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Tupolev Tu-22M ASCC codename: Backfire Intercontinental Strategic Bomber |
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DESCRIPTION:
Due to the disappointing performance of the Tu-22, the Tupolev design bureau was tasked with extensively modifying the design to produce the Tu-22M. The Backfire, as it is known in the West, features swing wings and more powerful engines located within the fuselage rather than on external pods. Thanks to these changes, the Tu-22M can reach speeds of Mach 2 at altitude and close to Mach 1 in low level flight. The majority of the Tu-22M fleet went to Naval Aviation units for use as anti-shipping bombers. About 300 Backfires were built before production ceased in 1993.
Data below for Tu-22M-3 |
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| HISTORY: | |
| First Flight |
(Tu-22M-0) 1969 (Tu-22M-3) 1977 |
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Service Entry
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(Tu-22M-1) 1973 (Tu-22M-3) 1984 |
| CREW: |
four: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapons systems officer
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ESTIMATED COST:
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unknown
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| AIRFOIL SECTIONS: | |
| Wing Root | unknown |
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Wing Tip
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unknown
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| DIMENSIONS: | |
| Length | 139.31 ft (42.46 m) |
| Wingspan |
unswept: 112.48 ft (34.28 m) swept: 76.46 ft (23.30 m) |
| Height | 36.25 ft (11.05 m) |
| Wing Area | 1,770 ft² (165.0 m²) |
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Canard Area
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not applicable
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| WEIGHTS: | |
| Empty | 119,048 lb (54,000 kg) |
| Normal Takeoff | unknown |
| Max Takeoff | 278,660 lb (126,400 kg) with jet-assisted take-off (JATO) units attached |
| Fuel Capacity |
internal: unknown external: unknown |
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Max Payload
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52,910 lb (24,000 kg)
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| PROPULSION: | |
| Powerplant | two Kuznetsov/KKBM NK-25 afterburning turbofans |
| Thrust |
110,230 lb (490.4 kN)
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| PERFORMANCE: | |
| Max Level Speed |
at altitude: 1,240 mph (2,000 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 1.88 at sea level: 650 mph (1,050 km/h) |
| Initial Climb Rate | unknown |
| Service Ceiling | 43,635 ft (13,300 m) |
| Range |
typical: 2,755 nm (5,100 km) ferry: 4,320 nm (8,000 km) |
| g-Limits |
unknown
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| ARMAMENT: | |
| Gun | one or two GSh-23 23-mm twin-barrel cannon in tail (250 rds ea) |
| Stations | one internal weapons bay and two external hardpoints |
| Air-to-Surface Missile |
(Tu-22M-2) up to 3 Kh-22/AS-4 ASM (Tu-22M-3) up to 10 Kh-15P SRAM |
| Bomb | FAB-250, FAB-500, FAB-1500, FAB-3000 |
| Other |
sea mines
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| KNOWN VARIANTS: | |
| Tu-22M-0 | Prototype |
| Tu-22M-1 'Backfire-A' | Initial operational model that entered production in 1971 but range and low-level performance were found to be inadequate; 9 built |
| Tu-22M-2 'Backfire-B' | Improved bomber with a larger wingspan, new engine intakes, a new landing gear arrangement, and armed with two twin-cannons in the tail, entered production in 1973; 211 built |
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Tu-22M-3 'Backfire-C'
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Improved model with more powerful engines fed by redesigned inlets, a new radar, a rotary launcher in the
weapons bay, and a reduction to one 23-mm tail cannon
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KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
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South Ossetia War (Russia, 2008)
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KNOWN OPERATORS:
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Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force) Russia, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota Sily Rossii (Russian Naval Aviation) Ukraine, Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny (Ukraine Military Air Forces) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Soviet Naval Aviation) |
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