Tu 160 maximum flight speed. Aircraft "White Swan": specifications and photos

Tu-160(according to NATO codification: blackjack) - Russian, formerly - Soviet supersonic strategic bomber-missile carrier with a variable sweep of the wing. Developed at the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1980s, in service since 1987. The Russian Air Force currently has 16 Tu-160 aircraft.

Specifications

Crew: 4 people

Length: 54.1 m

Wingspan: 55.7/50.7/35.6 m

Height: 13.1 m

Wing area: 232 m²

Empty weight: 110000 kg

Normal takeoff weight: 267600 kg

Maximum takeoff weight: 275000 kg

Engines: 4 × turbofan NK-32

Thrust maximum: 4 × 18000 kgf

Afterburner thrust: 4 × 25000 kgf

Flight characteristics

Maximum speed at height: 2230 km/h

Cruising speed: 917 km/h (0.77 M)

Practical range: 14600 km

Combat radius: 6000 km

Flight duration: 25 h

Practical ceiling: 15000 m

Climb: 4400 m/min

Take-off / run length: 900-2000 m

1185 kg/m²

1150 kg/m²

Thrust-to-weight ratio:

at maximum takeoff weight: 0,37

at normal takeoff weight: 0,36

Armament

Two intra-fuselage compartments can accommodate up to 40 tons of weapons, including several types of guided missiles, guided and free-fall bombs and other means of destruction, both in nuclear and conventional weapons.

The Kh-55 strategic cruise missiles in service with the Tu-160 (12 units on two multi-position revolving launchers) are designed to hit stationary targets with predetermined coordinates, which are entered into the missile's memory before the bomber takes off. Anti-ship missile variants have a radar homing system.

To hit targets at a shorter range, the armament may include Kh-15 aeroballistic hypersonic missiles (24 units on four launchers).

The bomb armament of the Tu-160 is considered as a weapon of the "second stage", designed to destroy targets that have survived after the first, missile attack of the bomber. It is also placed in weapons bays and can include various types of adjustable bombs, including one of the most powerful domestic ammunition of this class - bombs of the KAB-1500 series weighing 1500 kg

The aircraft can also be equipped with free-fall bombs (up to 40,000 kg) of various calibers, including nuclear, disposable cluster bombs, naval mines and other weapons.

In the future, the composition of the bomber's weapons is planned to be significantly strengthened by introducing into its composition a new generation of high-precision cruise missiles Kh-555 and Kh-101, which have an increased range and are designed to destroy both strategic and tactical ground and sea targets of almost all classes.

In 1980 the first copy of the new bomber, called the Tu-160, was built.

Tu-160 is the largest of all bombers previously created both in the USSR and abroad. The aircraft is made according to an integrated circuit with a smooth pairing of the wing and fuselage. The variable geometry wing provides flight on various profiles, maintaining high performance both at supersonic and subsonic speeds. The bomber has an all-moving vertical and horizontal tail, which, in combination with the integral layout and low crew position, significantly reduces the RCS. The design feature of the airframe is a titanium beam, which is an all-welded caisson with wing consoles turning units. All the main power elements of the airframe are attached to the beam passing through the entire aircraft. The bomber is equipped with an in-flight refueling system of the "hose-cone" type. The receiving rod of the fuel receiver in the non-working position is retracted into the forward fuselage in front of the cockpit.

Equipment. The Tu-160 aircraft is equipped with the most modern flight-navigation and radio-technical equipment, including a weapons control system specially designed for it. The equipment provides automatic flight and combat use of the entire range of weapons. It includes a number of systems and sensors that allow you to hit ground targets, regardless of the time of day, region and weather conditions. Along with many indicators of the electromechanical type, electronic indicators in the form of a display are widely used.

The Tu-160 is equipped with a duplicated inertial navigation system, an astronavigation system, satellite navigation equipment, a multi-channel digital communications system and an advanced electronic warfare system that provides detection of enemy radar stations in a wide range, setting powerful active and passive interference.

On board the aircraft is a large number of electronic computing digital devices. Total number digital processors, autonomous and in a network structure, ensuring the operation of systems and equipment, exceeds 100 units. Each workplace crew is equipped with specialized on-board computers.

The sighting and navigation system (PRNK) "Obzor-K" is designed to detect and identify land and sea targets at a great distance, control their means of destruction, as well as to solve problems of navigation and aircraft navigation. The basis of the PRNK is a multifunctional navigation and sighting radar located in the nose of the aircraft. There is also an optoelectronic bomber sight OPB-15T, which provides bombing with high accuracy in daylight conditions and in low light levels. In the future, it is possible to equip the aircraft with a laser system for illuminating ground targets, which makes it possible to use corrected aviation bombs various types.

