Relay plane tu 22 power plant. History of creation and application

Information

ABOUT THE PLANE

Development:

OKB A.N. Tupolev

Production:

KAZ im. S.P. Gorbunova

First flight:

Project stage:

modernization

The long-range supersonic missile-carrying bomber (NATO code: Backfire) is designed to destroy sea and land-based targets with guided missiles and aerial bombs.

Design features

Aircraft of the Tu-22M series are made according to the normal aerodynamic configuration with a low-lying variable-sweep wing. The structure is mainly made of aluminum alloys, as well as high-strength and heat-resistant steels, titanium and magnesium alloys. The wing consists of a fixed part and rotary consoles. The sweep angle of the rotary consoles is from 20° to 65°. Wing mechanization includes slats, three-section double-slotted flaps. The spoilers deflect differentially for roll control and synchronously for use as an aerodynamic brake. The stabilizer is all-moving. The aircraft has a semi-monocoque fuselage and a tricycle retractable landing gear with a nose strut. The power plant consists of two turbofans NK-25. APU TA-6A is installed in the fork.

History of creation

The first experimental Tu-22M3 made its first flight on June 20, 1977. Since 1978, the aircraft has been put into mass production. In its final form, the Tu-22M3 was put into service in March 1989.
Total at the Kazan Aviation production association About 500 Tu-22M aircraft of various modifications were built.

In 2018, as part of a large-scale program for the modernization of aviation systems for strategic and long-range aviation, the first deeply modernized Tu-22M3M missile-carrying bomber was created. As a result of a deep modernization, a new complex of modern digital on-board radio-electronic equipment (avionics) based on domestic element base was installed on the aircraft. The result of the work carried out was a significant expansion of the combat potential of the aviation complex, including an increase in combat effectiveness and an increase in the combat radius. The deeply modernized Tu-22M3M missile-carrying bomber made its first flight on December 28, 2018.

Aircraft Tu-22M(according to NATO classification: Backfire) - supersonic long-range bomber-missile carrier with variable wing geometry. The experimental Tu-22M3 completed its first flight on June 20, 1977. After the completion of the program for flight and development tests of the machine, the Tu-22M3 aircraft was put into serial production in 1978. At the same time, from 1981 to 1984, the missile carrier underwent a series of additional tests in a variant with enhanced combat capabilities of the vehicle, in particular, the use of Kh-15 missiles was practiced on the aircraft.

In the final version, the Tu-22M3 bomber-carrier was adopted by the USSR Air Force in March 1989. For all the years of production at the Kazan Aviation Production Association, 268 Tu-22M3 bombers were assembled.

In February 2012, official information appeared that the Russian Ministry of Defense had signed a contract to upgrade about 30 Tu-22M3 bombers to the Tu-22M3M version. In this version, the bomber must receive a completely new radio electronic equipment and the possibility of using modern high-precision air-to-surface weapons, such as the new Kh-32 cruise missiles. Total in Russia at the moment, out of 115 Tu-22M3 aircraft, about 40 vehicles are fully combat-ready. Modernization of 30 bombers is planned to be carried out before 2020. For 2012, 1 aircraft was converted of this type which is currently undergoing testing.

In 2012 at the Center combat use and retraining of the flight personnel of the Russian Long-Range Aviation, located in the city of Ryazan, classes began at the training courses for young pilots - graduates of 2011. At these courses, they could master not only theoretical issues, but also practice piloting skills on simulators, as well as make real flights on Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3M bombers.

Here, in the Ryazan Aviation Center, the flight crew is training to pilot and operate the new modernized Tu-22M3M bomber. This machine differs from the Tu-22M3 in the expanded range of used means of defeating the enemy. This aircraft uses modern equipment, built on a new element base, at the same time, the ergonomic indicators of the cockpit were improved.

