Strategic Bombers


The Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name Bear) is the most successful Tupolev strategic bomber and missile carrier from the times of the Soviet Union, still in service as of 2006 and expected to remain in service with the Russian Air Force until at least 2010 [1]. The Bear is powered by four Kuznetsov turboprop engines, each driving contra-rotating propellers, and remains one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft ever built. To date it remains the only turboprop-powered bomber to have been deployed. A naval version is designated Tu-142.

Development of the turboprop powered Tu-95 began in the 1950s as an intercontinental bomber when the Tu-4 showed that piston engines were not powerful enough to fullfil that role, and the AM-3 jet engines of the proposed T-4 intercontinental jet bomber did not provide it with enough range.[1]

The Tu-95 development was officially approved by the government on 11 July 1951, resulting in the test of the first prototype 95/1 on 12 November 1952. Series production of the airplane started in January 1956.

Initially the United States Department of Defense did not take the Tu-95 seriously, as estimates showed it had a maximum speed of 400 mph (644 km/h) with a range of 7800 miles.[2] This number has been revised upward numerous times.

The Tupolev 95 is one of the noisiest aircraft in the world. It is so loud that submarine crews could detect it during dives, picking up the clear signature of the plane's eight contra-propellers. This hampered the plane's utility in maritime patrol. During the Cold War, U.S. fighter pilots photographing Tu-95s in flight found them extraordinarily loud, even though these fighter pilots were in pressurised compartments and wearing head gear. The intercept pilots found the Bear to be uncomfortably loud and today, there are many hearing impaired former Tu-95 crewmembers in Russia.

The Tu-95's contra-rotating propeller system was an incredible technological success, and the plane ranked well on fuel efficiency and range. There were drawbacks from this system, an aspect of which being the aforementioned noise generated, but also the maintenance requirements of such a complicated powerplant.

Specifications (Tu-95MS)

Orthographic projection of the Tupolev Tu-95.
General characteristics

    * Crew: Seven - two pilots, one tailgunner, four others
    * Length: 49.50 m (162 ft 5 in)
    * Wingspan: 51.10 m (167 ft 8 in)
    * Height: 12.12 m (39 ft 9 in)
    * Wing area: 310 m² (3,330 ft²)
    * Empty weight: 90,000 kg (198,000 lb)
    * Loaded weight: kg (lb)
    * Max takeoff weight: 188,000 kg (414,500 lb)
    * Powerplant: 4× Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprops, 11,033 kW (14,795 shp) each

Performance

    * Maximum speed: 925 km/h (500 kt, 575 mph)
    * Range: 15,000 km (8,100 nm, 9,400 mi)
    * Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
    * Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2,000 ft/min)
    * Wing loading: 606 kg/m² (124 lb/ft²)
    * Power/mass: 235 W/kg (0.143 hp/lb)

Armament

    * Guns: 1 or 2× AM-23 23 mm cannon in tail turret
    * Missiles: Up to 15,000 kg (33,000 lb), including the Kh-20, Kh-22, Kh-26, and Kh-55 air-to-surface missiles

Tupolev Tu-160

The Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO reporting name Blackjack) is a supersonic, variable-geometry heavy bomber designed by the Soviet Union. It was the last Soviet strategic bomber design and the heaviest combat aircraft ever built. Introduced in 1987, production of the aircraft still continues, with 15 currently in service with the Russian air force.

The first competition for a supersonic strategic heavy bomber was launched in the Soviet Union in 1967. The new plane was to have a cruise speed of over Mach 3, in response to the American XB-70 Valkyrie. It soon became apparent that such an aircraft would be too expensive and difficult to produce, so it was decided to reduce demands (in the U.S., the XB-70 project had already been cancelled).

In 1972 the Soviet Union launched a new multi-mission bomber competition to create a new supersonic, variable-geometry ("swing-wing") heavy bomber with a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, in response to the U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber project. The Tupolev design, dubbed Aircraft 160M, with a lengthened flying wing layout and incorporating some elements of the Tu-144, competed against the Myasishchev M-18 and the Sukhoi T-4 designs. Myasishchev's version, proposing a variable-geometry aircraft, was considered to be the most successful, although the Tupolev organization was regarded as having the greatest potential for completing this complex project. Consequently, Tupolev was assigned in 1973 the development a new aircraft based on the Myasishchev design.