The Baikal airborne defense system (ADS) allows you to detect enemy air defense systems, detect their position, jam them with interference or place a curtain of decoys behind the aircraft. The tail cone contains numerous containers with IR traps and chaff. In the extreme rear part of the fuselage, the Ogonyok heat direction finder is installed, which detects missiles and enemy aircraft approaching from the rear hemisphere. The pilots' dashboards are equipped with standard electromechanical devices similar to those used on other combat aircraft (for example, on the Tu-22M). The cockpit is maximally simplified, but at the same time, maximum comfort is provided for the crew performing long flights.

Control system. The control system is a complex of mechanical, hydromechanical, electrohydraulic, electromechanical, electronic and electrical equipment. The Tu-160 became the first Soviet mass-produced heavy aircraft with the use of a multiple duplicated analogue electric remote control system (EDSU). EDSU has four channels duplicating each other and emergency mechanical wiring, which ensures high reliability of aircraft control in all flight modes. The aircraft can be controlled both in automatic and manual modes. Pitch, roll and yaw control provides optimal stability and control characteristics in all flight modes. Backup control is provided by a mechanical system with limited functions.

The aircraft control system consists of subsystems for controlling the rudders, wing mechanization, as well as the onboard control system. The aircraft is controlled not with the traditional steering wheel for heavy bombers, but with a “fighter” type control knob. The rudder control system ensures the deflection of the stabilizer, the rotary part of the keel, flaperons and spoilers at all stages of flight in the modes of helm control, semi-automatic and automatic control when working together with ABSU (automatic on-board control system). The ABSU controls the steering surfaces by processing information from the handles and pedals of the crew control posts, its own sensors, sensors and computers of other on-board systems.

Power supply system. The Tu-160 aircraft is equipped with four integrated alternator drives, four contactless generators direct current, control systems, protection and distribution of electricity. As an auxiliary source, an alternator is provided, installed on the auxiliary power unit. Batteries are used as emergency power sources.

Strategic bomber Tu-160 White Swan” or Blackjack (baton) in NATO terminology, represents a unique aircraft. This is the basis of nuclear power modern Russia. TU-160 has excellent specifications: This is the most formidable bomber that can also carry cruise missiles. This is the largest supersonic and graceful aircraft in the world. Developed in the 1970-1980s at the Tupolev Design Bureau and has a variable sweep wing. It has been in service since 1987. Tu-160 "White Swan" - video

The Tu-160 bomber was the "response" to the US AMSA ("Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft") program, under which the notorious B-1 Lancer was created. The Tu-160 missile carrier, in almost all characteristics, was significantly ahead of its main competitors Lancers. The speed of the Tu 160 is 1.5 times higher, the maximum flight range and combat radius are just as much greater. And the thrust of the engines is almost twice as powerful. At the same time, the "invisible" B-2 Spirit cannot stand any comparison, in which, for the sake of stealth, literally everything was sacrificed, including distance, flight stability and payload.

Quantity and cost of TU-160 Each TU-160 long-range missile carrier is a one-piece and rather expensive product, it has unique technical characteristics. Since their inception, only 35 of these aircraft have been built, while an order of magnitude fewer of them have remained intact. But they still remain a storm of enemies and the real pride of Russia. This aircraft is the only product that has received its name. Each of the built aircraft has its own name, they were assigned in honor of champions ("Ivan Yarygin"), designers ("Vitaly Kopylov"), famous heroes ("Ilya Muromets") and, of course, pilots ("Pavel Taran", "Valery Chkalov " and others).

Before the collapse of the USSR, 34 aircraft were built, with 19 bombers remaining in Ukraine, at a base in Priluki. However, these vehicles were too expensive to operate, and the small Ukrainian army simply did not need them. Ukraine offered to give 19 TU-160s to Russia in exchange for Il-76 aircraft (1 to 2) or for writing off the gas debt. But for Russia it was unacceptable. In addition, the United States influenced Ukraine, which actually forced the destruction of 11 TU-160s. 8 aircraft were handed over to Russia for the cancellation of the gas debt. As of 2013, the Air Force had 16 Tu-160s. There were prohibitively few of these aircraft in Russia, but their construction would have cost a huge amount. Therefore, it was decided to upgrade 10 bombers out of the 16 available to the Tu-160M standard. Long-range aviation in 2015 should receive 6 modernized TU-160s. However, in modern conditions, even the modernization of the existing TU-160 cannot solve the assigned military tasks. Therefore, there were plans to build new missile carriers.

