Overview
The Tu-22M is a supersonic bomber with variable-sweep wings, built during the Cold War mainly to attack enemy aircraft carriers with large anti-ship missiles. NATO called it "Backfire".
The main version, the Tu-22M3, entered service in 1983. Russia still flies around 60, and they have been used in Syria and Ukraine, mostly to launch Kh-22 missiles from long distance.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length | 42.46 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 34.28 m |
| Height | 11.05 m |
| Wing area | 183.6 m² |
Weights & fuel
| Empty weight | 58,000 kg |
|---|---|
| Max. take-off weight | 126,000 kg |
Performance
| Max. speed | 2,000 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max. Mach | Mach 1.88 |
| Combat radius | 2,400 km |
| Service ceiling | 13,300 m |
Crew & capacity
| Crew | 4 |
|---|
Powerplant
| Engines | 2 |
|---|---|
| Engine model | Kuznetsov NK-25 |
| Thrust with afterburner (each) | 245.0 kN |
Figures are compiled from public sources and may be approximate; they can vary by variant and configuration.
Armament
- Up to three Kh-22 or Kh-32 missiles, or up to 24,000 kg of bombs
- 23 mm tail cannon
Photos
Photo 1: Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Some text and images come from Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA licences.