At present, the cost of aircraft and aviation weapons is growing at an avalanche-like pace, which is leading military aviation almost to a dead end. So, for example, in 2010 prices, one fighter of the 5th generation F-22 cost the US budget 412.7 million dollars, the "mass" model - the F-35 cost only 115.7 million dollars, and the price "Indecently cheap" fighter Eurofighter was only about 85 million euros. Against this background, the "classic" F-18E, which cost the customer $ 50 million, seems like a completely "budget" solution. The cost of Russian promising developments has not yet been disclosed, but it is unlikely that it will differ significantly from the costs of our likely "friends".

Moreover, in all the major conflicts of recent years (Operation Desert Storm, the bombing of Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and to a much lesser extent Afghanistan), from a certain point, a shortage of high-precision weapons began to be observed, which was due to the inability to timely replenish the costs of high-precision missile defense and KAB.

The solution was found in cost reduction aviation technology, as well as on-board systems, along with a revision of the very concept of using aviation weapons. A great mind is not required to come to such conclusions, the mind is needed in order to put this approach into practice, since this task seems almost fantastic in modern realities. However, in Russia there are already developments in this direction. An example is the Su-24M2 aircraft, equipped with SVP-24 avionics and modernized by CJSC "Gefest and T".

In 2012, the complex of airborne and ground equipment SVP-24-22 was planned to be installed on 4 supersonic long-range bomber Tu-22M3. This was told by the general director of the Gefest and T company Alexander Panin in an interview with ITAR-TASS journalists. This enterprise is the creator of a modification of the SVP-24 complex, which is already quite successfully used in the modernization of Russian Su-24 front-line bombers.

At the same time, the SVP-24 avionics system is universal and can be installed on many types of aircraft and helicopters of the Russian Air Force, including Tu-22M3, Su-24M bombers or Ka-52 attack helicopters. Another indisputable advantage is the fact that this system allows to reduce the time of ground preparation and aircraft control by 4-5 times. For the Tu-22M3, one flight hour of which requires 51 man-hours of engineering technical support, that's important enough.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, the Tu-22M3 can be turned into a real European missile defense killer by turning an outdated strategic missile carrier into a carrier of high-precision weapons. To do this, the aircraft will be equipped new electronics, and also, most likely, the new Kh-32 cruise missile. The new machine will receive another letter “M” to the name and will be called Tu-22M3M, while specialists from one of the enterprises participating in the modernization emphasized that the Tu-22 and Tu-22M, as well as the Tu-22M3 and Tu- 22M3M will be completely different machines, primarily in terms of their capabilities. According to representatives of the Air Force of the country, in order to prepare pilots to fly a new aircraft, it will take 2-3 months of classes at the Ryazan Long-Range Aviation Training Center.

At the same time, the retraining process is standardized, pilots will need to learn electronic devices, master new system navigation and weapon control, control of the situation near the aircraft. From now on, all important information will be displayed on liquid crystal electronic displays, and the pilot will only have to select the mode, target and launch missiles, almost like in computer games.

Konstantin Sivkov, who is a doctor of military sciences and first vice-president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, noted that this modernization involves a complete replacement of the navigation, weapons control and communications systems and will cost from 30% to 50% of the cost of the aircraft. At the same time, the modernization of 30 aircraft to the Tu-22M3M version will improve combat capabilities park Tu-22M3 by 20%.

According to Sivkov, the modernization of only 30 aircraft will be enough to disable 1 American aircraft carrier, while sinking a number of escort ships. While the modernization of the entire fleet of Tu-22M3 missile carriers would make it possible to increase their effectiveness by 100-120% against maritime targets and by 2-3 times when operating against land targets.

K. Sivkov suggested that the new Kh-32 cruise missile would search for a target "from under the wing" of a bomber, like its predecessor Kh-22. After launch, the missile will be able to reach a target several hundred kilometers away on its own engine and hit it, while it is extremely difficult to detect and hit such a missile.

In its turn Alexander Konovalov, President of the Institute for Strategic Assessments and Analysis, noted that the defeat of ground targets today is one of the weakest points of the Russian army, since modern Russian tactical missiles have a short range and rather low accuracy. In Georgia, the Tu-22M3 bomber was lost precisely for this reason, the aircraft had to enter the enemy's organized air defense zone in order to carry out an attack on the target. And it is already very difficult to get out of this zone after the attack, Konovalov noted.

