Tupolev Tu-22M (Backfire)

History of Tupolev Tu-22M (misfire)

Tupolev The Tu22M "Backfire" was/is a strategic bombing and naval attack platform dedicated to Soviet interests (during the Cold War and still today). The Tu-22M represented a further development of the original Tu-22 "Blinder", which failed in many ways.

However, the Tu-22M was modified enough to be considered an "all-new" bomber, resulting in improved missile weapons and the use of supersonic flight, and the introduction of variable-geometry wings.

While the original Tupolev Tu-22 "Blinder" supersonic medium bomber fell short of expectations in terms of replacing the aging Tu-16 "Badger" family, work on "variable geometry" on the same aircraft began . Variable geometry wings were studied as early as the 1930s, and the Germans made great strides in this area during World War II. The technology advanced during the Cold War, and the (arguably) best example of this type of aircraft is the Grumman F-14 Tomcat carrier-based interceptor.

Finally, other aircraft using this technology include the Rockwell B-1 "Lancer", General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark", MiG-23/MiG-27 "Flogger", Panavia "Tornado" and Tupolev Tu-160 "Black Jack" . The planned development of the Tu-22 was nothing new to Soviet avionics, as the Sukhoi Su-7 "Fitter" was originally a fixed-wing fighter and later became the Su-17/Su-20/Su-22 swing-wing A fighter-bomber shortly after the series.

What the original Tu-22 design lacked was inherently poor handling. It turned out to be technically complex, requiring a high level of maintenance and having a short production time. She was a complex beast, which, to make matters worse, proved to be limited in terms of performance - the Tu-22 failed to improve the quality of the subsonic Tu-16 in many ways, and described itself as a disappointment overall. Only 311 aircraft of this type were produced.

The implementation of variable geometry wings will allow the "new" aircraft to adjust its wing plan shape during flight to provide stability at low and high speeds in direct response to changing speeds and airflow. Tupolev started considering the idea of ??oscillating wings for its Tu-22 as early as 1962, and work on the design of such a fuselage began as early as 1962. Eventually, the company produced a prototype "Samolyot 145" to test the idea.

A practical and official prototype followed, the "Tu-22M0", which was first flown by the Soviet Air Force on 30 August 1968. When NATO observers thought the plane was unique (this was in September 1969), it was incorrectly named "Tu-26", codenamed "Backfire", and Western observers believed that the Tu-22M was actually a Brand new aircraft in the traditional sense.

The original production brand (Tu-22M1) thus became "Backfire-A".

The pre-production form of the Tu-22M was limited to nine examples, while the earlier Tu-22M1 produced nine more examples in 1971. Thus, the first truly "final" production form became the Tu-22M2 ("Backfire-B") with the NK-22 family of turbofan engines. The upcoming Tu-22M3 received an upgraded NK-25 turbofan engine and was known under the NATO codename "Backfire-C", which came online in 1983 (first flight in 1976). A new navigation/attack radar has been introduced, among other improvements. A rotary rocket launcher is installed in the bomb bay, and overall performance specifications have been improved.

All Tu-22M production models supporting the Tu-22M were then upgraded to the more modern Tu-22ME standard. The Tu-22M3 itself was upgraded to the Tu-22M3M brand, with new avionics and provisions for guided munition delivery.

The version of the Tu-22M2 powered by the NK-23 engine was called the Tu-22M2Ye.

The Tu-22M3(R)/Tu-22MR is an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) model equipped with specific equipment for this mission. These were born from the existing T-22M3 airframe. The Tu-22MP has a similar range but is intended as an electronic warfare aircraft (EWA). 497 Tu-22M aircraft were eventually completed.

The type still exists in the inventory of the Soviet Air Force and Navy. Other operators (albeit former operators) are Belarus, India and Ukraine. Although it was never officially offered for export to potential customers, Ukraine inherited the aircraft after the collapse of the Soviet Empire.

India leased the Tu-22M from Russia for a short period of time. It has now stopped being used abroad. Ukrainian mounts have been scrapped.

Despite its origins in the Tu-22, the Tu-22M incorporated several major design changes that quickly set it apart from the former. The outboard engine nacelles at the bottom of the Tu-22's vertical stabilizer have now been moved to a more traditional internal mount deep in the fuselage.

Its location required the use of split air intakes - located on either side of the fuselage - with proper ducting to draw in the new turbofan. Each rectangular entry is managed by a variable splitter panel.

This alone significantly changed the exterior design of the Tu-22, leading Western observers to consider it an entirely new family of aircraft. The swept wings of the original Tu-22 now give way to a pair of swept variable geometry components, which further differentiate the Tu-22M from the Tu-22.

A new landing gear was also developed to please the revised airframe. Unlike the T-22, the Tu-22M features a co-pilot who helps manage the onboard systems and relieves the main pilot of controls. Navigator and weapons officer are retained.

Key to the development of the Tu-22M was the installation of two Kuznetsov NK-25 series turbofan engines, each delivering 55,100 pounds of thrust. By comparison, the original Tu-22 was equipped with a pair of Dobrynin RD-7M-2 turbojets that delivered up to 36,376 pounds of thrust when the thirsty afterburners were engaged.

As a result, the Tu-22M has a top speed of 1,240 mph (Mach 1.88) and service is capped at 43,600 feet. It has a combat radius of 1,500 miles, but can be further adapted by subsonic/supersonic flight if necessary.

The Tu-22M's armament includes the use of underwing and underfuselage hardpoints, as well as internal gun bays. Internal weapons are also equipped with rotary rocket launchers. The Tu-22M has a total ammunition carrying capacity of 52,900 pounds, which may include missiles (homing, cruise or anti-ship missiles) or conventionally dropped bombs.

For standard self-defense, the Tu-22M is equipped with a 1 x 23mm GSh-23 series cannon in a remote-controlled turret at the rear.

To date (2012), Russian inventories list about 150 Tu-22Ms in operation (or in operation), with another about 90 in reserve.

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