Although the B-1A was cancelled in 1977, work on the new Soviet bomber continued, and in the same year, the design was accepted by the government committee. The prototype was photographed by an airline passenger at a Zhukovski airfield in November 1981, about a month before the aircraft's first flight on 18 December 1981. Production was authorized in 1984, beginning at Kazan Aviation Association. Production of the aircraft, designated Tu-160 (factory designation "aircraft 70" or "product K"), was originally intended to total 100 aircraft, although only 35 have been produced, including three prototypes. The second prototype was lost in flight testing in 1987, the crew ejecting successfully. Production slowed due to lack of funds, and ceased in 1994, although some uncompleted aircraft remained.

The Tu-160 was first presented to the public on a parade in 1989. In 1989–1990 it also set 44 world speed flight records in its weight class. Squadron deployments to Long Range Aviation began in April 1987. Until 1991 19 of those aircraft served in the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment in Pryluki in the Ukrainian Socialist Republic, replacing Tu-16 'Badger' and Tu-22M3 'Backfire' aircraft. After the fall of the Soviet Union those aircraft became Ukrainian property, although in 1999 a deal between Russia and Ukraine led to eight of those aircraft being returned to Russia in exchange for a reduction in Ukraine's energy debts. Ukraine, which has officially renounced nuclear weapons, has destroyed the other Blackjacks in its possession, except for one airframe retained for static display. The Tu-160 is the world´s largest and heaviest bomber aircraft.

Russia's second Tu-160 unit, the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment basing in Engels, was organised in 1992, but by 1994 it had received only six aircraft. Between 1999 and 2000 the eight formerly Ukrainian planes were assigned to the regiment, with another being completed in a factory and given to the regiment in 2000. At least one aircraft has been lost, during a test flight after engine repairs, on 16 September 2003.

There are 14 Tu-160s in service as of November 2005. Another two new-built aircraft are nearing completion at the Kazan Aircraft Plant, one of which was planned for entry into service in March 2006, with the other following later in the year.

As of 2001, six additional Tu-160 served as experimental aircraft at Zhukovski, four of them remaining airworthy.

On 30 December 2005, under an order signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Tu-160 officially entered service in the VVS. On 25 April 2006, Russian commander Igor Khvorov claimed that new Tu-160s managed to penetrate US airspace undetected.

The Tu-160 bears a strong resemblance to the North American B-1B Lancer, although it is significantly larger and faster. The Blackjack has a similar blended wing profile and variable-geometry wings, with sweep selectable from 20° to 65°. Full-span slats are used on the leading edges, with double-slotted flaps on the trailing edges. The Tu-160 has a fly-by-wire control system.

The Blackjack is powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofan engines, the most powerful ever fitted to a combat aircraft. Unlike the B-1B, which abandoned the Mach 2+ requirement of the original B-1A, it retains variable intakes, and is capable of slightly over Mach 2 at altitude.

The Tu-160 is equipped with a probe and drogue in-flight refueling system for extended-range missions, although this is rarely used due to the massive internal fuel capacity of 130 tons, giving a flight endurance of roughly 15 hours.

Although the Tu-160 was designed for reduced detectability to both radar and infrared, it is not a stealth aircraft. Russian sources claim that it has a smaller radar cross section (RCS) than the B-1B, but this claim is not known to have been independently verified, and seems unlikely given the Blackjack's much more exposed engine inlets and broader wing gloves.

Nevertheless Russian Airforces claim that in April, 2006, Tu-160 managed to cross Canadian radar zone without being detected, and that caused a NATO investigation [1].

The Blackjack has an attack radar ("Obzor-K", NATO reporting name Clam Pipe) in a slightly upturned dielectric radome, plus a separate "Sopka" terrain-following radar, which provides fully automatic terrain-following flight at low level. The Tu-160 has an electro-optical bombsight. Its electronic warfare suit includes comprehensive active and passive ECM systems.

The Tu-160 has a crew of four (pilot, co-pilot, weapons systems officer and defensive systems operator) in K-36DM ejection seats. The pilot has a fighter-style control stick, but the flight instruments are traditional "steam gauge" dials. A crew rest area, a toilet, and a galley are provided for long flights. There is no HUD, nor are CRT multi-function displays provided in the original aircraft, however plans for modernization of all Tu-160s were announced in 2003. It will include new digital flight control system, and the ability to carry new weapon types, such as new non-nuclear long-range cruise missiles.

Weapons are carried in two internal bays, each capable of holding 20,000 kg (44,400 lb) of free-fall weapons, or a rotary launcher for nuclear missiles. No defensive weapons are provided, making it the first unarmed post-World War II Soviet bomber.

