Tu 160 maximum speed. The revival of the "White Swan": how Russia's combat bomber was updated

To escort two Russian Tu-160 bombers heading towards British airspace. Later, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense announced that the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces did not cross the border of the country's territory during the incident.

Tu-160 is the largest and most powerful in history military aviation supersonic aircraft with variable wing geometry. Up to 40,000 kg of bombs and cruise missiles, this aircraft can deliver up to east coast North America in just 5 hours.

After that, the bomber with one refueling in the air can return back to the "home" airport. In this case, the flight for the crew will take place in the maximum comfortable conditions: on board there is a toilet, a kitchen with a cabinet for heating food, as well as a folding bunk for rest.

See AIF infographic.en, which is a legendary bomber.

Arms race child

In the 1960s, the USSR actively developed strategic missile weapons. The country has acquired the most advanced system of nuclear missile deterrence, and in the region strategic aviation As a result of this "skew" there has been a serious crisis. Subsonic bombers Tu-95 and M-4 by that time were completely unsuitable for a breakthrough air defense USA. As a result, the Soviet government issued a directive in 1967 as soon as possible to create a fundamentally new strategic aircraft that could compete with the supersonic B-1 Lancer being developed by the Americans.

Undercover battles

There is a joke in aviation: white swan"no one ever developed, he hatched somehow by himself." In fact, of course, the best Soviet engineers worked on the Tu-160 project, but this unique aircraft was only created, indeed, under very strange circumstances.

The fact is that only specialists from the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau were initially assigned to deal with the supersonic bomber project, and for some reason such a giant of design thought as the Tupolev Design Bureau remained on the sidelines. Some explain this choice by the high workload of this bureau at that time, others claim that the Soviet leadership simply did not like Andrey Tupolev, who was always ready to defend his own opinion very rigidly.

By the beginning of the 70s, the developers participating in the competition presented their projects. Sukhoi presented the T-4MS, which, on the whole, met the declared characteristics, but was too expensive a project - the bomber's body was supposed to be made of titanium. Myasishchev also introduced a more budgetary M-18.

In the competition then, it seems, the M-18 won, but the Myasishchev Design Bureau was not allowed to implement its project. The Soviet government, unexpectedly for the entire aircraft industry, decides to completely remove this bureau from participating in the creation of a supersonic aircraft. The reasons for this turn are still being debated. It was only officially reported that the Myasishchev Design Bureau at that time did not have sufficient resources to implement such a large-scale project.

It would seem that now the development of a supersonic bomber should definitely have gone to the Sukhoi Design Bureau, but no. For some reason, which is also not the most obvious, the authorities decided that the Tupolev Design Bureau should build the new aircraft, and Sukhoi specialists were advised to devote all their efforts to the creation of the Su-27 multipurpose fighter.

As a result, all the papers for both M-18 and T-4MS ended up in the Tupolev Design Bureau. Taking as a basis the project of the Myasishchev Design Bureau, the bureau created the legendary TU-160, which, for its graceful appearance and the "flapping" wings were nicknamed the "White Swan" by the pilots.

Arrow Advantage

Tu-160 wing has a variable sweep. The aircraft takes off and lands with outstretched wings. Most of The flight is usually carried out at a speed of 900 km / h with almost straight wings, and the bomber enters the “supersonic” mode having already folded them. This solution allows you to minimize aerodynamic drag and achieve the highest speed.

Yeltsin contrary to

Before the collapse of the USSR, 34 supersonic bombers were created, after the collapse on the territory of the newly formed Russian Federation only six Tu-160s remained. Most of the cars in the amount of 19 units ended up in Ukraine.

Long-range strategic aviation absolutely did not fit into the defensive non-nuclear doctrine of Ukraine. Therefore, the young republic began to destroy bombers that were expensive to maintain. The liquidation took place with the funds allocated by the Americans under the Nunn-Lugar program.

At that time, the Tu-160 was treated not much better in Russia either. The president Boris Yeltsin ordered to stop the serial production of supersonic bombers. Yeltsin then spoke in the spirit that after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact organization, strategic aviation was no longer needed by anyone.

The situation for the Tu-160 began to change in better side only in the late 90s. By that time, Ukraine, having mastered about 2.5 million dollars, destroyed only two bombers. Another 9 cars were rendered unusable. In 1999, Ukraine, violating the agreements concluded with the Americans, arbitrarily stops the process of liquidating aircraft and transfers 8 serviceable Tu-160s to Russia as part of the debt for gas.