In 2015, Kazan decided to consider the possibility of starting production of the new TU-160 at the facilities of KAZ. These plans have taken shape as a result of the formation of the present international situation. However, this is a difficult but solvable task. Some technologies and personnel were lost, but, nevertheless, the task is quite feasible, especially since there is a backlog - two unfinished aircraft. The cost of one missile carrier is about 250 million dollars. The history of the creation of the TU-160 The design task was formulated back in 1967 by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The design bureaus of Myasishchev and Sukhoi were involved in the work, and they offered their options a few years later. These were bombers capable of developing supersonic speed and overcoming air defense systems on it. The Tupolev Design Bureau, which had experience in developing the Tu-22 and Tu-95 bombers, as well as the Tu-144 supersonic aircraft, did not participate in the competition. As a result, the Myasishchev Design Bureau project was recognized as the winner, but the designers did not have time to celebrate the victory: after a while, the government decided to close the Myasishchev Design Bureau project. All documentation for the M-18 was transferred to the Tupolev Design Bureau, which joined the competition with the "Product-70" (future TU-160 aircraft).

The following requirements were imposed on the future bomber: flight range at an altitude of 18,000 meters at a speed of 2300-2500 km / h within 13 thousand km; flight range at the ground of 13 thousand km and at an altitude of 18 km in subsonic mode; the aircraft should approach the target at subsonic cruising speed, overcome enemy air defenses - at cruising speed near the ground and in supersonic high-altitude mode. The total mass of the combat load should be 45 tons. The first flight of the prototype (Product "70-01") was carried out at the Ramenskoye airfield in December 1981 of the year. The product "70-01" was piloted by test pilot Boris Veremeev with his crew. The second copy (product "70-02") did not fly, it was used for static tests. Later, a second aircraft (product "70-03") joined the tests. The supersonic missile carrier TU-160 was put into mass production in 1984 at the Kazan Aviation Plant. In October 1984, the first serial machine took off, in March 1985 - the second serial, in December 1985 - the third, in August 1986 - the fourth.

In 1992, Boris Yeltsin decided to suspend the ongoing serial production of the Tu 160 if the US stopped mass production of the B-2. by that time, 35 aircraft had been produced. KAPO by 1994, KAPO handed over six bombers to the Russian Air Force. They were stationed in the Saratov region at the Engels airfield. The new missile carrier TU-160 ("Alexander Molodchiy") in May 2000 became part of the Air Force. The TU-160 complex was put into service in 2005. In April 2006, it was announced that tests of the upgraded NK-32 engines, designed for the TU-160, were completed. New engines are distinguished by increased reliability and significantly increased resource. In December 2007, the first flight of a new production aircraft TU-160 was carried out. Colonel-General Alexander Zelin, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, announced in April 2008 that another Russian bomber would enter service with the Air Force in 2008. The new aircraft was named "Vitaly Kopylov". It was planned that three more combatant TU-160s would be upgraded in 2008.

Design features The White Swan aircraft was created with a wide use of proven solutions for the machines already built in the design bureau: Tu-142MS, Tu-22M and Tu-144, and some components, assemblies and part of the systems were transferred to the aircraft without changes. "White Swan" has a design in which composites, stainless steel, aluminum alloys V-95 and AK-4, titanium alloys VT-6 and OT-4 are widely used. The aircraft "White Swan" is an integral low-wing aircraft with variable sweep wing, all-moving keel and stabilizer, tricycle landing gear. The mechanization of the wing includes double-slotted flaps, slats, flaperons and spoilers are used for roll control. Four NK-32 engines are mounted in the lower part of the fuselage in pairs in engine nacelles. APU TA-12 is used as an autonomous power unit. The glider has an integrated circuit. Technologically, it consists of six main parts, from F-1 to F-6. A radar antenna is installed in the leaky bow in a radio-transparent fairing, behind it is a leaky radio equipment compartment. The one-piece central part of the bomber with a length of 47.368 m includes the fuselage, which includes the cockpit and two cargo compartments. Between them is the fixed part of the wing and the caisson compartment of the center section, the tail section of the fuselage and engine nacelles. The cabin is a single pressurized compartment, where, in addition to the crew jobs, the electronic equipment of the aircraft is located.

Wing on a variable-sweep bomber. The wing with a minimum sweep has a span of 57.7 m. The control system and the rotary assembly are generally similar to the Tu-22M, but they have been recalculated and strengthened. Wing caisson structure, mainly made of aluminum alloys. The turning part of the wing moves from 20 to 65 degrees along the leading edge. Three-section double-slotted flaps are installed along the trailing edge, and four-section slats are installed along the leading edge. For roll control, there are six-section spoilers, as well as flapperons. The inner cavity of the wing is used as fuel tanks. The aircraft has an automatic electrical remote onboard control system with redundant mechanical wiring and quadruple redundancy. Management is dual, handles are installed, not handwheels. The aircraft is controlled in pitch with the help of an all-moving stabilizer, in the course - with an all-moving keel, in roll - by spoilers and flaperons. Navigation system - two-channel K-042K. "White Swan" - one of the most comfortable combat aircraft. During the 14-hour flight, pilots have the opportunity to get up and warm up. Also on board there is a kitchen with a cabinet that allows you to heat up food. There is also a toilet, which was not previously on strategic bombers. It was around the bathroom during the transfer of the aircraft to the military that a real war took place: they did not want to accept the car, since the design of the bathroom was imperfect.

