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Platform of the Week: TU-16 Badger |
The Tupolev Design Bureau's TU-16 "Badger" was introduced into Soviet Service in 1954. It was part of the Soviet Union's commitment to developing a strategic bomber to match American efforts.
The twin-engine bomber could carry 19.800 pounds of conventional bombs or a variety of nuclear weapons for a range of about 3,000 nm. Later versions were capable of carrying a variety of cruise missiles, mainly designed to counter U.S. carrier groups.
It aged well, and although its combat role was eclipsed in the Soviet military it adapted for reconnaissance, ELIT and ECM missions.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, it remained in service in the Russian Federation until 1993.
The Badger proved popular with a number of nations, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the People's Republic of China, Egypt, Georgia, Indonesia, Ukraine and Iraq.
General characteristics
* Crew: Four
* Length: 34.80 m (114 ft 2 in)
* Wingspan: 33.00 m (108 ft 3 in)
* Height: 10.36 m (34 ft 0 in)
* Wing area: 165 m² (1,775 ft²)
* Empty weight: 37,200 kg (82,000 lb)
* Loaded weight: 76,000 kg (168,00 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 79,000 kg (174,000 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× Mikulin AM-3M-500 turbojets, 93.2 kN (20,900 lbf) each
Performance
* Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (656 mph)
* Range: 7,200 km (4,500 mi)
* Service ceiling: 12,800 m (42,000 ft)
* Wing loading: 460 kg/m² (94 lb/ft²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.24
Armament
* Guns: 6-7× 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons, two each in dorsal and ventral remote turrets and manned tail turret, with the occasional addition of one fixed forward in the nose
* Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of free-fall weapons or
* Missiles:
o 1× Kh-10 (AS-2 'Kipper') anti-ship missile semi-recessed in bomb bay or
o 1× Kh-26 (AS-6 'Kingfish') anti-ship missile on port underwing hardpoint
See artwork of the Tupolev TU-16 Badger on the Gallery page. |
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