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Tupolev Tu-16

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Image:Tu-16 Badger E.jpg

The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO codename: Badger) was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 50 years and remains in service with the Chinese air force.

Contents

[edit] Development

Tu-16 bomber at the Monino Museum.

In the late 1940s the Soviet Union was strongly committed to matching the United States in strategic bombing capability. The Soviets' only long-range bomber at the time was the Tupolev Tu-4, a reverse-engineered version of the American B-29. The development of the extremely powerful Mikulin AM-3 turbojet led to the possibility of a large, jet-powered bomber.

The Tupolev design bureau began work on the Tu-88 ("Aircraft N") prototypes in 1950. The Tu-88 first flew on 27 April 1952. After winning a competition against the Ilyushin Il-46, it was approved for production in December 1952. The first production bombers entered service with Frontal Aviation in 1954, receiving the service designation Tu-16. It received the NATO reporting name 'Badger-A'.

Image:Tu-16 rear.jpg It had a new, large swept wing and two massive Mikulin AM-3 turbojets, one in each wing root. It could carry a single massive FAB-9000 9,000-kg (19,800 lb) conventional bomb (the Russian equivalent of the British Grand Slam bomb) or various nuclear weapons to a range of around 4,800 km (3,000 mi).

Although the Tu-16 began as a high-altitude, free-fall bomber, in the mid-1950s it was equipped to carry early Soviet cruise missiles. The Tu-16KS-1 ('Badger-B') version could carry KS-1 'Kometa' (AS-1 'Kennel') missiles over a combat radius of 1,800 km (1,125 mi). These very large weapons were aerodynamically similar to the MiG-15 fighter, fitted with either a nuclear or conventional warhead, had a range of about 140 km (90 mi). They were intended for use primarily against US Navy aircraft carriers and other large surface ships. Subsequent Tu-16s were converted to carry later, more advanced missiles, while their designations changed several times.

Image:Tu-16 Egyptian.jpg A versatile design, the Tu-16 was built in numerous specialized variants for reconnaissance, maritime surveillance, electronic intelligence gathering (ELINT), and electronic warfare (ECM). A total of 1507 aircraft was constructed in three plants in the Soviet Union, in 1954-1962. A civilian adaptation, the Tupolev Tu-104, saw passenger service with Aeroflot. The Tu-16 was also exported to Egypt, Indonesia, and Iraq. It continued to be used by the Air Forces and naval aviation of the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia until 1993.

Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) produces a copy of it under the Chinese designation Xian H-6. 120+ of these aircraft remain in service.

[edit] Variants

There existed at least 11 production variants, which were next converted into at least 40 variants. Among main production variants were Tu-16, Tu-16A bombers, Tu-16KS, Tu-16K-10 missile carriers, Tu-16SPS, "Elka", Tu-16Ye ECM aircraft, Tu-16R reconnaissance aircraft, Tu-16T torpedo bomber; others were their conversions. Peculiar aircraft could be modified several times, with designations chnaged, especially it concerned missile-carrying aircraft.

  • Badger A (Tu-16) - This the basic configuration of the Tu-16 bomber deployed in 1954 to replace the Tu-4. Several modified models of these variant existed, all of which were known as Badger A in the West. Image:Tupolew Tu-16.JPG
    • Tu-16A - Remodified Tu-16s designed to carry nuclear bombs, one of main versions, with 453 built. Many of those units were subsequently converted into other variants.
    • Tu-16Z - An early specialized version of the Tu-16 that served as airborne tankers (a refuelling method: wing-to-wing), though they retain their medium bomber role.
    • Tu-16G (Tu-104G) - Fast air mail model, Aeroflot aircrew training version.
    • Tu-16N - A dedicated tanker version for Tu-22/Tu-22M bombers, with probe and drogue system. Entered service in 1963. Similar aircraft Tu-16NN converted from Tu-16Z.
    • Tu-16T - Limited production maritime strike version (torpedo bomber), that served in the Soviet Naval Aviation, and carried torpedoes, mines and depth charges. 76 built and some more converted. All units subsequently converted into Tu-16S configuration.
    • Tu-16S - A lifeboat carrier version used for search and rescue operations.
    • Tu-16Ye - These were equipped with heavy electronic warfare and electronic intelligence (ELINT) equipment.
  • Badger B (Tu-16KS) - Variant designed as a launch platform for two AS-1 Kennel/KS-1 Kometa missiles. 107 built in 1954-1958, served with the Soviet Naval Aviation, Egypt and Indonesia. Soviet ones later converted with newer missiles.
Image:Tu-16badger 2.jpg
  • Badger C (Tu-16K-10) - Another Naval Aviation variant, units of this version carried a single AS-2 Kipper/K-10S anti-ship missile. 216 built in 1958-1963. It differed from other variants having a radar in a nose. A further development, the Tu-16K-10-26, carried a single K-10S and two KSR-2 or KSR-5 missiles (K-26 missile compplex). Some were later converted into ELINT platforms.
  • Badger D (Tu-16RM-1) - Maritime reconnnaissance model with ELINT equipment; 23 converted from Tu-16K-10. It retained its radar in a nose and could guide K-10S missiles, fired from other planes, at targets.
  • Badger E (Tu-16R) - Reconnaissance version of the airframe, with ELINT equipment, first of all meant for maritime reconnaissance. It could guide KS missiles.
    • Tu-16RM-2 - modified Tu-16R, serving in the Naval Aviation. It could guide KSR-2 missiles.
    • Tu-16KRM - Launch platforms for target drones (a variant of Tu-16K-26).
  • Badger F (Tu-16RM-2) - Another reconnaissance version based on the -16R/RM but with the addition of external ELINT equipment.
Image:Tu-16 Badger G.jpg
  • Badger G (Tu-16K/Tu-16KSR) - Serving in the Naval Aviation, these were conversions from earlier models. These were designed to carry bombs in internal bays in addition to carrying air-to-surface missiles externally, such as the AS-5 Kelt and AS-6 Kingfish. There existed numerous variants, designated either from carried missile complex (K-11, K-16 and K-26) or from missiles of these complexes (KSR-11, KSR-2 and KSR-5). Following further modifications, they were also given suffixes. Main variants:
    • Tu-16KSR-2 - carrying the K-16 complex (two KSR-2 missiles). Used from 1962. Similar aircraft, converted from other variants, were designated Tu-16K-16.
    • Tu-16K-11-16 - carrying the K-16 complex (KSR-2 missiles) or the K-11 complex (two anti-radar KSR-11 missiles). Used from 1962. Similar aircraft were designated Tu-16KSR-2-11. Over 440 Tu-16 could carry the K-16 or K-11 complex.
Image:Tu-16K.jpg
    • Tu-16K-26 - carrying the K-26 complex (two KSR-5 missiles), retaining a capability of KSR-2 and 11 missiles. Used from 1969. Similar aircraft were designated Tu-16KSR-2-5-11 or Tu-16KSR-2-5 (no KSR-11 capability). Over 240 Tu-16 could carry the K-26 complex.
    • Tu-16K-26P - carrying the K-26P missiles (two anti-radar KSR-5P missiles, as well as KSR-5, 2 or 11).
  • Badger H (Tu-16 Elka) - Designed for stand-off electronic warfare and electronic counter-measures support.
  • Badger J (Tu-16P Buket) - Another electronic warfare variant configured as an ECM strike escort.
  • Badger K (Tu-16Ye) - Believed to be a version of the Badger F configuration possessing enhanced ELINT capability.
  • Badger L (Tu-16P) - Another version of the Badger J with more modern systems and used in ELINT role.