Armament Tu-160Initially, the Tu-160 was built as a missile carrier - a carrier of cruise missiles with long-range nuclear warheads, designed to deliver massive strikes on areas. In the future, it was planned to expand and modernize the range of transportable ammunition, as evidenced by the stencils on the doors of the cargo compartments with suspension options for a huge range of cargo. The TU-160 is armed with X-55SM strategic cruise missiles, which are used to destroy stationary targets with given coordinates, their input is carried out before the bomber takes off in the memory of the missile. The missiles are located in six pieces on two MKU-6-5U drum launchers, in the cargo compartments of the aircraft. Short-range hypersonic aeroballistic missiles Kh-15S (12 for each MKU) can be included in the armament for short-range engagement.

After appropriate re-equipment, the bomber can also be equipped with free-fall bombs of various calibers (up to 40,000 kg), including single bomb clusters, nuclear bombs, sea mines and other weapons. In the future, it is planned to significantly strengthen the composition of the bomber's weapons through the use of high-precision cruise missiles of the latest generation Kh-101 and Kh-555, which have an increased range and are also designed to destroy both tactical sea and ground, and strategic targets of almost all classes.

Tu-160(according to NATO classification Blackjack) - supersonic bomber, which has a variable sweep wing, was created by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1980s. It has been in service since 1987. The Russian Air Force currently has 16 Tu-160 strategic missile carriers..

This aircraft is the largest in history. military aviation supersonic aircraft and aircraft with variable geometry wing, as well as the heaviest among all combat aircraft in the world. Tu-160 has the largest maximum take-off weight among all existing bombers. Among Russian pilots, the aircraft has the nickname "White Swan".

Work on the creation of a new generation strategic bomber was started in the Design Bureau of A.N. Tupolev in 1968. In 1972, the project of a multi-mode bomber with a variable sweep wing was ready; Kuznetsov began work on the creation of engines for the new aircraft.

Initially, it was going to be armed with Kh-45 high-speed missiles, but later this idea was abandoned, giving preference to small-sized Kh-55 subsonic cruise missiles, as well as Kh-15 aeroballistic hypersonic missiles, which were placed on multi-position launchers inside the hull.

The full-scale layout of the new bomber was approved in 1977. In the same year, at the experimental production of MMZ "Experience" in Moscow, they began to assemble a batch of 3 experimental machines. The wing and stabilizers for them were manufactured in Novosibirsk, the fuselage was manufactured in Kazan, and the landing gear was manufactured in Gorky.

The final assembly of the first prototype was made in January 1981, the Tu-160 aircraft with the numbers "70-1" and "70-3" were intended for flight tests, and the aircraft with the number "70-02" for static tests.

The first flight of the aircraft with serial number "70-01" took place on December 18, 1981(the crew commander was B.I. Veremey), and on October 6, 1984, a car with serial number “70-03” took off, which already had a complete set of equipment for a serial bomber. After another 2 years, on August 15, 1986, the 4th serial bomber left the gates of the assembly shop in Kazan, which became the first combatant. In total, 8 aircraft of two experimental series were involved in the performance of flight tests.

During the state tests, which were completed in mid-1989, 4 successful launches of X-55 cruise missiles, which were the main weapon of the vehicle, were carried out from the bomber-missile carrier. The maximum horizontal flight speed was also achieved, amounting to almost 2200 km / h. At the same time, during the operation, it was decided to limit the speed threshold to a speed of 2000 km / h, which was mainly due to the preservation of the resource of the propulsion system and airframe.

The first 2 experimental Tu-160 strategic bombers were included in the Air Force combat unit on April 17, 1987. After the collapse of the USSR, almost all the production vehicles available at that time (19 bombers) remained on the territory of Ukraine, at the air base in the city of Pryluky. In 1992, bombers of this type began to enter service with the 1st TBAP of the Russian Air Force, which was based in Engels. By the end of 1999, there were 6 Tu-160 aircraft at this airbase, another part of the aircraft was in Kazan (under assembly) and at the airfield in Zhukovsky.

Currently, most of the Russian Tu-160s have individual names. For example, the Air Force has the Ilya Muromets aircraft (this was the name of the world's first heavy bomber, which was built in Russia in 1913), Mikhail Gromov, Ivan Yarygin, Vasily Reshetnikov.

The high performance of the Russian strategic bomber was confirmed by setting 44 world records. In particular, with a payload of 30 tons, the aircraft flew along a closed route of 1,000 km at a speed of 1,720 km/h. And in flight at a distance of 2000 km, having a takeoff weight of 275 tons, the aircraft was able to reach an average speed of 1678 km / h, as well as a flight altitude of 11250 m.

