Tupolev Tu-98 (Backfin)

Tupolev Tu-98 (Backfin) History

After World War II, the aviation world developed advanced jet-powered designs at an astonishing rate. These moves were only encouraged by the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West, primarily Europe and the United States. Both the U.S. and Soviet empires conducted extensive experiments in supersonic jet-powered flight, utilizing all available modern technology while mixing new ones together. This development by Soviet engineers became the eventually abandoned Tupolev Tu-98 project - known to NATO as "Backfin".

Only one prototype example was implemented, but the data and experience gained helped shape other initiated design projects.

Since 1954, the Tupolev Tu-16 Badger series of strategic jet bombers have been heavily used by the Soviet Air Force. About 1,509 of these were built in various variants and exported in large numbers to countries and countries allied with the Soviet Union. This type was used by both the Soviet Air Force and Navy, and many were in use into the 1990s, inherited from the collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1991. Tupolev's concerns, already considering a possible replacement for the Tu-16, considered a more powerful and modern form.

A pair of Lyulka AL-7 turbojets were selected and a conventional design with high side mounted air intakes was developed. The wings were heavily swept back in typical Soviet fashion, with a stepped cockpit and heavily glassed nose cone. A vertical tail covered the rear of the tubular fuselage. A fully retractable undercarriage with two main legs and one front leg was also developed. The twin-engine configuration exhausts via a pair of tightly fitted exhaust rings beneath the vertical rear wing.

Construction of the first prototype began in 1955, and the first flight was quickly recorded in 1956. The West recognized the development when a visiting U.S. delegation demonstrated the aircraft at Kubinka Air Force Base in June of the same year. The design - named "Tu-98" - consisted of a crew of three, each engine produced 21,000 pounds of thrust, was capable of speeds in excess of 850 miles per hour, had a range of up to 1,500 miles, and could operate over 41,000 feet.

Weapon payloads will be up to 11,000 pounders, with 3 x 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 series guns as standard defense.

Despite the promising design, the Tu-98 was only completed in the first prototype and was never selected for mass production. The program eventually came to an end, although that experience was put to good use when developing the upcoming Tupolev Tu-28 interceptor.

The two-seat twin-engine interceptor is present in 198 examples, and is also equipped with various air-to-air weapons.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes