Dark5 | 5 Most Feared Soviet Weapons @dark5tv | Uploaded 2 years ago | Updated 1 day ago
The NATO designated Blackjack or Tu160 White Swan is a Soviet supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by Tupolev to use in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
The aircraft was the last bomber designed by the nation that is still used by Russian forces. To this day, White Swan is the world’s largest and heaviest Mach 2-capable supersonic bomber ever produced.
The first supersonic bombers employed by the Soviet Union were launched in 1967. But the Soviet Air Force quickly realized that an aircraft with variable wing geometry could be much faster than a strategic bomber with a conventional wing design.
When details of the American development of the Rockwell B1 Lancer were leaked, the Soviet Air Force rapidly launched a competition to develop a variable geometry bomber capable of Mach 2 speeds to counter the American aircraft.
Tupolev submitted its prototype design named Aircraft 160M, and it was accepted by the committee. The result was the Tu160, the USSR's first variable-geometry heavy bomber.
Although the Tu160 was similar to the American B1 Lancer, it was by no means a copycat version.
The Tu160 was considered a strategic missile carrier, and it was larger and faster than its counterpart. However, the B1 had more payload and included defensive armament that the Tu160 completely lacked.
More importantly, the Tu160 was painted with anti-flash white, hence the Russian nickname White Swan.
The aircraft had a length of 54 meters, a wingspan of 55 meters, and an approximate height of 13 meters. While empty, White Swan weighed 110,000 kilograms, and fully loaded over 270,000 kilograms.
Its two internal bays had a capacity for 45,000 kilograms of payload. Each rotary launcher could hold up to 6 Raduga Kh-55SM cruise missiles or 12 AS-16 Kickback short-range nuclear missiles.
In addition, it could carry a maximum crew of four, including the pilot, copilot, defensive systems officer, and bombardier.
The maximum speed registered for the White Swan was 2,220 kilometers per hour or Mach 2.05, while its practical range was 12,300 kilometers carrying 6 missiles.
The Tu160 entered service in April of 1987 and set several flight records in its weight class. Thirty-five were built before Boris Yeltsin stopped production.
After the Soviet Union was dissolved, the Tu160 bombers were shelved. Still, in 2007, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would resume production of the strategic bomber.
The following year, two White Swans landed in Venezuela when tensions with the United States were rising.
As of 2021, the Tu160 has received numerous overhauls to keep it up to date with more modern aircraft. The Tu160 M2, an improved version with more destructive capabilities, is expected to launch in 2023.
The NATO designated Blackjack or Tu160 White Swan is a Soviet supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by Tupolev to use in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
The aircraft was the last bomber designed by the nation that is still used by Russian forces. To this day, White Swan is the world’s largest and heaviest Mach 2-capable supersonic bomber ever produced.
The first supersonic bombers employed by the Soviet Union were launched in 1967. But the Soviet Air Force quickly realized that an aircraft with variable wing geometry could be much faster than a strategic bomber with a conventional wing design.
When details of the American development of the Rockwell B1 Lancer were leaked, the Soviet Air Force rapidly launched a competition to develop a variable geometry bomber capable of Mach 2 speeds to counter the American aircraft.
Tupolev submitted its prototype design named Aircraft 160M, and it was accepted by the committee. The result was the Tu160, the USSR's first variable-geometry heavy bomber.
Although the Tu160 was similar to the American B1 Lancer, it was by no means a copycat version.
The Tu160 was considered a strategic missile carrier, and it was larger and faster than its counterpart. However, the B1 had more payload and included defensive armament that the Tu160 completely lacked.
More importantly, the Tu160 was painted with anti-flash white, hence the Russian nickname White Swan.
The aircraft had a length of 54 meters, a wingspan of 55 meters, and an approximate height of 13 meters. While empty, White Swan weighed 110,000 kilograms, and fully loaded over 270,000 kilograms.
Its two internal bays had a capacity for 45,000 kilograms of payload. Each rotary launcher could hold up to 6 Raduga Kh-55SM cruise missiles or 12 AS-16 Kickback short-range nuclear missiles.
In addition, it could carry a maximum crew of four, including the pilot, copilot, defensive systems officer, and bombardier.
The maximum speed registered for the White Swan was 2,220 kilometers per hour or Mach 2.05, while its practical range was 12,300 kilometers carrying 6 missiles.
The Tu160 entered service in April of 1987 and set several flight records in its weight class. Thirty-five were built before Boris Yeltsin stopped production.
After the Soviet Union was dissolved, the Tu160 bombers were shelved. Still, in 2007, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would resume production of the strategic bomber.
The following year, two White Swans landed in Venezuela when tensions with the United States were rising.
As of 2021, the Tu160 has received numerous overhauls to keep it up to date with more modern aircraft. The Tu160 M2, an improved version with more destructive capabilities, is expected to launch in 2023.