During serial production, the bomber was subjected to a number of improvements, which were determined by the experience of its operation. For example, the number of valves for feeding aircraft engines was increased, which made it possible to increase the stability of the turbojet engine with an afterburner and simplify their controllability. The replacement of a number of structural elements from metal to carbon fiber allowed to some extent to reduce the weight of the aircraft. The hatches of the operator and navigator were equipped with rear-view periscopes, it was also finalized software and changes were made to the hydraulic system.

As part of the implementation of a multi-stage program to reduce radar visibility, a special graphite radar-absorbing coating was applied to the channels of the air intakes and shells, and the nose of the aircraft was also covered with radar-absorbing paint. It was possible to implement measures to shield the engines. The introduction of mesh filters into the cockpit glazing made it possible to eliminate the re-reflection of radar radiation from its internal surfaces.

To date, the Tu-160 strategic bomber-missile carrier is the most powerful combat vehicle in the world. In terms of the composition of weapons and its main characteristics, it significantly surpasses the American counterpart - the multi-mode strategic bomber V-1V "Lancer". It is assumed that further work to improve the Tu-160, in particular, the expansion and renewal of the armament, as well as the installation of a new avionics, will further increase its potential.

Design features

The Tu-160 bomber is made according to the normal aerodynamic configuration with variable wing geometry. A design feature of the airframe of the aircraft is an integrated circuit of the aerodynamic layout, according to which the fixed part of the wing forms a single whole with the fuselage. This decision made it possible to make the best use of the internal volumes of the airframe for accommodating fuel, cargo, various equipment, as well as to reduce the number of structural joints, which led to a decrease in the mass of the structure.

The bomber airframe is made mainly from aluminum alloys (B-95 and AK-4, heat-treated to increase the resource). The wing consoles are made of titanium and high-strength aluminum alloys and are attached to hinges that allow changing the wing sweep in the range from 20 to 65 degrees. The proportion of titanium alloys in the mass of the bomber airframe is 20%, fiberglass is also used, glued three-layer structures are widely used.

The crew of the bomber, consisting of 4 people, is located in a single spacious pressurized cabin. In front of it, there are seats for the first and second pilots, as well as for the navigator-operator and navigator. All crew members are placed in K-36DM ejection seats. To increase the efficiency of operators and pilots during a long flight, the seatbacks are equipped with pillows with pulsating air for massage. At the rear of the cockpit is a small-sized kitchen, a folding bunk for rest and a toilet. Aircraft of late production models were equipped with a built-in gangway.

The aircraft landing gear is tricycle, with 2 steerable wheels of the front support. The main landing gear has an oscillating suspension strut and is behind the bomber's center of mass. They have pneumatic shock absorbers and three-axle bogies with 6 wheels. The landing gear retracts into small niches in the fuselage back along the bomber's flight. Shields and aerodynamic deflectors, designed to press air against the runway, are responsible for protecting the engine air intakes from dirt and precipitation.

The power plant Tu-160 includes 4 bypass turbojet engines with an afterburner NK-32(created by OKB N.D. Kuznetsov). Engines have been mass-produced in Samara since 1986, until the mid-1990s they had no analogues in the world. NK-32 is one of the world's first mass-produced engines, during the design of which measures were taken to reduce infrared and radar visibility.

The aircraft engines are located in pairs in the engine nacelles and are separated from each other by special fireproof partitions. The motors operate independently of each other. To implement an autonomous power supply, a separate auxiliary gas turbine power plant was also installed on the Tu-160.

The Tu-160 bomber is equipped with a PRNA sighting and navigation system, consisting of an optoelectronic bomber sight, a surveillance and sighting radar, INS, SNS, an astrocorrector and the Baikal airborne defense system (containers with dipole reflectors and IR traps, a heat direction finder). There is also a multi-channel digital communication complex, which is interfaced with satellite systems. More than 100 special computers are involved in the bomber's avionics.

The onboard defense system of a strategic bomber guarantees the detection and classification of enemy air defense radars, determination of their coordinates and their subsequent disorientation by false targets, or suppression by powerful active interference. For bombing, the Thunderstorm sight is used, which ensures the defeat of various targets with high accuracy in daylight conditions and in low light levels. The direction finder for detecting missiles and enemy aircraft from the rear hemisphere is located in the rearmost part of the fuselage.

In the tail cone there are containers with chaff and IR traps. In the cockpit there are standard electromechanical devices, which are generally similar to those installed on the Tu-22M3. The heavy machine is controlled using the control stick (joystick), as on fighter jets.

