The Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder was a supersonic bomber, which was developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s, during the Cold War. Designed by engineer Andrei Tupolev and produced by the State-run firm Tupolev Design Bureau, its prototype performed its first flight in 1959 and it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1962. It first saw combat action during the Iraq-Iran War in the 1980s as it had been exported to Libya, Iraq and eastern European countries. The main versions of this bomber were the Tu-22B, Tu-22R (reconnaissance), and Tu-22K (the missile carrier variant). In the early 1970s, it would be developed into the Tu-22M.
Below, the Tupolev Tu-22B at a Soviet airbase in 1963
Technical Characteristics
The Tupolev Tu-22 was a two-engine, swept-winged aircraft, which was built with an all-metal, stream-lined fuselage, with a large circular section that measured an average of 2.5 m in diameter. The wings leading edge swept at 70° in first portion, at the root, then it changed to a 54° angle. The tailplanes swept backwards at 59° angle and they were fully powered by irreversible electro-hydraulic actuators. The aircraft was powered by two Dobrynin RD-7M-2 turbojet engines, with afterburner. It was fitted with retractable landing gear.
The pressurized crew capsule made up the first portion of the aircraft. It was made mainly with thick magnesium alloy, with insulation material on the inside. The navigator/bomb aimer sat below, right behind the radar, with an inclined bomb-aiming window and, on each side, two superimposed windows which gave a perfect view over the lower half of the forward hemisphere. On the upper level of the pressurized crew capsule, the pilot sat on the centerline, with the radio operator/gunner behind him.
Specifications
Type: supersonic medium bomber
Length: 41.6 m (136 ft, 6 in)
Wing Span: 23.6 m (77 ft, 7 in)
Wing Area: 151 m² (1,628 sq. ft)
Height: 10.15 m (33 ft, 3 in)
Crew: 3
Maximum Speed: 1,510 km/h (Mach 1.42)
Range: 5,800 km (with bombs)
Below, the Tupolev Tu-22 blue-print.
View of top side of Tu-22 bomber.
Below, the Tu-22 in flight in 1960. It featured a tail 23mm automatic gun, and camera between the two engines, and the PRS-3/4 radar dome.
