Tupolev Tu-160 projects
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Planned Tu-160 Variants
Tu-160PP
There were plans for an escort ECM variant which was also intended to have air-to-air radar and carry long range and medium range AAMs.
Tu-161
An offshoot of Tu-160PP was the Tu-161 interceptor, designed to carry an upgraded MiG-31 Zaslon radar and 12 AAMs (R-33) and intended to intercept transport aircraft over the Atlantic.
Tu-160R
Strategic reconnaissance variant
Tu-170
Conventionally armed only derivative to circumvent SALT-2 limitations.
Tu-160M
Designed to accommodate 2 Meteorit-A supersonic "plasma stealth" missiles, one in each bomb bay, which required stretching of the fuselage. Cancelled with the missile.
Tu-160V
Liquid hydrogen fuelled variant. Enlarged fuselage to accomodate the greater volume of hydrogen fuel.
Tu-160 (Voron carrier)
Voron was a clone of the US D-21 UAV, reverse engineered from a crashed D-21. All the electronics were destroyed by explosive charges as designed, but the airframe and engine were in working order. The Tu-160 and Tu-142 were both studied as carrier aircraft. Voron as a D-21 clone was abandoned, but work continued on a new design under the same name.
Source
Tu-160PP
There were plans for an escort ECM variant which was also intended to have air-to-air radar and carry long range and medium range AAMs.
Tu-161
An offshoot of Tu-160PP was the Tu-161 interceptor, designed to carry an upgraded MiG-31 Zaslon radar and 12 AAMs (R-33) and intended to intercept transport aircraft over the Atlantic.
Tu-160R
Strategic reconnaissance variant
Tu-170
Conventionally armed only derivative to circumvent SALT-2 limitations.
Tu-160M
Designed to accommodate 2 Meteorit-A supersonic "plasma stealth" missiles, one in each bomb bay, which required stretching of the fuselage. Cancelled with the missile.
Tu-160V
Liquid hydrogen fuelled variant. Enlarged fuselage to accomodate the greater volume of hydrogen fuel.
Tu-160 (Voron carrier)
Voron was a clone of the US D-21 UAV, reverse engineered from a crashed D-21. All the electronics were destroyed by explosive charges as designed, but the airframe and engine were in working order. The Tu-160 and Tu-142 were both studied as carrier aircraft. Voron as a D-21 clone was abandoned, but work continued on a new design under the same name.
Source
- Piotr Butowski, Tu-160 in Donald David, ed. Tupolev Bombers (AIRTime)
Tuomasn
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Interestingly some sources mention two Tu-160 escort variants: the Tu-160PP as a jammer, and the Tu-160P as an escort interceptor with AAMs. Reportedly a mockup of the Tu-160PP was constructed.
One additional variant was the Tu-160K that was to carry two Krechet-R ALBMs.
Sources
One additional variant was the Tu-160K that was to carry two Krechet-R ALBMs.
Sources
- Tu-160 'Blackjack', International Air Power Review Vol 2, 2001
- http://www.testpilot.ru/russia/tupolev/160/160_m.htm (in Russian)
Tuomasn
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Krechet-R
Designer: Yuzhnoye
Lenght: 10.7 m
Diameter: 1.6 m
Launch Weight: 24,400 kg
Warhead: 1,400 kg nuclear/six nuclear MIRVs
Propulsion: Two-stage solid-propellant rocket
Guidance: Inertial
Max Range: 7,500 km
CEP: 600 m
Work on the Krechet scientific research program for an air-based missile system began in July 1983 with V.F. Utkin of Yuzhnoye design bureau as chief designer. The primary aim of the project was to increase the survivability of nuclear counter-strike forces. The Krechet-R ALBM was a two-stage solid-propellant fourth generation missile with a liquid-propellant warhead bus. First stage was controlled by aerodynamic surfaces, and the second stage by a rotating nozzle. The warhead section contained penetration aids. It was proposed to use a Tupolev Tu-160 variant with an increased load capacity of 50 tons designated Tu-160K as the launch platform. Two missiles were to be carried in the bomb bays of the aircraft. Ground support equipment for the missile was designed by KBTM. Draft design of the system was completed in December 1984, but development was not proceeded with.
Source
Designer: Yuzhnoye
Lenght: 10.7 m
Diameter: 1.6 m
Launch Weight: 24,400 kg
Warhead: 1,400 kg nuclear/six nuclear MIRVs
Propulsion: Two-stage solid-propellant rocket
Guidance: Inertial
Max Range: 7,500 km
CEP: 600 m
Work on the Krechet scientific research program for an air-based missile system began in July 1983 with V.F. Utkin of Yuzhnoye design bureau as chief designer. The primary aim of the project was to increase the survivability of nuclear counter-strike forces. The Krechet-R ALBM was a two-stage solid-propellant fourth generation missile with a liquid-propellant warhead bus. First stage was controlled by aerodynamic surfaces, and the second stage by a rotating nozzle. The warhead section contained penetration aids. It was proposed to use a Tupolev Tu-160 variant with an increased load capacity of 50 tons designated Tu-160K as the launch platform. Two missiles were to be carried in the bomb bays of the aircraft. Ground support equipment for the missile was designed by KBTM. Draft design of the system was completed in December 1984, but development was not proceeded with.
Source
- http://www.testpilot.ru/russia/tupolev/160/k/ (in Russian)
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HAAL (High Altitude Aerial Launch)
AW&ST June 12,2000
In May 1999, The US State Dept and Ukrainian Government agreed to remove SALT limitations on commercial use of three Tu-160, as long as certain modifications were made to prevent their use as weapons platforms.