Variants
A demilitarized, commercial version of the Blackjack, dubbed Tu-160SK, was displayed at an air show in Singapore in 1994 with a model of a small space vehicle named Burlak attached underneath the fuselage. In 1995 Tupolev announced a partnership with the German firm OHB-System to produce the aircraft as a carrier for the launch vehicle; the German government subsequently withdrew funding in 1998. Development reportedly continues, although funding in the CIS is scarce.

Several other variants have been proposed, but not built, including:

    * Tu-160S: designation used for serial Tu-160s when needed to separate them from all the pre-production and experimental aircraft [1]
    * Tu-160V: liquid hydrogen fuelled version (see also Tu-155) [2]
    * Tu-160 NK-74: upgraded (extended range) version with NK-74 engines [3]
    * Tu-160M: a stretched bomber carrying two long-range, hypersonic Kh-90 (3M25 Meteorit-A) missiles
    * Tu-160P (Tu-161): a very long-range escort fighter/interceptor
    * Tu-160PP: an electronic warfare aircraft carrying stand-off jamming and ECM gear (Russian: ПП - постановщик помех)
    * Tu-160R: a strategic reconnaissance platform
    * Tu-160SK: commercial version, designed to launch satellites within the "Burlak" (Russian: Бурлак, "hauler") system [4].
    * Tu-170: a conventional bomber (conceived in order to avoid SALT-2 limits)

Specifications (Tu-160)
General characteristics

    * Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems operator)
    * Length: 54.1 m (177 ft 6 in)
    * Wingspan:
    * Spread (20° sweep): 55.70 m (189 ft 9 in)
    * Swept (65° sweep): 35.60 m (116 ft 10 in)
    * Height: 13.10 m (43 ft 0 in)
    * Wing area:
    * Spread: 400 m² (4,310 ft²)
    * Swept: 360 m² (3,875 ft²)
    * Empty weight: 110,000 kg (242,500 lb)
    * Loaded weight: 267,600 kg (590,000 lb)
    * Max takeoff weight: 275,000 kg (606,000 lb)
    * Powerplant: 4× Samara/Trud NK-321 turbofans
          o Dry thrust: 137 kN (30,900 lbf)
          o Thrust with afterburner: 245 kN (55,100 lbf) each

Performance

    * Maximum speed: Mach 2.05 (2,220 km/h, 1,380 mph) at high altitude
    * Range: 12,300 km (6,640 nm, 7,640 mi) unrefueled
    * Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,200 ft)
    * Rate of climb: 70 m/s (13,780 ft/min)
    * Wing loading: 743 kg/m² with wings fully swept (152 lb/ft²)
    * Thrust/weight: 0.37

Armament

    * 2 internal bays for 40,000 kg (88,200 lb) of ordnance, options include:
          o 2 internal rotary launchers each holding 6× Raduga Kh-55 cruise missiles (primary armament) or 12× Raduga Kh-15 short-range nuclear missiles

The Mikoyan MiG-35 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-35) (NATO reporting name Fulcrum F) is the production version of the latest MiG-29 with a proven thrust vectoring engine and that uses fly-by-wire technology. The aircraft uses the airframe of the MiG-29M1 and was formerly known as the MiG-29OVT (MiG-29M2 and MiG-29MRCA refer to the twin seater development). This latest fighter is more agile and has an increased range of more than 2,100 kilometres. It also features improved avionics, vast improvements in weapon systems, HOTAS systems, wide range of weapons of air to air and air to ground, as well as a variety of defensive and offensive avionics suite. It is no longer tied to the GCI system and would be able to conduct operations independently. It has eight weapon pylons and is able to refuel as well as carry three external fuel tanks. The aircraft is being marketed under the designation MiG-35 for potential export. Russia is promoting the aircraft to various countries like Syria, Libya, Iran, Algeria, Sudan, India, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, to name a few. Malaysia is evaluating the type to add to its existing MiG-29B-12 Fulcrums and to the new Su-30MKM Flankers, to be delivered in 2006.

Before, the designation MiG-35 incorrectly referred to the Mikoyan Project 1.44.

Sukhoi T-4

Despite design similarities the Sukhoi T-4 was not intended as a Soviet equivalent of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, but was rather intended to take advantage of many of the XB-70's aeronautic innovations to develop a smaller reconnaissance and interceptor aircraft capable of reaching mach 3. In this respect the T-4 is more closely a Soviet attempt to develop an aircraft comparable to the Lockheed SR-71.