[edit] Chinese version (H-6)

  • Xian H-6 - Chinese medium bomber aircraft, manufactured from 1959 with Soviet-supplied Tu-16 kits at Harbin Aircraft Factory (now Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corp/HAMC). One prototype conducted China’s first aerial nuclear weapon test at Lop Nor on May 14th 1965
    • Xian H-6A - Chinese copy of Tu-16 medium bomber. Re-engineered from the Tu-16 without license. Entered service in 1970.
    • Xian H-6C - Improved H-6A with better EW/ECM suite.
    • Xian H-6D (H-6-IV) - PLANAF anti-ship missile bomber, armed with two YJ-6 (C-601/CAS-1 Kraken) anti-ship missiles. An upgraded version, capable of carrying four YJ-8 (C-801) anti-ship missiles is currently under development. <ref>http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/groundattack/h6.asp</ref>
    • Xian H-6E - Strategic nuclear bomber version, entered service in 1980s.
    • Xian H-6F - Mid-life upgrade for H-6A and H-6C in 1990s. New integrated navigation system, GPS, and doppler radar.
    • Xian H-6H - Missile-bomber version developed in late 1990s, armed with two KD-63 land-attack cruise missile (LACM). First successful test in 2002, possibly entered service in 2004-2005.
    • Xian H-6K - Unconfirmed designation (possibly a modified H-6H) reported by Jane's Information Group and others in September 2006. Reports noted Chinese press had published photographs of a prototype carrying unknown missiles resembling the Soviet-designed Raduga Kh-55 intermediate-range, land attack cruise missile.<ref>http://www.missilethreat.com/ September 29, 2006</ref>
    • Xian H-6U - PLAAF airborne tanker with two under-wing refuelling pods. <ref>http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/airlift/h6tanker.asp</ref>
    • Xian H-6DU - PLANAF airborne tanker conversion from H-6D.
    • Xian H-6M - Stand-off missile carrier version. No internal bomb bay (claimed to have saved/reduced 400kg in weight), designed to carry up to 4 YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship cruise missile or an air-launched variant of the YJ-62 (C-602) long range, anti-ship cruise missile. Said to be equipped with terrain following radar for low-altitude flight<ref>http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_china-defense_archive.html</ref>. Production of this variant is believed to have resumed in early 2006<ref>Jane's Missiles & Rockets, September 29, 2006</ref>.
    • Xian H-6 Testbed - One H-6 with serial number # 086 was converted to engine testbed and remained in service for 20 years, until it was eventually replaced by a converted Ilyushin Il-76 for engine testbed.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specifications (Tu-16)

Image:Tupolev Tu-16 BADGER.png

General characteristics<h3>
  • 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
<h3>Performance<h3> <h3>Armament<h3>
  • 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:
    • 1× Kh-10 (AS-2 'Kipper') anti-ship missile semi-recessed in bomb bay or
    • 1× Kh-26 (AS-6 'Kingfish') anti-ship missile on port underwing hardpoint


[edit] Footnotes

<references/>

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content

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Related development<h3>

<h3>Comparable aircraft<h3> <h3>Designation sequence<h3>

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