, plus de 100 Tu-22M sont utilisés.
Source: Tupolev Tu-22M sur Wikipedia
| Tu-22MO Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Inconnu |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 26 |
| Tu-22 KD Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Inconnu |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 47 |
| Tupolev Tu-22 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Inconnu |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 80 |
Voir aussi :
A New Breed of Strategic Power
Lla Tupolev Tu-22M is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing (swing-wing) strategic bomber that was the bane of NATO carrier battle groups during the Cold War. Despite its name, it shared almost nothing with the earlier, unsuccessful Tu-22 « Blinder. » Designed for high-speed, low-level maritime strikes and strategic bombing, the Tu-22M allowed the Soviet Union to project power far into the Atlantic and Pacific, carrying massive anti-ship missiles designed to overwhelm US Navy defenses.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Tu-22M3) |
|---|---|
| Rôle | Long-range Strategic Bomber / Maritime Strike |
| Crew | 4 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Navigator, Weapons System Officer) |
| First Flight | August 30, 1969 (Tu-22M0) |
| Groupe motopropulseur | 2 × Kuznetsov NK-25 afterburning turbofans |
| Thrust | 55,100 lbf (245 kN) each with afterburner |
| Vitesse maximale | Mach 1.88 (2,000 km/h) at altitude |
| Combat Radius | 2,410 km (1,500 miles) |
| Primary Armament | Up to 3 × Kh-22 (AS-4 ‘Kitchen’) anti-ship missiles |
The Evolution of « Swing-Wing » Lethality
- Variable-Sweep Wings: Lla « Backfire » features wings that can sweep from 20° for takeoff and landing to 65° for supersonic dash. This allows the massive bomber to operate from relatively short runways while still maintaining the aerodynamic efficiency needed for Mach 1.8 flight.
- The Kh-22 Missile: The Tu-22M’s primary teeth. This 6-ton missile was designed to strike aircraft carriers at Mach 4.6. Carrying a 1,000kg conventional warhead or a 350-kiloton nuclear charge, it was nearly impossible to intercept with 1970s technology.
- Side-Mounted Intakes: While the earlier Tu-22M2 had smaller intakes, the definitive Tu-22M3 introduced large, wedge-shaped supersonic intakes (similar to the MiG-25), which allowed the engines to breathe efficiently at nearly twice the speed of sound.
- Tail Turret: Unlike modern Western bombers, the Tu-22M3 retains a remotely controlled tail turret armed with a twin-barrel 23mm GSh-23 cannon for self-defense against interceptors.
SALT Negotiations & Combat History
- The Refueling Controversy: During the SALT II arms control talks, the US insisted the Tu-22M was an intercontinental bomber. To comply with the treaty, the Soviets famously removed the nose-mounted refueling probes from many aircraft to limit their range and prevent them from reaching the US mainland.
- Afghanistan and Chechnya: The Backfire saw extensive use as a conventional « carpet bomber, » dropping tons of unguided FAB-3000 bombs on mountain strongholds.
- Modernization (Tu-22M3M): Russia is currently upgrading the fleet to the M3M standard, featuring new digital avionics, the ability to fire the Kh-32 cruise missile, and the re-installation of refueling probes.
- Operational Paradox: Despite its age, the Tu-22M3 remains one of the fastest and most survivable bombers in the Russian inventory, largely because its « high-speed dash » capability makes it difficult for ground-based air defenses to target.
Vues : 4543
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