At the same time, there is a third way - a correlation system, in which detailed map route with the image of the target that needs to be destroyed, and the rocket during the flight will take pictures of the area over which it flies, comparing the received data with the route map. It is precisely such a system that the Russian Air Force can receive in the face of the Tu-22M3M and the Kh-32 cruise missile.

The Tu-22M aircraft (according to NATO classification: Backfire) is a supersonic long-range missile-carrying bomber with variable wing geometry. The experimental Tu-22M3 completed its first flight on June 20, 1977. After the end of the program for flight and development tests of the machine, the Tu-22M3 aircraft was put into serial production in 1978. At the same time, from 1981 to 1984, the missile carrier underwent a series of additional tests in a variant with enhanced combat capabilities of the vehicle, in particular, the use of Kh-15 missiles was practiced on the aircraft. In the final version, the Tu-22M3 bomber-carrier was adopted by the USSR Air Force in March 1989. For all the years of production at the Kazan Aviation Production Association, 268 Tu-22M3 bombers were assembled.

In February 2012, official information appeared that the Russian Ministry of Defense had signed a contract to upgrade about 30 Tu-22M3 bombers to the Tu-22M3M version. In this version, the bomber should receive completely new electronic equipment and the possibility of using modern high-precision air-to-surface class, for example, new Kh-32 cruise missiles. In total, in Russia at the moment, out of 115 Tu-22M3s, about 40 vehicles are fully combat-ready. Modernization of 30 bombers is planned to be carried out before 2020. For 2012, 1 aircraft of this type was converted, which is currently undergoing a set of tests.

In 2012, at the Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Flight Personnel of the Russian Long-Range Aviation, located in the city of Ryazan, classes began at training courses for young pilots - graduates of 2011. At these courses, they could master not only theoretical issues, but also practice piloting skills on simulators, as well as make real flights on Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3M bombers. Here, in the Ryazan Aviation Center, the flight crew is training to pilot and operate the new modernized Tu-22M3M bomber. This machine differs from the Tu-22M3 in the expanded range of used means of defeating the enemy. This aircraft uses modern equipment built on a new element base, at the same time, the ergonomic indicators of the cockpit have been improved.

At present, the cost of aircraft and aviation weapons is growing at an avalanche-like pace, which is leading military aviation almost to a dead end. So, for example, in 2010 prices, one fighter of the 5th generation F-22 cost the US budget 412.7 million dollars, the "mass" model - the F-35 cost only 115.7 million dollars, and the price "Indecently cheap" fighter Eurofighter was only about 85 million euros. Against this background, the "classic" F-18E, which cost the customer $ 50 million, seems like a completely "budget" solution. The cost of Russian promising developments has not yet been disclosed, but it is unlikely that it will differ significantly from the costs of our probable "friends".

The prices for aviation weapons, especially high-precision weapons, are also growing at a no less rapid pace. So at present in the West, the emphasis is on the use of guided weapons. Only now, the JDAM module, which is capable of turning a conventional bomb into a precision-guided one, even in its cheapest configuration costs the Western taxpayer about $30,000, while the prices for specially designed guided and corrected munitions reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Moreover, in all the major conflicts of recent years (Operation Desert Storm, the bombing of Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and to a much lesser extent Afghanistan), from a certain point, a shortage of high-precision weapons began to be observed, which was due to the inability to timely replenish the costs of high-precision missile defense and KAB.

The way out was found in reducing the cost of aviation equipment, as well as on-board systems, along with a revision of the very concept of using aviation weapons. A great mind is not required to come to such conclusions, the mind is needed in order to put this approach into practice, since this task seems almost fantastic in modern realities. However, in Russia there are already developments in this direction. An example is the Su-24M2 aircraft, equipped with SVP-24 avionics and modernized by CJSC "Gefest and T".

