Tupolev Tu-22M

Tupolev Tu-22M
Tu-22M3 on approach for landing
Type:	Medium-range bombers
Design country:	Soviet Union
Manufacturer:	OKB Tupolev
First flight:	August 30, 1969
Commissioning:	1972
Production time:	1967 to 1997
Number of pieces:	497

The Tupolev Tu-22M ( Russian Туполев Ту-22М , NATO code name : Backfire ) is a four-seat supersonic bomber developed by the Soviet design office Tupolev . After its identification by NATO, it was given the presumed designation "Tu-26". It was not until the disarmament negotiations ( SALT 1972 ) with the USA that its name, Tu-22M, became known.

history

Tu-22M3 in flight

The Tu-22M was developed as a further development of the Tupolev Tu-22 , when it became clear that it could not meet the requirements. Only a small part of the missions could actually be carried out with this machine in the supersonic range for which it was actually developed. In addition, the range and payload of the Tu-22 with increased operating costs were below the level of the Tupolev Tu-16 , which it was supposed to replace. The OKB Tupolev therefore began to work on its own initiative from 1965 on a successor called Project "145". It also used the results that were made in 1964 when investigating pivoting blades at the ZAGI . It was shown that swivel-wing aircraft have advantages over fixed-wing aircraft in terms of the length of the required take-off and landing distance as well as in terms of range and payload. As a visible difference to the Tu-22, the design was given a swivel wing. Furthermore, the engines were relocated from the outer stern above into the fuselage. The wings were designed in a low wing arrangement and had relatively large approaches. Initially, two thirds of the wings could be swiveled in three stages, with the individual positions in the take-off and landing phase as well as increasing the range in the subsonic range (20 °), increasing the range in the supersonic range (65 °) and for flights at low altitude in the near-sound range (72 °) should be used. Later the number of positions was increased to four and the fixation angles changed to 20 °, 30 °, 50 ° and 60 °. The sweep of the rigid wing part was initially 65 ° and was reduced to 56 ° in the course of development.

An official order from the government was issued in November 1967 with the requirement to develop a successor to the Tu-22K under the designation Tu-22KM. The "M" stood for "modernized", but in the end a design left the factory that had no structural similarities with the Tu-22. As drives two were NK-144-22 of Kuznetsov provided. In the same month Tupolev presented the first drafts under the project name "45-00". Subsequently, the construction of a first prototype, called the Tu-22M0, began in Kazan and was completed in mid-1969. The flight tests that began on August 30 of the same year revealed some shortcomings. Ten Tu-22M0s had been built by 1972, five of which were included in ongoing testing, the others were sent to Ryazan to be used at the local institute for combat training to train flight personnel.

Since the performance of the Tu-22M0 was not satisfactory, an improved variant was worked on from 1970 under the project name "45-01". This was given the designation Tu-22M1 and had a wing span increased by 1.5 m, modified air inlets, aerodynamic improvements and an empty weight reduced by 3000 kg. The aircraft had the ABSU-145 automatic control system and, at the instigation of the Air Force, also had two remote-controlled GSch-23L twin cannons that covered the rear field of fire. Between the summer of 1971 and the end of 1972, nine Tu-22M1s were built in Kazan, five of which were used for tests. The rest went to the combat training center of the naval forces .

The final production model Tu-22M2 (NATO code: "Backfire-B") had two NK-22 engines and was designed for the transport of up to three Ch-22 or Ch-26 long-range anti-ship guided weapons . It was equipped with the NK-45 navigation system , the PNA radar target system , the OPB-15T bomb target and the ABSU-145M automatic on-board system and was delivered to the armed forces from 1975 to 1983. A refueling nozzle was installed above the radar nose. According to the START agreement , it had to be dismantled to turn a long-range bomber into a medium-range bomber. Some of the machines were later retrofitted with the more powerful NK-25 engines. These are called Tu-22ME . Other aircraft were converted to the Tu-22MR reconnaissance version . There is also the Tu-22MP version for electronic warfare .