The armament of the aircraft is located in 2 in-fuselage cargo compartments, which can contain a variety of target load with a total weight of up to 40 tons. The armament can consist of 12 X-55 subsonic cruise missiles on 2 drum-type multi-position launchers, as well as up to 24 X-15 hypersonic missiles on 4 launchers. To destroy small-sized tactical targets, the aircraft can use corrected aerial bombs (KAB) weighing up to 1500 kg. Also, the aircraft can carry up to 40 tons of conventional free-fall bombs.

In the future, the weapon system of a strategic bomber can be significantly enhanced by including new high-precision cruise missiles, for example, the X-555, designed to destroy both tactical and strategic ground and sea targets of almost all possible classes.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the Tu-160:

Dimensions:
- maximum wing span - 55.7 m, minimum - 35.6 m;
- length - 54.1 m;
- height - 13.2 m;
Wing area - 360.0 sq. m.
Aircraft weight:
– empty – 110.000 kg
- normal takeoff - 267.600 kg
- maximum takeoff - 275.000 kg
Engine type - 4 turbofans NK-32;
- non-afterburning thrust -4x137.2 kN;
- afterburner thrust - 4x247.5 kN.
Maximum speed at altitude - 2230 km / h;
Cruising speed - 917 km / h;
Practical flight range without refueling: 12.300 km;
Combat radius: 6.000 km;
Practical ceiling - 15.000 m;
Crew - 4 people

Armament: in two ventral compartments there is a different target load with a total mass of 22,500 kg, maximum - up to 40,000 kg. The armament includes tactical and strategic cruise missiles X-55 and X-55M, as well as short-range aeroballistic hypersonic missiles X-15 (M = 5) with nuclear and non-nuclear warheads, as well as KAB corrected aerial bombs of various types up to KAB-1500 , conventional types of bombs, as well as mines.

On planet Earth, only two countries - Russia and the United States - have in their armed forces the so-called "nuclear triad" - strategic aviation, intercontinental missiles and nuclear submarines. Such a distribution of nuclear warheads among various carriers is necessary so that in the event of a surprise attack and the destruction of certain types of weapons, a retaliatory strike is guaranteed to be carried out by other means.

During the reign Nikita Khrushchev the main emphasis was placed on the development of rocket technology, and therefore, by the beginning of the 1970s, the USSR had only Tu-95 "Bear" and M-4 "Bizon" bombers, which could not be guaranteed to overcome the NATO air defense zone due to their low speed. At the same time, the US began developing the B-1 supersonic strategic bomber to replace the aging B-52. After the backlog of the USSR in this area became obvious, a competition was announced for the creation of such an aircraft in our country.

Undercover games with airplanes

A mysterious story is connected with the creation of the Tu-160. In those days, several design bureaus worked in our country, which could “pull” such a complex project. It was the Sukhoi Design Bureau, which was working on the T-4 project - a bomber that could become the fastest aircraft in the world with a maximum speed of 3200 km / h, the Myasishchev Design Bureau, which was developing the M-18 project with a variable sweep of the wing. The oldest design bureau of Tupolev, which already had experience in developing the Tu-144 supersonic passenger aircraft and Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers, did not participate in the competition.

The project of the Myasishchev Design Bureau was recognized as the winner, but the designers did not have time to celebrate the victory: after some time, the government decided to close the project in the Myasishchev Design Bureau and transfer all the documentation for the M-18 to ... Tupolev Design Bureau, which joined the competition with its "Product - 70" (future Tu-160).

There are several opinions as to why such a decision was made. According to one version, the government considered that the Myasishchev Design Bureau did not have enough capacity to carry out such a complex project. On the other hand, that the Air Force command did not like the plane. There is an opinion that Andrey Tupolev at a personal meeting with Leonid Brezhnev persuaded him to transfer the project and documentation to his design bureau. It is worth noting that the Tu-160 is indeed somewhat similar to the M-18, but, of course, there is no talk of a direct “rip-off”.

Photo: RIA Novosti / Skrynnikov

Swan song of the USSR

In fact, the Tu-160 is the last large-scale project in the USSR, which was carried out before its collapse. Between the beginning of the design of the aircraft in 1972 and the first flight of the car, 9 years passed: on December 18, 1981, the car was lifted into the air from the Ramenskoye airfield test pilot Boris Veremey. The bomber entered service in 1987.

It is worth noting that this period for the creation of such a project was minimal and shows how powerful the aviation industry was at the end of the USSR: today the creation of such an aircraft in Russia, if possible, is with the consolidation of all surviving enterprises.

The experience of creating the Tu-22 and Tu-144 allowed the Tupolev team to quickly develop a car: many elements of these aircraft were transferred to the Tu-160 without changes. However, much had to be created from scratch. The main problem it was to ensure a flight range that was supposed to be more than 12,000 km without refueling in the air (for example, the length of the Earth's equator is 40,000 km), and a maximum flight speed of more than 2,000 kilometers per hour. This problem was solved by using a variable sweep wing: most of the flight, to the enemy air defense zone, the Tu-160 passes at subsonic speed (about 900 km / h) with almost straight wings, and overcomes it at supersonic, "folding" them.