The T-4 was made largely from titanium and stainless steel, and featured a primitive fly-by-wire control systems but also employed a mechanical system as a backup. The aircraft's nose lowered to provide visibility during takeoff and landing. A periscope was used for forward viewing when the nose was retracted, and could be employed at speeds of up to 373 mph (600 km/h). Braking parachutes were used in addition to conventional wheel brakes.


Testing

The first T-4, designated "101," first flew on August 22, 1972. The test pilot was Vladimir Ilyushin, son of famed aircraft designer, Sergei Ilyushin. It has flown only ten times for a total of less than eleven hours. It is believed to have reached at least Mach 1.3 using four Kolesov RD36-41 engines. These engines each produced 16,000 kgf (35,300 lbf or 157 kN) thrust with afterburners. The aircraft was designed to achieve speeds of up to Mach 3.0, but the program was cancelled before the full performance of the aircraft could be determined.


Specifications
General characteristics

    * Crew: Two
    * Length: 44.5 m ()
    * Wingspan: 22.0 m ()
    * Height: 11.2 m ()
    * Wing area: 295.7 m² ()
    * Empty weight: 55,600 kg ()
    * Max takeoff weight: 100,000-110,000 kg (220,000-243,000 lb)
    * Powerplant: 4× Kolesov RD-36-41 turbofans

Performance

    * Maximum speed: 3,000-3,200 km/h (estimated) (1,864-1,988 mph)

    * Cruise speed: 3,000 km/h (estimated) (1,864 mph)

    * Range: 6,000 km ferry (3,728 mi)
    * Service ceiling: 20,000-24,000 m (66,000-79,000 ft)

Su-25

The Su-25 (NATO reporting name 'Frogfoot') is a battlefield attack, close air support, and anti-tank aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. It remains in service with Russia and other CIS member states, as well as a variety of export customers.


The Su-25 was designed by Sukhoi as a result of studies in the late 1960s on an aircraft to fill the Sturmovik ground attack role (so-named after the famous Ilyushin Il-2 of World War II renown). The Frogfoot is heavily armed, with a Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 30mm cannon and various air-to-ground munitions; it can carry more than 4,000 kg of weaponry in the ground-attack role. It is comparable to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, although it more closely resembles the Northrop YA-9, which lost the USAF competition that produced the A-10. (The same requirement led to the development of fighter bomber versions of the MiG-23 'Flogger', culminating in the definitive MiG-27 'Flogger', although those aircraft share nothing with the Su-25 in design.)

The first prototype, with the bureau designation T-8-1, made its first flight on 22 February 1975. Development problems delayed its service entry until April 1981. Early examples that were observed by the west were spotted at the Zhukovsky flight test centre near the town of Ramenskoye, resulting in the temporary codename of Ram-J. The Ram-J was initially believed to have overwing mounted turbojets and a tailplane mounted midway up the vertical stabilizer, unlike the actual aircraft.

The Su-25, which is called Grach (rook) in CIS service, was heavily used by the Soviet Union during its operations in Afghanistan in the 1980s. 22 Su-25 were lost in this conflict.

Two-seat Su-25UB trainers were also built, including a small number for the AVMF designated Su-25UTG. They had strengthened airframes and an arresting hook for practicing aircraft carrier landings. The first Su-25UTG flew in September 1988, and about ten were produced. About half remain in Russian service, used with Russia's sole carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. The Russian navy ordered ten more Su-25UBP aircraft, much like the earlier Su-25UTG, but with a retractable aerial refueling probe.

More advanced attack variants, the Su-25T (alternatively, Su-34, although the OKB appears to have given that designation to the 'Flanker' derivative, the Su-34 'Fullback') and later Su-25TM (Su-39), were developed with an improved nav/attack system, better survivability, and capability of carrying new precision-guided weapons. Only a handful of each version has been produced. However, the improved systems from these aircraft have been utilised in the Su-25SM, an upgrade for series produced Su-25s for the Russian Air Force, resulting in superior survivability and combat capability.

The upgraded SU-25KM “Scorpion”, developed by Georgian aerospace manufacturer TAM in conjunction with Elbit Systems of Israel, is enhanced with the most advanced avionics, designed to elevate its unique capabilities and to provide a head-start into the 21st century as a model for close-attack aircraft. Avionics include “Glass cockpit” arrangement; digital map generator; display and sight helmet; computerized weapons system; complete mission pre-plan capability; fully redundant backup modes; extremely reliable and very easy to maintain. Performance enhancements include: Highly accurate navigation; pinpoint weapon delivery systems; all weather and day/night performance; NATO compatibility; high level of situational awareness; state-of-the art safety and survivability features; advanced onboard debriefing capabilities complying with international requirements.