At the same time, it is emphasized that the installation of the SVP-24-22 systems is provided for by a separate program and will be carried out regardless of plans for deep modernization, to which 30 Tu-22M3 missile carriers are subject. The new SVP-24-22 complex makes it possible to solve combat and navigation tasks with greater efficiency, as well as to improve the accuracy characteristics of aviation destruction systems. In addition, the complex provides an accurate landing approach for a combat aircraft in adverse weather conditions and without ground-based gliding systems. At the same time, the SVP-24 avionics system is universal and can be installed on many types of aircraft and helicopters of the Russian Air Force, including Tu-22M3, Su-24M bombers or Ka-52 attack helicopters. Another indisputable advantage of this system is the fact that this system makes it possible to reduce the time of ground preparation and aircraft control by 4-5 times. For the Tu-22M3, one flight hour of which requires 51 man-hours of engineering support, this is quite important.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, the Tu-22M3 can be turned into a real European missile defense killer by turning an outdated strategic missile carrier into a carrier of high-precision weapons. To do this, the aircraft will be equipped with new electronics, as well as, most likely, a new Kh-32 cruise missile. The new machine will receive another letter M to the name and will be called Tu-22M3, while specialists from one of the enterprises participating in the modernization emphasized that the Tu-22 and Tu-22M, as well as the Tu-22M3 and Tu-22M3M will be completely different machines, primarily in their capabilities. According to representatives of the Air Force of the country, in order to prepare pilots to fly the new aircraft, it will take 2-3 months of classes at the Ryazan Long-Range Aviation Training Center.

At the same time, the retraining process is standardized, pilots will need to study electronic devices, master a new navigation and weapon control system, and control the situation near the aircraft. From now on, all important information will be displayed on liquid crystal electronic displays, and the pilot will only have to select the mode, target and launch missiles, almost like in computer games.

Konstantin Sivkov, who is a doctor of military sciences and first vice-president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, noted that this modernization involves a complete replacement of the navigation, weapons control and communications systems and will cost from 30% to 50% of the cost of the aircraft. At the same time, the modernization of 30 aircraft to the Tu-22M3M version will improve the combat capabilities of the Tu-22M3 fleet by 20%. According to him, the modernization of only 30 aircraft will be enough to disable 1 American aircraft carrier, while sinking a number of escort ships. While the modernization of the entire fleet of Tu-22M3 missile carriers would make it possible to increase their effectiveness by 100-120% against maritime targets and by 2-3 times when operating against land targets.

Sivkov suggested that the new Kh-32 cruise missile would search for a target "from under the wing" of a bomber, like its predecessor Kh-22. After launch, the missile will be able to reach a target several hundred kilometers away on its own engine and hit it, while it is extremely difficult to detect and hit such a missile.

In turn, Alexander Konovalov, President of the Institute for Strategic Assessments and Analysis, noted that the defeat of ground targets is one of the weakest points of the Russian army today. Since modern Russian tactical missiles have a small range and rather low accuracy. In Georgia, the Tu-22M3 bomber was lost precisely for this reason, the aircraft had to enter the enemy's organized air defense zone in order to carry out an attack on the target. And it is already very difficult to get out of this zone after the attack, Konovalov noted.

According to Konovalov, in order for a cruise missile to be able to hit a ground object at a distance of several hundred kilometers, it must have its exact coordinates and fly, constantly updating its position in space with the help of a satellite, or someone will constantly have to highlight the target being hit , and the rocket will fly on the reflected signal. At the same time, there is a third way - a correlation system, in which a detailed route map with an image of the target to be destroyed will be loaded into the missile’s memory, and the missile will take pictures of the area it flies over during the flight, comparing the received data with the route map. It is precisely such a system that the Russian Air Force can receive in the face of the Tu-22M3M and the Kh-32 cruise missile.