When collecting Tu-160 in all countries former USSR, 16 Tu-160 units were in service with the Russian Air Force. And these machines from the middle of the 2000s no longer rust on airfields, but make regular flights. So, in 2006, the ex-commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Air Force Igor Khvorov reported that during the exercises, the Tu-160 group entered US airspace for some time and went unnoticed.

In 2015 Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to reopen mass production Tu-160, which should start in 2023. The question of exactly how many new supersonic bombers the Russian Aerospace Forces need is still at the stage of coordination. It is only reported that the Tu-160 in the "M2" version will combine the latest innovations in avionics, which will significantly increase the efficiency of the aircraft.

First battle baptism

In 2015, the Tu-160, which had never taken part in military conflicts before, received its first combat use. Bombers from the waters of the Mediterranean and Caspian seas began to strike with Kh-555 and Kh-101 cruise missiles at the most important objects ISIS terrorists in Syria.

As a result of a massive bomber attack, it was possible to destroy the control points of illegal armed formations in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo. Also, cruise missile strikes blew up ammunition depots, militant training camps and logistics points involved in the illegal export of oil to the countries of the Middle East.

Nunn-Lugar Program- informal title American Program Cooperative Threat Reduction Program ) developed by Senators Samuel Nunn and Richard Lugar. This initiative has been implemented by the United States since December 12, 1991 in relation to Russia and the CIS countries. One of the main goals is the destruction "in the interests of security" military equipment, as well as nuclear and other weapons mass destruction.

The terrorist group "Islamic State" is banned in Russia.

The strategic bomber Tu-160 "White Swan" or Blackjack (baton) in NATO terminology, is a unique aircraft. This is the basis of nuclear power modern Russia. The TU-160 has excellent technical characteristics: it 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 were formed as a result of the formation of the current international environment. 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, which offered their own 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 some time, 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 serial 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 characterized 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 the extensive 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. One-piece central part bomber with a length of 47.368 m includes a fuselage, which includes a 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 crew jobs, there is electronic equipment aircraft.

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 one-time bombs. bomb cassettes, nuclear bombs, naval mines and other weapons. In the future, the composition of the bomber's armament is planned to be significantly strengthened through the use of high-precision cruise missiles. newest generation Kh-101 and Kh-555, which have an increased range, and are also designed to destroy both tactical sea and land, and strategic targets of almost all classes.

Work on the creation of the aircraft TU-160 "White Swan"- the missile carrier of a supersonic long-range aviation bomber began in 1968 by the Design Bureau named after A.N. Tupolev. And in 1972, a preliminary design of such an aircraft with a variable geometry wing was made. In 1976, the design of the Tu-160 model was approved by the commission. Engine type NK- 32 was developed by the Kuznetsov Design Bureau in 1977 specifically for this aircraft model.

Tu-160 Photo

These strategic bombers, according to NATO classification, are called "Black Jack", and in American slang - "baton" (Black Jack - to beat with a baton). But our pilots called them "White Swans" - and this is very similar to the truth. Supersonic Tu-160s are beautiful and elegant, even with formidable weapons and amazing power. They chose Kh-55 - subsonic cruise missiles and Kh-15 - aeroballistic missiles, which were placed on multi-position installations under the wings.

The Tu-160 model was approved at the end of 1977, and the experimental manufacturing enterprise MMZ "Experience" (in Moscow) began assembling three prototype aircraft. The Kazan production made the fuselages, in Novosibirsk they made the wing and stabilizer, in Voronezh - the doors of the cargo compartments, and in the city of Gorky - the landing gear. The assembly of the first machine "70-01" was completed in January 1981 in Zhukovsky.

Tu-160 with the serial "70-01" was first tested in the air in 1981 on December 18. During the state tests, which ended in mid-1989, the Tu-160 aircraft fired four X-55 cruise missiles as the main armament of the aircraft. The maximum speed of the aircraft in level flight was 2200 km/h. This speed for operation was limited to 2000 km / h - this was introduced due to the condition of the resource limit. Many Tu-160s were given personal names, like warships. The first Tu-160 was named "Ilya Muromets".

The crew of the Tu-160: 4 people.

Engines: (turbine) four pieces NK - 32 TRDDF 4x14.000 / 25.000 kgf (thrust: working / afterburner).

The unit is three-shaft, double-circuit, with an afterburner. Its start comes from an air starter.