The Sukhoi Su-28 was built as a variant of the Su-25UB, which adopted the role of primary trainer and demonstrator.

General characteristics

    * Crew: one pilot
    * Length: 15.53 m (50 ft 11)
    * Wingspan: 14.36 m (47 ft 1 in)
    * Height: 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
    * Wing area: 30.1 m² (324 ft²)
    * Empty weight: 9,185 kg (20,250 lb)
    * Loaded weight: 14,600 kg (32,190 lb)
    * Max takeoff weight: 17,600 kg (38,800 lb)
    * Powerplant: 2× Tumansky R-195 turbojets, 44.18 kN (9,932 lbf) each

Performance

    * Maximum speed: 975 km/h (606 mph)
    * Combat radius: 375 km (235 mi)
    * Ferry range: 1,950 km (1,210 mi)
    * Service ceiling: 10,000 m (22,200 ft)
    * Rate of climb: 58 m/s (11,400 ft/min)
    * Wing loading: 584 kg/m² (119 lb/ft²)
    * Thrust/weight: 0.51

Armament

    * 1× GSh-30-2 30mm cannon with 250 rounds
    * 11 hardpoints for up to 4,400 kg (9,700 lb) of disposable ordnance, including rails for two R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') or other air-to-air missiles for self-defence and a wide variety of general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, gun pods, rocket pods, laser-guided bombs, and air-to-surface missiles

Su-25T



SU-25T   strike fighters are capable of inflicting surgical air strikes in Chechnya, Vladimir Babak President JSC Sukhoi Strike Fighters said today. This is achieved through the use of the smart weaponry such as KAB-500 air bombs, laser-guided X25ML missiles and other attack systems. Since SU-25T  is equipped with brand-new attack capabilities, modern targeting and avionics complex SHKVAL, and radar, it is able to accomplish missions under all- weather conditions and take out robust air defense systems. SU-25T can destroy modern Abraham type tanks without direct interaction with the enemy. According to Babak, Sukhoi Design Bureau had already developed a more advanced version of SU25T. The Sukhoi plant in Ulan-Ude can produce up to 12 SU-25TM a year."

Nastivice se.......

mozes li da stavis nesto o starijim avionima ako imas o mig17 recimo ili jos starijim o avionima iz ww2

care svak ti dala za temu! kad ce info o PAK FA, i imash li mozda klipove sa Mig - 29 SMT sa onim manevrima koje jedino 29SMT izvodi ?? ako imash, bio bi ti zahvalan!

   @ Herros
Pogresio si za slike i opis MiG-a 35. Ideja da se prototip 1.44 nazove Mig-35 odavno je

odbacena. Prihvacen je model Mig-29PCK. Avion je inace fantastican. Opremljen je

najsavremenijom elektronikom, uredjajem za dopunu gorivom u vazduhu, izduvnicima sa

vektorisanim potiskom, postoji mogucnost ugradnje kanara, ima radar za osmatranje i dejstva

po zadnjoj polusferi, a najbolja stvar je stealth tehnologija bazirana na plazma polju oko

letelice. Avion ima plazma generator koji stvara "oblak" oko letelice i upija apsolutno sve

radarske zrake svih talasnih duzina. Apsolutno je nevidljiv za radar. Ovo je drugi ruski

avion pete generacije. Sa obzirom na vrhunske manevarske sposobnosti i apsolutnu

nevidljivost, avion je superioran u odnosu na svog americkog rivala F-22.

netacno i ti skyblade - i dalje se projekat za avion zove Mig 35. ali za avion cije si ti slike okacio. ideja za naziv 1.44 je bila mig 35, pa je odbacena, i preneta avion, koje je prvi put prikazan na aeromitingu u farnoboru, gde je nosio naziv - mig 29 OVT. dakle - redizajnirani mig 29 (karbon fiber mesto gvozdja, i plazma gorespomenuta, i milion josh stvari) nosi ime mig35

a herros je okacio slike 1.44 projekta, na opisu za mig 35.

a i JA sam gore pogreshio, kad sam zbrzao i lupio glupost. mig 35 (mig 29 OVT) me je zanimao, a ne SMT, SMT je poboljshana verzija kao i OVT, stim shto ima akcenat na noshenju naoruzanja, a ne na preformansama, kao OVT (mig 35)