The Tu-160 bomber-missile carrier (NATO codification: Blackjack) is designed to engage targets in remote geographical areas and in the deep rear of continental theaters of military operations.
The Tu-160 is the largest supersonic aircraft with variable wing geometry in the history of military aviation, as well as the heaviest combat aircraft in the world, with the largest maximum take-off weight among bombers. It received the unofficial name "White Swan" for its grace and power.
Design Features
The Tu-160 aircraft is designed according to the scheme of an integral low-wing aircraft with a variable sweep wing, an all-moving stabilizer, a three-support landing gear and a keel. The wing mechanization includes leading-edge slats, double-slotted flaps, and flaperons and interceptors are used for roll control. Four engines are installed in the lower part of the fuselage, in pairs in nacelles.
Two payload bays are located in tandem. The main materials of the airframe are aluminum heat-treated alloys, titanium, steel alloys and composite materials. The Tu-160 is equipped with a hose-cone type refueling receiver.
Creation History
Work on the topic of an intercontinental strategic multi-mode missile-carrying aircraft armed with long-range cruise missiles began at the Tupolev Design Bureau in the early 1970s.
The first flight of the prototype aircraft was carried out on December 18, 1981 by test pilot B.I. Veremei. In October 1984, testing of the first production vehicle began. In 2015, a decision was made to reproduce Tu-160 strategic missile carriers. In 2017, a new Tu-160 strategic missile carrier was built. Its first flight took place on January 25, 2018.
Undisputed Record Holder
The high flight characteristics of the Tu-160 were confirmed by a number of world records. In October 1989 and May 1990, the "White Swans" made several flights to set world records for speed and flight altitude.
A flight along a closed route with a length of 1000 km with a payload of 30 tons was performed at an average speed of 1720 km/h. In total, 44 world records have been set on the Tu-160.
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