Behind the left support of the main landing gear is the APU - an electric engine control system with hydromechanical redundancy

Weight and load: normal takeoff - 267,600 kg, empty aircraft - 110,000 kg, maximum combat - 40,000 kg, fuel - 148,000 kg.

Flight data: 2000 km / h - flight speed at altitude, 1030 km / h - flight near the ground, from 260 to 300 km / h - landing speed, 16000 m - flight ceiling, 13200 km - practical range, 10500 km - duration flight at maximum load.

Salon

Tu-160 is one of the combat aircraft of the USSR, which the press learned about before its construction, for several years. November 25, 1981 aircraft prepared for testing in the city of Zhukovsky (Ramenskoye) near Moscow. The car stood together with two Tu-144s and was photographed by a passenger from the plane landing at the nearby Bykovo airfield. From that moment on, the bomber received its nickname "Ram-P" (Ram - from Ramenskoye) and the NATO code - "Black Jack". With this name, the heaviest bomber of all time was presented to the world.

At the negotiations on SALT-2 in the 70s of the last century, L.I. Brezhnev said that, in contrast to the American B-1, a new strategic bomber was being designed in the USSR. The press mentioned that it would be produced at a plant in Kazan. And what about today?

With the collapse of the USSR, Tu-160s were distributed among the republics. 19 of them went to Ukraine, the air regiment in Priluki. Eight were transferred on account of Russia's gas debts, and the rest were simply sawn up. In Poltava, you can visit the last Ukrainian "swan" turned into a museum.

Tu-160V (Tu-161) is a project of a missile carrier, which includes a power plant that runs on liquid hydrogen. Taking into account the peculiarities of the fuel system, it differs from the basic version in the size of the fuselage. Liquefied hydrogen, which was used in engine assemblies as a fuel, was reserved at temperatures down to -253 °C. It is additionally equipped with a helium system, which is responsible for controlling cryogenic engines, and a nitrogen system, which controls the vacuum in the cavities of the aircraft's thermal insulation.

Tu-160 NK-74 is a modification of the Tu-160, which includes more economical bypass turbojet engines with an afterburner NK-74. These power plants were assembled on order in Samara at the SNTK im. N.D. Kuznetsova. The use of these aircraft engines made it possible to increase the flight range parameter.

Tu-160P - modification, which is heavy fighter long-range escort, which could carry on board air-to-air missiles with medium and long range.

Tu-160PP - aircraft project electronic warfare. On the this moment there is only a life-size model, the characteristics of the new aircraft and the composition of the equipment have been determined.

Tu-160K is a project of an aircraft that is part of the Krechet aviation and missile system. Brought to the stage of the finished draft design in Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. The chief designer was V.F. Utkin. Work on the ARC "Krechet" was carried out in 1983-1984. in order to increase efficiency and survivability ballistic missiles during nuclear explosion and to test the energy functionality of the carrier aircraft. Armed with the Krechet-R missile.

This is a two-stage small-sized ICBM of the 4th generation. It was equipped with mid-flight solid-propellant mixed-fuel engines. In flight mode, liquid monopropellant was used. The carrying capacity of the Tu-160K carrier aircraft was 50 tons. This meant that the modification could carry two Krechet-R ICBMs weighing 24.4 tons each. Taking into account the flight range of the Tu-160K aircraft, its effective application was up to 10 thousand km away.

At the project stage, the development of ground equipment for coordinating the actions of the aircraft was completed in December 1984.

The Krechet-R missile control system is autonomous, inertial, with connection to external sources information. The coordinates and speed of the rocket were received on board the aircraft from the satellite, and the position angles of the command instruments were specified from the astrocorrector. The first stage of the controls are aerodynamic rudders, the second is the control rotary nozzle. ICBMs were planned to be equipped with separating warheads with individual guidance, and warheads, which were intended to break through enemy missile defense. Work on the ARC "Krechet" was curtailed in the mid-80s of the twentieth century.