Sources of information:
-http://modernarmy.ru/article/202
-http://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/ [email protected]
-http://www.itar-tass.com/c96/497642.html
-http://telegrafist.org/2012/02/06/3401
-http://ru.wikipedia.org

Tests of the first Tu-22M3 showed that the aircraft of the new modification significantly exceeded the Tu-22M2 in terms of their flight and tactical characteristics. Practically, in terms of flight characteristics, it was possible to reach the requirements of 1967, with a significant increase in the combat capabilities of the aircraft and the entire complex. Joint state tests of the Tu-22M3 were completed in 1981, and the aircraft was recommended for adoption.

From 1981 to 1984, the aircraft underwent an additional set of tests in the variant with extended combat capabilities, including the variant of equipping with aeroballistic missiles. New weapon systems required additional time for their fine-tuning and testing, therefore, in its final form, the Tu-22M3 was officially accepted into service only in March 1989.

Prospects for the development of the Tu-22M3 complex are associated with the modernization of on-board equipment, the re-equipment with promising high-precision weapon systems and the provision of the necessary resources and service life of the airframe of the carrier aircraft, its systems and equipment.

The main goals of modernization are:

expanding the combat capabilities of the complex;

increasing the defensive capabilities of the aircraft when performing a combat mission, navigation accuracy, reliability and noise immunity of communications;

ensuring the effectiveness of the use of new generation missile weapons, bomber weapons, both guided and unguided.

In terms of upgrading the avionics on the Tu-22M3, it is necessary to install a new multifunctional radar with enhanced capabilities and increased noise immunity. The units and equipment of the avionics require a transition to a new modern element base, which will ensure a reduction in the dimensions and weight of the avionics, and should also reduce the power consumption of the equipment.

The proposed measures for the modernization of the avionics, together with the ongoing work to extend the resource indicators, will ensure the possibility of the effective operation of this aviation complex until 2025-2030.

The OKB constantly carries out all these activities, improving and developing the basic design of the Tu-22M3 complex, having designed several options for its development since the creation of this complex.

Conducting tactical flight exercises using the Tu-22M3 in various regions of the country showed that the aircraft can be operated from operational airfields with minimal costs for the preparation of equipment and weapons. This was clearly confirmed during the participation of the Tu-22M3 in combat operations in Afghanistan and the North Caucasus.

The successful use of the Tu-22M3 complex was facilitated by a proven operating system, which included:

logistic support, the main task of which was the supply technical means, ground handling equipment, fuels and lubricants, spare parts, Supplies and ammunition for carrying out all types of work on the aircraft and its combat use;

radio-technical support, which made it possible to carry out aircraft flights both in the area of the airfield and on long distances From him;

other types of material and technical support, allowing the effective use of the Tu-22M3 complex.

The presence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine makes it possible to prepare for combat operations immediately after landing at the operational airfield. The well-established system of operation of the complex makes it possible to train the aircraft at the base airfield using stationary ground support facilities, and at operational airfields using available mobile service facilities and technical first aid kits used by ITS during relocation.

All this makes it possible to effectively use the complex in any theater of operations, in various latitudes and climatic zones, both at base and operational airfields.

Taking into account the large residual life of the existing Tu-22M3 aircraft and the fact that the Russian Air Force has a fairly large number of Tu-22M3 aircraft, the Design Bureau continues to work on further modernization of the Tu-22M3 fleet. As noted above, the aircraft should receive high-precision weapons, an updated composition of the avionics. The Design Bureau is also constantly working to increase the resource indicators of the complex and its constituent parts. Modernization programs for the Tu-22M3 should significantly increase the strike potential of the aircraft and the complex, ensuring its effective operation for at least another 20-25 years. Thus, the Tu-22M3 with modernized on-board equipment, re-equipped with high-precision weapons, is still long years will constitute a significant part of the combat strength of the strike forces of the Russian Long-Range Aviation and Navy Aviation.

According to its layout and design scheme, the Tu-22M3 is a twin-engine all-metal low-wing aircraft with two turbofan engines installed in the rear of the fuselage, with a variable sweep wing in flight and a swept tail, with a tricycle landing gear with a front support. In the design of the airframe and its units, they are mainly used aluminum and titanium alloys, high-strength and heat-resistant steels, non-metallic structural materials.