The second production version, the Tu-22M3 ("Backfire-C") flew for the first time in 1976 and was introduced into the armed forces in 1983. This version formed the majority of the total of 497 aircraft comprehensive Tu-22M fleet of the Soviet Union. It has modified air inlets, a 0.8 m longer bow and is equipped with NK-25 or NK-32 engines. It also has an OBP-15T bomb sighting device, the PNA-D radar (NATO code: Down Beat) and the HK-45 flight control system. This enables the Tu-22M3 to follow terrain to below 100 meters above the ground at speeds just below the sound limit. Up to six Ch-15 range weapons can be carried in the modified bomb bay . The rear armament was reduced to a GSch-23. The reconnaissance version derived from the Tu-22M3 is called Tu-22M3R . The last aircraft were delivered in 1993. A total of 268 pieces of the Tu-22M3 and its variants were built. The current Tu-22M3 fleet consists of both newly built aircraft and retrofitted Tu-22M2 machines.

modernization

Cockpit detail of a Tu-22M3

Workplace of the navigator of a Tu-22M3

By the end of 2022, 30 Tu-22M3s that are already in service are to be modernized into the Tu-22M3M version. These aircraft carry the type designation Tu-22M3M (Backfire-C). The focus here is on equipping new navigation systems, including radar, as well as devices for electronic countermeasures and the use of new weapons. The innovations include a. the NW-45 radar system (Novella-45) with the 1NW-1 radar from Saslon, the NO-45.03M navigation system and the ABSU-145MTs flight control system. In the next few years, possibly up to 2030, the Russian armed forces can expect further use of the bomber, including the integration into announced restructuring and the orientation towards possible smaller regional conflicts. The rollout of the first machine retrofitted to the Tu-22M3M stand took place on August 16, 2018. This machine no longer has any defensive armament at the rear. In front of the cockpit, a central bead can be seen, which is intended for the air refueling probe. The main armament of these modernized machines will be the Ch-32 and Ch-15 guided missiles . Conventional cruise missiles Ch-101 , Ch-555 , Ch-59MK2 and Ch-50 should also be carried. There is also speculation about the armament with precision bombs of the type KAB-1500S and KAB-500S with GLONASS guidance system as well as the air-to -surface missile Ch-47M2 Kinschal . The first flight of the modernized variant took place on December 28, 2018.

User states

Scrapping Ukrainian Tupolev Tu-22M, 2002

Current user

•  Russia - As of May 23, 2019, at least 60 Tu-22M3s are in service with the Russian Air Force .
  Flight formations with Tu-22M3 are u. a.
  Deployed as follows: 52nd Heavy Bombing Regiment in Shaikovka
  840th TBAP in Solzy
  200th TBAP in Belaya
  444th TBAP in Vosdvishka was assigned to the active reserve in 2007

Former users

•  Soviet Union
  The Soviet air forces and naval pilots used their 370 Tu-22M from bases in what is now Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, 52 Tu-22Ms remained in Belarus and 29 in Ukraine.
•  India
  In 2001, four naval machines of the Indian Navy were leased and then returned.
•  
  After the end of the Soviet Union, Ukraine had 29 machines that were scrapped or given to museums.
•  Belarus had 52 machines
  after the end of the Soviet Union , which were also scrapped.

Calls

The first combat deployment of the Tu-22M took place from April 19 to 21, 1984 in the Soviet-Afghan War , at the beginning of the Pandscher operation. Six Tu-22M2s of the 1225th Heavy Bomber Regiment were used for area bombing (each aircraft carried 64 OFAB-250-270 bombs) from a great height. Tu-22M3s of the 185th Guards, 402nd and 840th heavy bomber regiments carried out area bombing, mainly with FAB-3000 bombs, from October 1988 to February 1989.

The next combat mission took place during the Chechen wars . Here, too, the Tu-22M were used for area bombing.

Russian Tu-22M3s were used in the 2008 Caucasus War. A Tu-22M3 of the 52nd Guards Heavy Bombing Regiment (Shaykowka) was shot down by Georgian Buk M1 .

On November 17, 2015, Tu-22M3 of the strategic long-distance air forces attacked targets of the terrorist group "IS" in eastern Syria with free-fall bombs OFAB-250-270 as part of the military operation in Syria .

Versions

Tu-22KM

official project name according to Council of Ministers Decree No. 1098-378.

Tu-22M0 (45-00)

first prototype series, ten pieces built.

Tu-22M1 (45-01, NATO code "Backfire-A")

second, improved prototype series, nine pieces built.

Tu-22M2 (45-02, "Backfire-B")

first production version with rounded air inlets, 211 pieces built.

Tu-22ME ("Backfire-B")

enhanced version.

Tu-22MP ("Backfire-B")

Enlightenment version.

Tu-22M3 (45-03, "Backfire-C")

modernized version with rectangular air inlets.

Tu-22M3R ("Backfire-C")

Enlightenment version.