Interestingly, the Tu-160 is one of the most comfortable combat aircraft. During the 14-hour flight, pilots can get up and warm up. On board there is a kitchen with a cabinet for warming up food and a toilet, which was not previously on strategic bombers. It was around the bathroom that a real war broke out during the transfer of the aircraft to the military: they did not want to accept the car because of the imperfection of its design.

The Tu-160 is armed with 12 X-55 cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 2,500 km. Target coordinates are programmed into missiles before the bomber takes off, and after launch, it goes towards it, bending around the terrain, and it is almost impossible to shoot it down. Thus, the Tu-160 can launch missiles without entering the enemy air defense zone. However, if necessary, he is able to break through it: high speed makes it a very difficult target for both anti-aircraft missiles and fighters. The yield of each of the nuclear warheads is 200 kilotons (15 times more than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima).

Photo: RIA Novosti / Vitaly Belousov

Tragedy in Ukraine

By the time of the collapse of the USSR, 34 aircraft had been produced, and most of them (19 bombers) were based in Prilupki in Ukraine. It soon became clear that these vehicles were too expensive to operate and were not needed for a small Ukrainian army. V. Zakharchenko, who then served as the military attache of Ukraine in Russia, said: “Before armed forces Ukraine is not faced with tasks that require such aircraft.” In 1995, negotiations began between Russia and Ukraine on the sale of the Tu-160, but strange demands followed from the Ukrainian side.

Ukraine offered to transfer 19 Tu-160s to Russia for writing off the debt for gas (which Gazprom categorically refused) or in exchange for Il-76 transport aircraft at a rate of 1 to 2. It was impossible to fulfill the second paragraph for the reason that, having exchanged the Tu-160 on its Il-76, Russia would actually lose transport aviation, and their production in the USSR was carried out at a plant in Uzbekistan, which after the collapse of the USSR practically ceased to function.

However, it soon became clear why Kyiv did not make concessions regarding the Tu-160. In 1998, the Ukrainian and US defense ministries signed an agreement to destroy 44 bombers, including 19 Tu-160s, as well as thousands of X-55 missiles. On November 16, two "White Swans" in the presence of representatives of the US Department of Defense were destroyed using an excavator and a special guillotine. The cost of destroying the vehicles was paid for with American money: $1 million per aircraft (with the cost of one Tu-160 being about $250 million). In total, 11 Tu-160s were rendered non-flying, and the remaining 8 were transferred to Russia on account of the debt for gas. AT this moment there is no strategic aviation in Ukraine.

Photo: RIA Novosti / Skrynnikov

Tu-160 as a means of influence

Russia is armed with 16 Tu-160s, each of which has its own given name. Planes have names Air Chief Marshal of the USSR Alexander Novikov, aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky, Russian hero Ilya Muromets and other historical figures of Russia.

Aircraft often fly along the air defense line different countries, which causes hype in the press and irritation of politicians. But in fact, this is not so much a way to show the power of Russian aviation as an opportunity to understand how quickly interceptors react to such flights: they always “accompany” the Tu-160.

The missile carrier, developed back in the USSR, is still one of the most modern in the world, and with the advent of the US B-2 bombers, the situation has not changed much. Combat clashes in Yugoslavia showed that Stealth technology does not always save when an air defense line is breached: an inconspicuous F-117 fighter was still shot down by the S-125 Neva anti-aircraft missile system.

The weak point of the Tu-160 today is its outdated on-board equipment, but next year it is planned to modernize it on all 19 machines. In addition, in 2009, work began on the Advanced Aviation Complex long-range aviation(PAK DA) - an aircraft that should replace the Tu-95. The first flight is scheduled for 2019, and the start of operation - for 2025.

In the 60s of the last century, the Soviet Union focused on the development of missile weapons, and strategic aviation, presented Tu-95 and M-4 with subsonic speeds, was considered unable to overcome the air defense of NATO countries.

The decision of the United States to create a new strategic supersonic bomber B-1 prompted the leadership of the USSR to take adequate retaliatory measures. The Council of Ministers decided to start preparing a project for a modern intercontinental strategic supersonic aircraft, which later received the designation TU-160, and the pilots had an affectionate name - "White Swan".

The history of the Tu 160 aircraft project

The design of the new bomber was entrusted to the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau. By the beginning of the 70s, the projects were submitted for consideration. Both projects turned out to be similar - this is a supersonic machine with four engines and a variable sweep wing, but still the schemes were different.

In 1969, the Tupolev Design Bureau with experience in creating a supersonic passenger aircraft joined the project. Tu-144. Having considered the projects of the Sukhoi and Myasishchev Design Bureau and the out-of-competition project of the Tupolev Design Bureau, it was decided to give work on the project to the Tupolev team, as they had extensive practice in creating supersonic machines.