The wing consists of a fixed center section - the middle part of the wing (SCHK) and two rotary parts (PCHK) - consoles having the following fixed positions for the sweep angle of 20, 30 and 65 degrees. The angle of the transverse "V" wing - 0 degrees. The rotary console has a geometric twist, the twist angle is 4 degrees. SChK sweep along the leading edge - 56 degrees. Two-spar center section with a rear wall and load-bearing skin panels. Swivel consoles are attached to the center section with the help of swivel joints. The mechanization of the wing consists of three-section slats and double-slotted flaps on the consoles and a rotary flap on the center section. Flap and slat extension blocking is provided at sweep angles of more than 20 degrees. Consoles are equipped with three-section spoilers for roll control (ailerons are absent on the aircraft).

The fuselage is semi-monocoque, reinforced with powerful longitudinal beams (beams) in the area of the cargo compartment. In the forward part of the fuselage there are radars, a crew cabin designed for four people (ship commander, assistant ship commander, navigator-navigator and navigator-operator), equipment compartments, a niche for the front landing gear. Crew jobs are equipped with KT-1M ejection seats. In the middle part of the fuselage there are fuel sides, niches of the main landing gear, cargo compartment, air intake channels. In the rear of the fuselage - engines and a braking parachute compartment

The vertical tail consists of a fork and a technologically detachable keel and a rudder. The sweep of the keel is 57 degrees. The horizontal tail consists of two one-piece swivel consoles with a sweep of 59 degrees.

The landing gear is tricycle, the nose support is two-wheeled, retractable in flight. The main supports are three-axle six-wheeled, retractable into the wing and partially into the fuselage. The wheels of the main supports are equipped with hydraulic disc brakes and anti-skid automatic devices. The wheels of the main supports have a size of 1030x350, the front - 1000x280

The power plant includes two turbofan engines with afterburners NK-25; adjustable multi-mode air intakes with a horizontal controlled wedge and make-up and bypass flaps; onboard auxiliary installation; fuel and oil systems; control and monitoring systems of power plant units. The turbofan engine has a maximum afterburner takeoff thrust of 25,000 kgf and a maximum takeoff thrust without afterburner of -14,500 kgf. The TA-6A auxiliary power unit provides engine start on the ground, AC and DC on-board power supply on the ground and in flight in case of failure, air supply to aircraft systems on the ground and in some specified cases in flight. Fuel is placed in the fuselage and wing (center section and consoles) protected fuel sides, equipped with a neutral gas filling system, as well as a tank in the fork. Scoop-type air intakes with a horizontal wedge are equipped with make-up and bypass flaps, as well as automatic system air intake controls.

The digital flight and navigation complex of the aircraft with inertial navigation systems provides: automatic solution of navigation tasks; manual, automatic and semi-automatic cross-country flight in a horizontal plane with pre-landing maneuver and landing approach; issuance of the necessary information for the automatic exit of the aircraft to a given area at a given time; issuance of the necessary information to the crew of the aircraft, as well as to the systems of the complex

The aircraft is equipped with on-board means of long-range and short-range radio navigation (RSDN and RSBN), an automatic radio compass, a PNA-type sighting and navigation radar, interfaced with the Kh-22N missile control system. The aircraft is equipped with a blind landing system, high and low altitude radio altimeters. Communication with the ground and aircraft is carried out using VHF and KB transceiver radio stations. Intra-aircraft communication between crew members is carried out using an aircraft intercom.

The missile armament of the Tu-22M3 aircraft consists of one (under the fuselage in a semi-recessed position), two (under the wing) or three (reloading version) Kh-22N (or MA) missiles designed to destroy large sea and radar-contrast ground targets at ranges 140-500 km. Launch weight of the rocket 5900 kg, length 11.3 m, maximum speed corresponds to M=3.

The bomber's armament is supplemented with Kh-15 short-range hypersonic (M=5) aeroballistic missiles designed to destroy stationary ground targets or enemy radars. Six missiles can be placed in the fuselage on a multi-position drum launcher, four more missiles are suspended on external nodes under the wing and fuselage.