Tu-22M3M ("Backfire-D")

Modernized version with NK-32 engine from Tu-160 (range significantly increased through economy, reduced infrared signature), refueling system, new avionics; new armament (Ch-32, Ch-47, Ch-58, Ch-31), navigation and target assignment via GLONASS satellite system.

Technical specifications

Three-sided tear

Tu-22M prototype

Tupolev Tu-22M on display in Kazan, Russia

Parameter	Data of the Tu-22M3 (Backfire-C)
Type	Medium-range bombers
crew	4 (Commander, Deputy Commander, Navigator, Operator)
length	42.46 m
span	swiveled out: 34.28 m (20 °) swiveled in: 23.30 m (65 °)
Wing area (with a sweep of 20 °)	183.57 m²
Wing extension	swiveled out: 6.4 swiveled in: 2.96
Wing loading	minimum (empty weight): 425 kg / m² nominal (normal take-off weight): 610 kg / m² maximum (maximum take-off weight): 686 kg / m²
height	11.05 m
Empty mass	68,000 kg
normal takeoff mass	112,000 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	126,000 kg
Fuel capacity	53,550 kg
Fuel ratio	0.48
Top speed	Mach 2.19 or 2,327 km / h (at an altitude of 10,975 m) Mach 0.84 or 1,050 km / h (at sea level)
Marching speed	930 km / h
Service ceiling	13,300 m
Max. Rate of climb	15 m / s
Use radius	in supersonic flight: 1,850 km in subsonic flight close to the ground: 1,650 km in subsonic flight: 2,410 km
Transfer range	approx. 7,000 km
Engines	two Kuznetsov / KKBM NK-25 turbofan engines
Thrust	with afterburner: 2 × 245.25 kN without afterburner: 2 × 142.24 kN
Thrust-to-weight ratio	maximum (empty weight): 0.64 nominal (normal take-off mass): 0.45 minimum (maximum take-off mass): 0.4

Armament

Ch-22 cruise missiles in the bomb bay and at an external cargo station

Ch-22 under a Tu-22M2

Pipe armament for self-defense

Tu-22M2

• 1 × rear stand unit UKU-9A-502 with a mount in a rotating dome tower with two double-barreled 23 mm machine cannons Grjasew-Schipunow GSch-23 with 600 rounds of ammunition per MK. The stern stand unit is operated remotely by a crew member. The fire control radar PRS-3 "Argon 2" is installed above the spherical screen as a target aid. At the end of the unit, two GSch-23s are movably installed as twin mounts in a ball cover.

Tu-22M3

• 1 × rear stand unit UKU-9A-502MA with a mount in a rotating dome tower with a double-barreled 23-mm automatic cannon Grjasew-Schipunow GSch-23 with 600 rounds of ammunition. For the rear of the Tupolev Tu-22M3, the rear stand unit was adapted again and made lighter by reducing it to a machine gun. A crew member operates the automatic cannon remotely from the cockpit. The fire control radar PRS-4KM "Krypton" and a video camera are installed above the spherical screen as a target aid. At the end of the unit, a GSch-23 is movably installed in a mount in a spherical shutter. The ammunition feeder supplies up to 600 rounds of ammunition.

Drop weapons

Gun loading of 21,000 kg at two external load stations and in the bomb bay. Cruise missiles can be carried on an internal MKU-6-1 bogie in the bomb bay .

Cruise missiles

• 3 × MKB Raduga Ch-22MNPSI (AS-4C "Kitchen") - nuclear 350 kT warhead
• 3 × MKB Raduga Ch-26MP (KSR-5MP or AS-6 "Kingfish") - nuclear 350 kT warhead
• 6 × MKB Raduga Ch-15 (AS-16 "Kickback") - 350 kT nuclear warhead
• 6 × MKB Raduga Ch-38 - modular stand-off weapon
• 3 × MKB Raduga Ch-59M "Owod-M" (AS-18 "Kazoo") - radar-guided anti-ship missile
• 4 × MKB Raduga Ch-101 - strategic cruise missile with stealth capability, conventional 400 kg warhead
• 4 × Ch-47M2 Kinschal integration for Tu-22M3 planned by 2020.

