Tupolev Tu-22M

The Tupolev Tu-22M is a strategic, supersonic bomber, which is part of the Russian Air Force arsenal. During the Cold War, it was known by NATO by the code name 'Backfire'. Its prototype rolled out of its State-run factory at Kazan, Russia, in May 1969 to perform its first test flight and entered service in 1972. Its design is based on the old Tu-22 'Blinder', which was in service with the Soviet Air Force until the late 1990s.

It has been built in five variants; the Tu-22M1, Tu-22M2, Tu-22M3, Tu-22M4, and Tu-22MR (reconnaissance), with a total of 500 aircraft being produced. About 120 of them are in service with the Russian Air Force. It first saw combat action in 1987, during the Russian-Afghanistan War. Then it would be used again during the Chechen Wars. As of today, it is fully operational, being in the war in Ukraine in its latest modern version: the Tu-22M3M, which includes the latest, hi-tech avionics as it can carry the new hypersonic Kalibr air-to-ground missile.

Below, a Tu-22M parked on the tarmac of a Soviet military base in Siberia in the Summer of 1979.

Technical Characteristics

When it came out of its manufacturing plant, the Backfire looked like new bomber as it was a complete upgrade from the Tupolev Tu-22. New variable sweep wings had replaced the old fixed swept wings. Its jet engines had been relocated; from being beside the tail-fin, they were moved into a new position on the sides of aircraft fuselage, with large square-shaped air intakes. Practically, it was a completely different layout. The new aircraft was powered by two new jet engines: Kuznetsov NK-22 afterburning turbofan engines, delivering 196 kN.

The fuselage of the new Tupolev Tu-22M consisted of an all-metal semi-monocoque, stressed-skin structure, which was made up of four sections (pieces). The forward section included the nose cone and the crew compartment. The lower half of the nose cone was the radome, with the upper half consisting of the refueling probe. The pressurized crew compartment had four seats, with the pilot and co-pilot sitting up front and the weapons system operator and navigator occupying the left and right back seats. Mounted low on the fuselage, the variable geometry wings had four sweep settings: 20°, 30°, 50°, and 60°. It had swept tailplane and hydraulically-controlled retractable landing gear.

Armament

Today, the Tu-22M is equipped with two remotely-controlled 23mm cannons, set up in tail turret. The aircraft is able to carry up to 24,000 kg of bombload, which include both supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles and smart bombs.

Specifications

Type: strategic bomber

Length: 42.46 m

Wingspan: 23.3 m (when wings set at 60°);

Wing Area: 183.58 m²

Height: 11 m

Maximum Speed: Mach 1.97 (2,090 km/h) at high altitude, and 1,050 km/h at about 100 m above sea level.

Mission Radius (combat range): 1,500 km.

Below, the underbelly of the Tu-22M1 version, with its wing extended out. Photo taken around in 1973

The Tu-22M3 Backfire taking off from a Soviet airbase runway in the 1980s.

 Below, the Tu-22M-0 prototype in mid 1969, parked at a Soviet airbase.