X-22N type missiles are placed: fuselage in a semi-recessed position in the fuselage cargo compartment on a BD-45F retractable beam holder, wing-type missiles on pylons, on BD-45K beam holders. Aeroballistic missiles - but MKU and ejection wing installations.

Bomb armament, consisting of conventional and nuclear free-falling bombs with a total mass of up to 24,000 kg, is located in the fuselage (up to 12,000 kg) and on four external hardpoints on nine-lock beam holders MBDZ-U9-502 (typical bomb load options are 69 FAB-250 or eight FAB-1500). In the future, it is possible to arm the Tu-22M3 aircraft with high-precision guided bombs, as well as new missile launchers to destroy ground and sea targets.

Aiming during bombing is carried out using a radar and an optical bomber sight with a TV set-top box.

The defensive armament of the aircraft consists of a cannon armament system with a GSh-23 type cannon (with a shortened block of barrels mounted vertically and having a rate of fire increased to 4000 rounds per minute) with a telesight and a VB-157A-5 computer unit coupled with a shooting radar sight. The aircraft is equipped with an advanced electronic warfare system and a passive jamming machine.

Flight performance

Video

The Tu-22M3 is a combat missile-carrying supersonic bomber developed in the 1960s to replace the Tu-22M2. In this model of the missile carrier, all the shortcomings of the predecessors of the series were taken into account, which made it possible to improve its attacking and defensive characteristics. The key difference from the predecessor aircraft was the set various functions from attack and surveillance to aircraft carrier defense.

The wingspan of the aircraft reaches 35 meters, the capacity of fuel tanks is 50 tons. This is a giant machine capable of carrying bombs, missiles various kinds and other weapons. The missile carrier is able to rise to a height of more than 10,000 kilometers, and its power is enough to "level the mountains to the ground." It is not surprising that such a successful and defensive model of a combat aircraft not only has not gone out of service, but will also be used for at least another 20-30 years.

Tu-22M3 was one of the further modifications in the Tu-22M line. The creation of new aircraft was dictated by the need to appear in military aviation lighter, faster and more versatile bombers. The changes were to affect the design of the wings, engines and attack and defense systems.

At the beginning of 1974, it was decided to create the Tu-22M3. In the new launch vehicle, it was planned to introduce modern engines, reduce take-off weight, improve the onboard system and design a new sighting system. The car received a number of transformations:

New electronically controlled engines.
The air intakes separated from the wings, which allowed to increase the speed of flight.
Completely updated power supply system.
New elements of the airborne defense complex.
General reconstruction of the hull and parts of the aircraft.

Production of the Tu-22M3 began in 1977. In the next two years after a set of tests, the model completely replaces the previous version of the Tu-22M2. The final version of the finished aircraft carrier was adopted in the late 1980s. In 1993, the production of this series of vehicles ended. The last copy, due to the inability of the customer to pay, was turned into a monument. In total, over the years of the existence of the model, 268 units of equipment under this name came out from under the conveyor.

Part of the aircraft (70 aircraft) was under the control of the Russian Air Force. More than 80 belonged to the Navy, which in 2011 transferred the available bombers to the Air Force. Russian Federation.

Currently, there are projects on the use and development of this model. Further modifications are being developed, including export variations. The implementation plans include an ambitious project to use the Tu-22M3 to launch small satellites directly into orbit. This will significantly increase economic efficiency introduction of small satellites into orbit, reducing its cost by 20-30%.

The work packages to improve the Tu-22M suggest extending its use by 40 years with the introduction of improved design features.

Aircraft characteristics

The technical characteristics of the Tu-22M3 are as follows:

Tu-22M3 design

According to its characteristics, the Tu-22M3 aircraft turned out to be much more powerful than foreign representatives of this class in terms of flight range, developed speed, and payload. The secret of the design of the machine was in the structural features of the swept wings, which are able to change their geometric shape. The wing of the aircraft consists of a fixed part and plumage made of light aluminum alloys. The plumage elements change their direction depending on the speed of the vehicle.

