The Tu-160 bomber is intended to defeat the most important targets in far-off military-geographic areas and in the deep rear of continental theaters of operations by using nuclear and conventional weapons.
The bomber’s airframe is of an integrated configuration featuring a blended wing-body layout. The peculiarity of the airframe structure resides in a titanium beam which is an all-welded torsion box provided with outer wing panel tilting assemblies. All the main airframe members are secured on this longitudinal beam running through the entire air frame.
The variable-geometry (from 20 to 65 degrees) wing assures high aerodynamic characteristics at both supersonic and subsonic speeds alike. The aircraft is equipped with all-moving vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. It features a fly-by-wire control system.
The Tu-160 bomber is powered by four augmented turbofan engines arranged in two engine nacelles and provided with variable vertical wedge air intakes.
The bomber is equipped with an inflight refueling system provided with an extendible refueling probe arranged in the nose fuselage in front of the pilots’ cockpit.
The crew occupies K-36LM ejection seats enabling the crewmembers to escape from the aircraft in an emergency at all altitudes and airspeeds, including zero values.
The Tu-160’s avionics comprises an integrated aiming, navigation and flight control system; airborne radar; ECM equipment; automatic control system; and other equipment. It ensures the execution of flight missions at any time of the day and in all weather and climatic conditions.
The aircraft features a highly computerized airborne equipment.
The cockpit data display system is represented by electromechanical dispalys and monitors. The control columns, which are traditional for large aircraft, are replaced here by the fighter type control sticks.
The Tu-160 bomber’s armament comprises subsonic nuclear-tipped longrange cruise missiles. The missiles are arranged on multistation launchers, six missiles in each of the two weapon bays. Provision is also made for aerial bombs of various purpose and types with a total weight of up to 40 t.
Basic Characteristics:
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Crew
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4
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Weight, t:
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maximum takeoff
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275
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normal/maximum combat load
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9/40
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fuel
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148
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Operational flight range
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with normal/maximum combat load, km
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over 12,500/10,500
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Maximum flight speed, km/h:
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at altitude
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2,200
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near ground
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1,030
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Service ceiling, m
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15,000
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Required concrete runway length, m
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3,050
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Overall dimensions
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(length x height x wing span), m
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54.1 x 13.1 x 55.7/35.6
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Engine type,
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number x thrust, kgf
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NK-32, 4 x 25,000
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