A two-stage, liquid fuel, 70,000-lb booster carried under the belly of the Tu-160 will be designed to put spacecrafts into Low-Earth-Orbit.
AW&ST June 12,2000
In May 1999, The US State Dept and Ukrainian Government agreed to remove SALT limitations on commercial use of three Tu-160, as long as certain modifications were made to prevent their use as weapons platforms.
A two-stage, liquid fuel, 70,000-lb booster carried under the belly of the Tu-160 will be designed to put spacecrafts into Low-Earth-Orbit.
Is there any other info on the Tu-160 design that looked like the -144D? I've only seen a small line drawing side view of what was claimed to be it, definitely not just a side view of a -144, BTW, in an issue of Wings or Airpoer in the early '90s & an overhead view of the same -144 derivative in a late '70s AW & ST, but those are the only ones I've seen. Even Butowski's(?) "Red Star" series book on the -144 lists Recon, ECM(?) & interceptor versions, but no bomber, IIRC. I do recall one design that looks like -144D wings, tail & engines & a very abbreviated, squashed fuselage, but that's about it. I scratchbuilt one about 15 years ago basing it on the little line & AW & ST drawings.
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frank said:
Check out Yefim Gordon's Red Star series book on the Tu-160, there is a good bit of info in there. Soviet Secret Projects: Bombers has some info as well, but not quite as much or in as great detail (such as it is, of course). This was Tupolev's Tu-160 design, prior to being handed Myasischev's M-18 variable-geometry design for reworking and serial production. If I remember right, part of the reason that Tupolev's initial Tu-160 design was discarded was because the RusAF felt like it was simply getting a warmed-over airliner. This was not the case of course, if you look at the design it is markedly different save perhaps in general arrangement from the Tu-144D.
Also, while fumbling thru my Tu-144 bomber folder, in addition to the o/h shot of it from AW & ST, which I'm not going to post as it's a poor photocopy of a photocopy printed from microfilm about 15+ years ago. 
Anyway, I found a few notes from both FI & AW & ST, all thru the early to even late '80s, there's regular reference to a cruise missile carrier version of the Tu-144, usually associated with the AS(X)-19. ISTR reading somewhere, sometime, that one of the Tu-144 derived bomber/missile carriers had been determined to be the Sukhoi T-4, satellite imagery being what it was back then, I guess.
Anyway, I found a few notes from both FI & AW & ST, all thru the early to even late '80s, there's regular reference to a cruise missile carrier version of the Tu-144, usually associated with the AS(X)-19. ISTR reading somewhere, sometime, that one of the Tu-144 derived bomber/missile carriers had been determined to be the Sukhoi T-4, satellite imagery being what it was back then, I guess.
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Well, it turns out that this is not even Tu-160 mod, but hydrogen Tu-244V SST. To my sorrow, I can't post 3 view, but mystery must be solved and mistake fixed. And yes, it has no VG wings.PaulMM (Overscan) said:
Very funny situation: I have this book (Tu-160 - Rigmant, 2016), but I have missed this page about Tu-170!
Thank you for remind!
On the previous page (№343) there is a drawing of aircraft, which lookes like stealth modified Tu-22M - Tu-22M5?..
Thank you for remind!
On the previous page (№343) there is a drawing of aircraft, which lookes like stealth modified Tu-22M - Tu-22M5?..
What a looker Bodes well for PAK-DA, although the latter, being subsonic, is going to look very different. Still, LO is clearly something Tupolev have been wrapping their collective minds round for some time!
Bodes well for PAK-DA, although the latter, being subsonic, is going to look very different. Still, LO is clearly something Tupolev have been wrapping their collective minds round for some time!
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Moved to Tu-160 topic.
Pictures are from Vladimir Rigmant's Tu-160 book by Polygon Press. This is a really awesome book made with close cooperation with Tupolev, marred only (for non-Russian speakers) by being written in Russian. It pays particular attention to the early projects and configuration development of the Tu-160, which makes it especially interesting for this forum, and large numbers of original Tupolev OKB drawings and illustrations are presented.
Pictures are from Vladimir Rigmant's Tu-160 book by Polygon Press. This is a really awesome book made with close cooperation with Tupolev, marred only (for non-Russian speakers) by being written in Russian. It pays particular attention to the early projects and configuration development of the Tu-160, which makes it especially interesting for this forum, and large numbers of original Tupolev OKB drawings and illustrations are presented.
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They both were not hypersonic. '139' on the top picture (one of the times this designation was used) is a supersonic launcher platform.for '136' with R-14 based booster stage. Here's a different variant of '139'.
http://www.uhlib.ru/transport_i_aviacija/aviacija_i_kosmonavtika_2009_08/p3.php
http://www.uhlib.ru/transport_i_aviacija/aviacija_i_kosmonavtika_2009_08/p3.php
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blackkite
Don't laugh, don't cry, don't even curse, but.....
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blackkite
Don't laugh, don't cry, don't even curse, but.....
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The book "OKB TUPOLEV" says that "this is a model of the projected Tu-160V delivative fuelled by liquid hydrogen. The LH2 tanks are housed in the upper fuselage, hense the odd shape of the fuselage and the totally new all-movable tail suefaces."
What is the aircraft with large wing tanks? One delivative of Tu-160V?
What is the aircraft with large wing tanks? One delivative of Tu-160V?
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