The lightweight design reduced the empty weight of the machine while increasing its payload capacity.

Engines

Powerful new generation engines are able to generate tremendous power. Piloting by a bomber is carried out using the power supply system or hydromechanics when the first one fails. Fuel tanks are located in different places throughout the aircraft body. One Tu-22M3 flight hour requires 51 man-hours of engineers and equipment.

cockpit

The cockpit is equipped with a developed set of equipment. The complex for piloting and navigation allows the car to independently reach a given point on the route. The aircraft has a radar station and an electronic countermeasures system, which are responsible for reconnaissance activities, jamming and alerting if the vehicle is detected by radars. The infrared station is designed to detect the approach of missiles to an aircraft carrier.

Externally, the Tu-22M3, whose photos and videos are available in the public domain, impresses with its power, smoothness of movement and the structure of the wings and hull.

combat complex

The combat complex of the aircraft may include three air-to-ground missiles, ten ballistic missiles designed for ground targets, and conventional or nuclear bombs weighing up to 12 tons. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a rapid-fire cannon designed to serve as an aircraft carrier defense.

The aircraft is equipped with powerful lighting equipment. The bottom of the body is painted white, and the sides and top are gray and green. This is a kind of camouflage to improve the stealth of a missile carrier. In the 1990s, the coloring of the side in the form of bright, intimidating figures gained popularity among crew members.

To monitor the state of the flight, flight recorders and video recording equipment are installed on board. All units of aviation equipment are necessarily equipped with a system of voluntary and forced ejection, which is carried out in an upward direction with a protective helmet on the face. The aircraft leaves in the following order: operator, navigator, pilot, commander. The decision on forced ejection is made by the commander of the ship.

For departure from the cabin above the water surface, there is an inflatable boat with a supply of necessary medicines and food.

The aircraft is equipped modern system air conditioning and air purification and fire extinguishing means. The presence of this equipment is vital in the conditions of sorties and exercises at supersonic speed.

Exploitation and export

In different periods of the bombers' service, there were reports of the possible export of the Tu-22M3 to other countries, but most of them do not have official confirmation. Iran planned to purchase seven pieces of equipment for air missions in the context of a brewing military-political conflict. The government of the Russian Federation denied this information.

In 2013, information about the purchase of twenty-five aircraft by China was leaked to the network, which also did not receive exact confirmation. Prior to this, negotiations were underway on the supply of cars to India, as well as the provision of several copies for leasing. However, for various reasons, the decisions were not translated into reality.

During the years of its existence, from the moment of launch, Tu-22M3 bombers were located in various cities of the USSR, Russia and the CIS countries. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the equipment was withdrawn from Belarus to Russia. In Ukraine, the cars were operated until 2003-2006, after which they were destroyed. One copy of the Tu-22M3 is in the museum as an exhibit. To date, working aircraft are deployed in the Kaluga, Murmansk, Ryazan and Irkutsk regions.

There are currently 62 Tu-22M3s on the move in Russia. Some of the equipment is currently decommissioned or kept in storage.

The aircraft is of great strategic importance in the development defense complex Russian Federation. Its unsurpassed performance allows you to maintain the advantage of the military aviation of your state.

Combat operations involving Tu-22M3

Tu-22M3 aircraft took an active part in various combat operations and air missions of the state. For the first time, missile carriers were involved in the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. In 1994, aircraft carriers attacked militants in Chechnya.

In 2008, Tu-22M3 bombers were involved in operations in South Ossetia. There was also an incident where one of the pieces of equipment was shot down by the enemy. In 2017, Tu-22M3 aircraft carriers participated in the attack of terrorist organizations in Syria.

Tu-22M3 losses

For reasons unrelated to the fighting, a total of about 22 aircraft carriers were lost. Most of the accidents are related to malfunctions in the operation of engines and equipment. One plane was shot down by the enemy as part of a mission in Ossetia.

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