In addition to the Tupolev Design Bureau, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, the Air Force Research Institute, TsAGI were involved, since 1972 more than 800 organizations have taken part.
The first prototype (designation 70-01) took off from the ground in December 1981 with a crew led by test pilot B. Veremey from the Ramenskoye airfield. The second sample was intended for static tests. The first four samples were made at the Opyt enterprise.

Tu 160 scheme

Serial aircraft were manufactured at the Kazan Aviation Plant. In 1984, on October 10, the series was given a ticket to heaven.

Description of the aircraft Tu 160

The design of the machine is built on an integral aerodynamic layout with a low-lying wing with a sweep that changes in flight. Sweep can be changed from 200 to 650.
The wing is equipped with rich mechanization - on each console there are slats along the entire length, behind - flaps. In front of the flaps, a flaperon and a spoiler were built into the console design.

The radio-transparent radome of the antenna hides inside the onboard radar for viewing the front sphere. In the space between the cockpit and the surveillance locator blocks is the Sopka radar, designed for flying at low altitude with enveloping the terrain.

The cockpit is designed for four members - two pilots and two navigators, who sit side by side. The first navigator is responsible for aircraft navigation, the other for the use of weapons. Armchairs are equipped with a catapult.

Under the influx of the wing in front are multi-mode air intakes that regulate the oncoming flow and supply it to the engines. The cross section of the intake channels changes, from a rectangular one smoothly turns into a round one. The power plant consists of four NK-32 turbofan engines, placed two on each side of the fuselage.

The keel of the Tu-160 is made of two sections, the fuselage body is rigidly connected to bottom, and the upper trapezoidal section acts as a rudder. On the fixed part of the keel, the swivel mechanism and the swivel stabilizer itself are attached.

The landing gear of the aircraft is made according to a three-bearing scheme, the main landing gear on each support has six wheels, retractable into a niche on the center section between the air intakes and the weapons compartment. The nose landing gear is two-wheeled, in the retracted position it is located between the weapons compartment and the cockpit.

The design of the aircraft allows you to place 171 tons of fuel in 13 caisson tanks, which at a cruising speed with a sweep of 350 makes it possible to cover a distance of 14 thousand km. In-flight refueling is also provided - the fuel receiver in the form of a retractable rod is located in the bow, in front of the cockpit.

Tu 160 in the air

To fulfill its mission - to break through the enemy's air defense and strike at important strategic targets, it is equipped with the Baikal airborne defense system. This complex includes stations for detecting threats from aviation and air defense systems, electronic warfare stations and automatic devices shooting decoys and traps.

At the bottom of the nose of the aircraft there is an OPB-15T optical-electronic sight for accurate bombing and a viewing camera in the front lower sphere. The inertial navigation system, the astronavigation system and the equipment of the satellite tracking system make it possible to fly with high accuracy, displaying the aircraft's location on the navigator's indicators.

The performance data of the Tu 160 bomber

Tu 160 "White Swan"

Flight characteristics Tu 160

The maximum speed at an altitude of 12 thousand. m - 2200 km / h.
The maximum speed near the ground is 1030 km / h.
Cruising speed - 850-920 km / h.
Rate of climb - 70 m / s.
The practical range without refueling is 14 thousand km.
Ceiling - 15600 m.
Combat radius - 7300 km.
Flight duration - 14.5 hours.

The power plant of the aircraft Tu 160

Four turbofan engines NK-32 with thrust in cruising mode - 137.2 kN.
afterburner - 245.7 kN.

Tu 160 dimensions

The length of the aircraft is 54.10 m.
The height of the aircraft is 13.10 m.
Wingspan, sweep 200 - 55.7 m.
Wingspan, sweep 350 - 50.7 m.
Wingspan, sweep 650 - 35.6 m.

Aircraft weight Tu 160

Empty, equipped aircraft - 117 tons.
Takeoff maximum - 225 tons.

Tu 160 aircraft armament

On the installation of the drum type - 6 ALCM Kh-55SM / 101/102.
Short-range missiles X-15 - 12 pcs.

Interesting about the strategic bomber Tu 160

Forty-four world records are registered on the White Swan account.

Each side is named after an outstanding designer or famous pilot.

Tu 160 "Valentin Bliznyuk"

Only this strategic bomber can boast of its own kitchen and bathroom; before it, military aircraft were not equipped with such amenities.

"Dubinka" was called in NATO, and Russian pilots affectionately - "White Swan".

It is perhaps the largest variable-sweep wing aircraft in the world.

While on a visit to Russia, Frank Carpucci, the then US Secretary of Defense, inspected and entering the cockpit, touched his head with an electrical shield. Since then, the pilots have nicknamed him "Carpucci's shield."