Tu-160SK - an aircraft that was intended to carry the three-stage liquid system "Burlak", the mass of which was 20 tons. According to the calculations of the designers, up to 600-1100 kg of cargo could be put into orbit, while delivery would cost 2-2.5 times cheaper than using launch vehicles having a similar carrying capacity. A missile launch from a Tu-160SK should take place at altitudes of 9,000-14,000 m at an aircraft speed of 850 to 1,600 km/h. The characteristics of the Burlak complex were supposed to surpass the American analogue of the subsonic launch complex, the carrier of which was the Boeing B-52, equipped with the Pegasus launch vehicle. The purpose of "Burlak" is a constellation of satellites in the event of a mass destruction of airfields. The development of the complex began in 1991, commissioning was scheduled for 1998-2000. The complex also had to be a ground service station and a command and measurement point. The flight range of the Tu-160KS to the launch site of the launch vehicle was 5000 km. 01/19/2000 between the Aerospace Corporation "Air Start" and "TsSKB-Progress" in Samara signed regulations on cooperation in the direction of the creation of the air-launched complex "Air Launch".

Tu-160 is a supersonic strategic missile carrier with variable wing geometry. Designed to destroy the most important targets with nuclear and conventional weapons in remote military-geographical regions and deep in the rear of continental theaters of military operations.

The full-scale development of the Tu-160 supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber was launched at the Tupolev Design Bureau in 1975. Based on the proposals and recommendations of TsAGI, an aerodynamic layout of a multi-mode aircraft was developed, which practically combined the capabilities of the Tu-95 aircraft with a high aspect ratio swept wing, with a change in the sweep angle of the wing consoles in flight, worked out on the Tu-22M long-range bomber, in combination with the central integrated part of the aircraft, partially implemented on the SPS Tu-144.

Tu-160 aircraft saved character traits heavy classic bomber - cantilever monoplane scheme, high elongation wing, four engines mounted on the wing (under its fixed part), tricycle landing gear with a nose strut. All missile and bomb weapons are placed inside in two identical weapon compartments. The crew of the air strategic ship, consisting of four people, is located in a pressurized cabin located in the nose of the aircraft.

The first flight of the Tu-160 aircraft was performed on December 18, 1981 by the crew of the lead test pilot Boris Veremey. Flight tests confirmed the provision of the required characteristics, and since 1987 the aircraft began to enter service.
In NATO, the car was assigned the preliminary designation "RAM-P", later the aircraft was given a new code name - "Blackjack".

Flight performance:

Dimensions. Wingspan 55.7/35.6 m, aircraft length 54.1 m, height 13.1 m, wing area 360/400 sq. m.

Number of places. Crew - four people.

Engines. Under the wing, in two engine nacelles, four turbofan engines NK-32 (4x14.000 / 25.000 kgf) are placed. Behind the niche of the left support of the main landing gear is the APU. Engine control system - electric, with hydromechanical duplication. There is a retractable fuel receiver of the in-flight refueling system (Il-78 or Il-78M are used as tanker aircraft).

Masses and loads, kg: maximum takeoff 275,000, normal takeoff 267,600, empty aircraft 110,000, fuel 148,000, normal combat load 9,000 kg, maximum combat load 40,000.

flight data. Maximum speed at high altitude 2000 km/h, maximum ground speed 1030 km/h, landing speed (with landing weight 140,000 - 155,000 kg) 260-300 km/h, maximum rate of climb 60-70 m/s, service ceiling 16,000 m, practical flight range with a normal load of 13,200 km, with a maximum load of 10,500 km, takeoff run (at maximum takeoff weight) 2,200 m, run length (landing weight 140,000 kg) 1,800 m.

Armament. Two internal cargo compartments can accommodate different payloads total weight up to 40,000 kg. It includes strategic cruise missiles (12 units on two multi-position drum-type launchers) and aeroballistic hypersonic missiles X-15 (24 units on four launchers).

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

The aircraft has high level computerization of onboard equipment. The information system in the cabins is represented by electromechanical indicators and indicators on monitors. Traditional steering wheels for large machines have been replaced with control sticks similar to those used on fighters.

In service air force The Russian Federation now has 15 Tu-160s. The leadership of the Russian Air Force plans to increase the number of such aircraft to 30.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Tu-160 ("White Swan") - practically the only aircraft Air Force The USSR, which was known even before its construction. Back in the early seventies General Secretary Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev spoke about the creation of a new strategic bomber.

It was a kind of confrontation with the American B-1B strategist.

History of creation

After several years of development, in 1981, the car was first presented at the airfield in Zhukovsky, surrounded by two Tu-144s. Foreign media headlines immediately began to talk about the fact that the plane was put up for propaganda purposes for filming from American satellites.

In fact, the shooting was carried out by one of the passengers at Bykovo airport. After that, the code name for the Ram-P bomber appeared, and according to the NATO code - Blackjack. It was with these names that the world learned about the heaviest strategic supersonic bomber of all time - the Tu-160.