Unguided bombs

• 8 × sea ​​mines of the type RMI, UDM, UDM-5, APM, AMD-2M, or AGDM
• 12 × AMD-500M (sea mine)
• 18 × IGDM-500 or UDM-500 (sea mine)
• 69 × FAB-100 (100 kg free fall bomb )
• 69 × FAB-250 (250 kg free fall bomb)
• 69 × RBK-250-275 (275 kg cluster bomb )
• 69 × ZAB-250 (250 kg incendiary bomb )
• 42 × FAB-500 (500 kg free fall bomb)
• 42 × OFAB-500 (500 kg free-fall bomb)
• 42 × OFZAB-500 (500 kg incendiary bomb)
• 42 × RBK-500 (500 kg cluster bomb)
• 16 × FAB-1000 (1,000 kg free-fall bomb)
• 8 × FAB-1500 (1,500 kg free-fall bomb)
• 3 × FAB-3000 (3,000 kg free-fall bomb)
• 2 × FAB-5000 (5,000 kg free-fall bomb)
• 2-4 nuclear free-fall bombs

Incidents

The crew of a Tu-22M3 had to land on January 22nd, 2019 after a training flight during a snow storm in extremely poor visibility conditions at the military airfield Olenja near Olenegorsk . The machine broke into several parts when it was put on and caught fire. Two crew members (deputy commander and operator) died, two others were seriously injured and taken to the military hospital, one of whom (the commander) later succumbed to his injuries.

literature

• Dieter Stammer: Modern Soviet and Russian warplanes . Bombers and fighter bombers. BEBUG / Edition Berolina, Berlin 2012, p. 42-61 .

Web links

Commons : Tupolev Tu-22M  - collection of images

• Tu-22M at www.fas.org (English)
• Photo gallery on englishrussia.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ ^{a b} Ausairpower
3. ↑ Крамник, Илья: Старый новый самолет: на что способен Ту-22М3М. Известия - iz.ru, August 17, 2018, accessed August 17, 2018 (Russian). 
4. ↑ Rian.ru
5. ↑ First upgraded Tu-22M3M rolled out. In: combataircraft.keypublishing.com. Combat Aircraft, April 13, 2015, accessed September 3, 2018 . 
6. ↑ Russia rolls out latest Tu-22M3M supersonic strike bomber. In: defense-blog.com. August 16, 2018, accessed on August 16, 2018 (eng). 
7. ↑ Russia's Upgraded Tu-22M3M Long-Range Bomber to Be Rolled Out on August 16. In: thediplomat.com. August 7, 2018, accessed on August 16, 2018 . 
8. ↑ Tu-22M3M takes off for the first flight. FlugRevue.de , December 28, 2018, accessed on December 31, 2018 (German). 
9. ↑ Крамник, Илья: Будущее морских ракетоносцев: Ту-22М или Су-34. In: Известия. iz.ru, May 23, 2019, accessed May 24, 2019 (Russian). 
10. ^ Dieter Stammer: The armed forces of the Russian Federation after the armed forces reform 2010 . Elbe-Dnjepr, Klitzschen 2010, ISBN 978-3-940541-24-6 , p. 15 .
11. ↑ Russia confirms lost 2 warplanes in S.Ossetia. www.reuters.com, August 9, 2008, accessed on January 22, 2019 (English). 
12. ^ Ruslan Puchow: The Tanks of August . Ed .: Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies . Moscow 2010, ISBN 978-5-9902320-1-3 , pp. 59 ( The Tanks of August [PDF; accessed January 22, 2019]).
13. ↑ Nicholas de Larrinaga: Russia launches long-range air sorties into Syria. In: janes.com. November 17, 2015, accessed November 19, 2015 . 
14. ^ Long-range bombers to fly anti-ISIS missions from Russia, Putin orders Navy to work with France. In: RT News. rt.com, accessed November 17, 2015 . 
15. ↑ massaged airstrikes Russian long-range bombers to IS objects in Syria. In: de.sputniknews.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015 . 
16. ↑ Jefim Gordon , Wladimir Rigmant: Tupolev Tu-22 "Blinder", Tu-22M "Backfire". Aerofax, 1998.
17. ^ Hypersonic Quartet
18. ↑ VIDEO: Crash landing of a fighter bomber in Northern Russia - three dead. In: de.sputniknews.com. January 27, 2019, accessed January 27, 2019 . 
19. ↑ Tu-22M3 fighter plane crashes near Murmansk - two pilots dead. De.sputniknews.com, January 22, 2019, accessed on January 22, 2019 . 
20. ↑ Крушение бомбардировщика Ту-22М3 в Мурманской области. Главное. tass.ru, January 22, 2019, accessed on January 22, 2019 (Russian). 
21. ↑ Accident Tupolev Tu-22M3, 22 Jan 2019. aviation-safety.net, 22 January 2019, accessed on 22 January 2019 (English).