The history of the creation of the Tu-160 goes back to the middle of the 20th century.

MAP Order No285 of September 15, 1969 announced a competition for the creation of a supersonic multi-mode strategic bomber carrying nuclear weapons.

The theme of the competition received serial number 18. Several design bureaus: OKB Tupolev, Myasishchev, Yakovlev and Sukhoi. The Tupolev team had experience in developing the Tu-22 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, as well as. But the competition was won by the Myasishchev Design Bureau with the M-18 bomber.

But due to the small number of design bureaus, the lack necessary resources for further work on the project, all materials on this topic were transferred to Tupolev's Design Bureau MMZ "Experience". These developments formed the basis of the Tu-160 prototype.

The flight of the first prototype took place at the end of 1981. The bomber went into production as early as 1984, and the first production aircraft took off the same year. In 1985, two more aircraft left the shops.

When designing a new aircraft, the following requirements were taken into account:

1. The maximum flight range of the Tu-160 was supposed to be 13,000 km at V = 2500 km / h and a flight altitude of 18 km .;
2. Approaching the target at subsonic speeds, as well as overcoming air defenses at cruising and supersonic speeds .;
3. The combat load is approaching a weight of 45,000 kg.

The release of the aircraft continued until the collapse of the USSR and was practically stopped after the promise of E.B. Yeltsin to the Americans in the 90s of the last century: not to build up weapons. During his reign, factories were practically stopped, oh serial production the conversation was no longer going on.

The Tu-160 bombers, who were on combat duty after the secession of Ukraine, partly remained on its territory, they were partially sawn into metal, 6 aircraft were nevertheless transferred to the Engels airbase in the Saratov region.

Already at this time, all Tu-160s, in addition to numbers, received proper names. In the late 90s, early 2000s, the production of the Tu-160 was resumed, in 2000 two machines entered service. It is worth noting that some of the machines were sent for overhaul and modernization.

In the same 2000, exercises were conducted with the participation of the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS. Here, for the first time, the famous cruise missile X-555, which was suspended only on these types of aircraft. In 2003, two Tu-160s, as well as 4 Tu-95MS aircraft, took part in the largest exercises.

During the exercises, refueling from the Il-78 was used.

In the autumn of the same year, an emergency occurred - one of the Tu-160 aircraft crashed. The crew took the car away from dangerous place and died with her.

Strategic aviation maintained combat capability by all means for quite a long time - 15 years, starting from 1992. It was a time of low funding and no money for modernization. Flights took place only on special occasions or during exercises.

In August 2007, President of the Russian Federation V. Putin made a statement about the resumption of flights and duty of Long-Range Aviation. That is why strategic bombers began to constantly fly to the farthest corners of the world. The planes used alternate airfields for refueling and flew over all the oceans, while demonstrating the power of the NATO bloc.

In 2008, the Kazan Plant handed over to the Air Force a new Vitaly Kopylov aircraft. In November 2017, the next strategist, a modernized Tu-160M3, left the shops, it is being tested and does not yet have a personal name. In 2010, 2 Tu-160 aircraft updated the world record for flight distance, which amounted to 18,000 km. During the flight, two refuelings were made in the air from the Il-78.

Specifications

The popularity of the aircraft in Russia and around the world is due, first of all, to its technical specifications. We give below all the main data that will allow us to assess the scale and size of the Tu-160, nicknamed the "White Swan".

• Wingspan - 55.7 meters;
• Fuselage length - 54.1 meters;
• The height of the aircraft is 13.1 meters;
• Wing area - 232 square meters;
• Empty aircraft weight - 110 tons;
• The maximum mass of fuel is 171.1 tons;
• Gross takeoff weight - 275 tons;
• Maximum flight speed - 2200 km / h;
• Minimum landing speed - 300 km / h;
• Maximum flight ceiling - 15,000 m;
• Range - 6000 kilometers;
• Required length for takeoff - 2000 m;
• The maximum mass of weapons is 40 tons.

Tu-160 is currently a combat-ready element of the containment forces. The performance characteristics of the aircraft are at a level inaccessible to Western manufacturers.

Design features

The design of the Tu-160 is fully consistent with its purpose. This is a monoplane with a variable sweep of the wing, classic plumage and 4 engines in engine nacelles under the center section.

The description can begin with one of the features of the machine, in which the fuselage is merged into one with the center section and plumage. With an integral layout, it becomes possible, without increasing the geometric dimensions of the machine, to significantly free up the volume inside it, thereby creating additional space for fuel, weapons and equipment.

The materials from which the Tu-160 aircraft is made are different for different parts of the machine. The basis is aluminum alloy AK4-1chT1, titanium alloy OT-4, as well as high-strength alloys, which also have high viscosity. Alloy steel and titanium are used for highly loaded units and machine elements.

The free internal cavities of the aircraft are made of honeycombs, this provides these structures with the necessary rigidity, with a minimum weight. When assembling units and structures, welding, bolted connections and rivets are used. Maintenance the bomber is carried out through hatches and removable panels.

Fuselage

The fuselage of the aircraft has a load-bearing skin and is one piece, structurally it is divided by bulkheads into several compartments. In the central part there is a bomb bay with an MKU-6-5U drum installation that serves to place weapons. In the bow there is a control compartment, on-board radar and navigation and electronic equipment.

The control compartment is completely hermetic, it is a separate production unit under the index F-2. The cabin is designed for four crew members. In addition, there is a toilet and a rest room for the crew, in the conditions of a long flight.

The entrance to the compartment is carried out from below, along the stairs.

Behind the control compartment is a chassis niche with all the mechanisms, further to the tail fuel tanks. In the aft fairing there are elements of radio equipment and a compartment with a braking parachute.

Wing

The aircraft has a variable sweep wing, quite a complex system allows you to optimize the speed and range of flight with significant fuel savings. This is what created the unique performance characteristics of the Tu-160, making it the "star" of world military aviation.

Chassis

Management on taxiing front swivel wheels, the main pillars are non-swivel. Supports are removed during the flight. The hydraulic system retracts and extends the chassis.

The device of the node provides for the use of the Tu-160 aircraft on runways with an asphalt-concrete coating with a length of 2.5 km or more.

Power point

This system consists of NK-32 engines, a fuel system, an oil system, an auxiliary power unit TA-12, an engine control system, a power plant operation control system, an alarm and fire extinguishing system.

Engine

The NK-32 engine has a reduced fuel consumption. To make the production of the new unit cheaper, the former NK-25 became the prototype. At the same time, the cost of the aircraft itself was by no means cheap - 7.5 billion rubles. It is known that this is why only 32 aircraft were created, currently 16 aircraft are on combat duty.

Fuel system

The capacity of the tanks is 171 tons. This fuel is enough to fly maximum range, when driving at cruising speed and optimal ceiling.

Each engine is powered from its own group of tanks, although in the event of an emergency it is quite possible to transfer from one tank to another or dump fuel from a group of tanks, while disconnecting the rest from the system.

The air refueling system has a hose-cone pattern. The tankers are Il-78 and Il-78M.

Armament

The armament of the aircraft is also impressive. First, the combat load is 40 tons and can consist of free-falling and guided bombs. large caliber and air-to-surface missiles, including cruise, as well as carrier nuclear warheads strategic purpose.

All weapons are located in the bomb bay of the aircraft, in the MKU-6-5A drum set.

Equipment

The aircraft is equipped with the latest navigation equipment, which consists of a large number COMPUTER.

The Obzor-K aiming system detects and identifies objects at a great distance. The Baikal defense complex detects enemy air defenses, their position, jams them with interference or puts a false curtain behind the aircraft.

In the tail are containers with reflectors and infrared traps. There is also a heat direction finder “Ogonyok”, which detects missiles and enemy aircraft.

Number of aircraft in the country

To this day, the Russian Aerospace Forces are armed with 16 Tu-160 strategic bombers. The government made a decision to completely modernize the aircraft, now called the Tu-160M2.

The first flight of the upgraded machine is scheduled for February 2018. After that, it is planned to improve each of the Tu-160 vehicles in service. This contributes to the renewal of Long-Range Aviation and the improvement of the country's defense capability.

Application

Tu-160 aircraft made their first combat sorties in Syria in the last military conflict. Starting in 2015, the bomber made regular successful sorties, destroying Islamic State targets. At the same time, the strikes were carried out by Kh-555 missiles.

In conclusion, we note that, despite the difficult economic situation, it is thanks to the Tu-160 aircraft that Russia is considered the greatest aviation power.

The entire grouping of long-range strategic aviation is capable of turning the tide of hostilities at any moment.

Ground forces may not represent a great combat power, but long-range aviation, led by the White Swans, will adequately repulse any aggressor. At the moment, any military confrontation against Russia is meaningless.

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