FROM TB-1 TO TU-160. PROGRESS OF RUSSIAN HEAVY COMBAT AIRCRAFT SHOWED BY EXAMPLE OF BOMBERS DEVELOPED BY DESIGN BUREAU NAMED AFTER A.N. TUPOLEV

Heavy Combat Aircraft first were created in early XX-th century in Russia and had a great progress from the first four-engine a/c “Ilya Murometz” of Igor Sikorskiy to modern heavy supersonic intercontinental missile-carrying bombers TU-160.

The sequence of Tupolev heavy aircraft was started in 1925 with TB-1 (ANT-4) – all-metal cantilever monoplane with two wing-mounted engines. Stiffness and high load ratio was reached by use of corrugated duralumin skin.

Further in 1930 a four-engine heavy bomber TB-3 (ANT-6) was built. TB-1 and TB-3 aircraft became prototypes of all multi-engine monoplanes. In total 218 TB-1s and 820 TB-3s together with prototypes were built.

A high-speed bomber SB (ANT-40) was the first native bomber provided with smooth skin. It became a main and the most mass combat bomber of pre-war period. About 7000 SB aircraft were produced.

New heavy aircraft TB-7 (ANT-42) created in 1936 became the first high-altitude long-range “flying fortress” along with American B-17 bomber. All achievements of native science and technology were realized in this machine. TB-7 was inaccessible for fighters of that times. TB-5 a/c and previously TB-3 a/c was flight tested by test-pilot Michael Gromov.

Despite of organizational and technical problems serial production of this aircraft was launched and 93 TB-7 a/c were produced. Technical management of these works was performed by Iosif Nezval – the closest companion of A.N.Tupolev. The TB-7 a/c was adopted to operation in Air Force at the beginning of the war and already in August 1941 these machines were the first to perform bombing raids to Berlin. TB-7s were successfully used during all war period, performing effective strikes on strategic targets of Germany and its allies

Just before the war against Germany started one of the best combat bombers of that period TU-2 was built under A.N.Tupolev guidance. Under severe war circumstances TUPOLEV DB together with serial production plants managed to launch serial production of this aircraft. TU-2 formations were widely used by our Air Force at the final stage of the war against Germany and when defeating Japan. Totally more than 2500 TU-2s were produced before 1952 which were used as bombers, reconnaissance a/c and torpedo-carriers.

Further technology and design development was embodied in TU-4 a/c and prototype TU-80 a/c which served as pre-conditions for building further mile-stone aircraft. Building of TU-4 a/c on the basis of B-29 bomber made it possible to switch our heavy aircraft to advanced technological basis using advanced structural materials, semifinished items, technological process and aircraft equipment. This allowed in the nearest dates to away with lag caused by the war and its consequences. Totally more than 1200 TU-4s were produced which were operated in Army for more than 10 years up to the moment when they were completely replaced by jet aircraft.

Next step in development of heavy aircraft was TU-85 strategic-mission a/c built just after the war. The TU-85 a/c having intercontinental range became the last Russian heavy bombers operating piston-driven engines.

By that time Design and Engineering Program on experimental and prototype jets TU-77, TU-73 and TU-82 was realized which resulted in powerful scientific and technological works done to “rush” to transonic speed and high altitude flights.

Powerful turbojet engines, swept wing, pressurized cabins, equipment and systems were developed that served as a basis to create new generation of combat and civil jets. Realization of strategic concepts of national safety in post-war period demonstrated expedience of building of two types of heavy bombers – long-range and super-long-range (strategic) ones.

Availability of two types of heavy bombers defined separation of military missions: within adjacent regions and within sea theatre of operations long-range bombers were of most importance; when operating in far regions, on other continents and within far-ocean zone – strategic bombers played a key role.

Thus TU-4 and TU-80 were followed by two tendencies of heavy bombers evolution: long-range bombers TU-16 (“88”), TU-22 (“UZA”) and TU-22M (“145”); strategic bombers TU-85, TU-95, TU-95MS and TU-160.

Heavy jet TU-16 (“88”) with swept wing and the most powerful turbojet engines AM-3 designed by A.Mikulin performed its maiden flight 27 April, 1952. TU-16 long-range jet had a quite original aerodynamic configuration and structure which approaches were recognized non-typical and unusual and were highly appreciated by aviation experts. Thus advanced principles of aerodynamic configuration that later were called “area rule” were used for the first time.

Simultaneously with building of TU-16 a/c TU-95 heavy strategic a/c was under development basing on scientific and technological works done during works on intercontinental bomber TU-85. Main purpose of TU-95 a/c building was to establish strategic parity with the USA. Technical co-ordination of the works on this matter was performed by Nikolay Bazenkov, Chief Designer of TU-95 a/c and companion of Andrey Tupolev.

November 11, 1952 Test-pilot A.Perelet lifted to the sky new strategic intercontinental bomber TU-95 with swept wing and four powerful turboprop engines Unique NK-12 turboprop engines designed by N.Kuznetsov with coaxial multi-blade propellers were the best by power and economical efficiency during all flight phases. TU-95 a/c has no analogues yet in the world aviation.

In-service TU-95 a/c development and optimization was performed by industry and Long-range aviation pilots: M.Niukhtikov, I.Sukhomlin, A.Jakimov, I.Vedernikov, N.Kharitonov, V.Reshetnikov, P.Taran, L.Agurin.

The concept of high-speed economic efficient turboprop aircraft chosen by A.Tupolev ensured creation of a unique aircraft which let to strategic parity and prevented military confrontation with the USA in the most terrible form. High performance and reasonable structural scheme of TU-16 and TU-95 a/c provided possibility to equip them with missile weapon.

Total output of TU-96 a/c in various versions is about 300 units.

In parallel with Tu-16 operation our Design Bureau was busy with investigation of long-range supersonic TU-22 a/c (“105”) which led to building of TU-22 supersonic missile-carrier bomber in 1959. In the same year it started to be flight tested. “105” and “105A” aircraft were flight tested by crew of test-pilot Juriy Alasheev. The aircraft was added to Air Force operation in 1962.

TU-22 was designed to replace TU-16. The aircraft had a quite unusual configuration with two powerful engines installed on vertical stabilizer and with thin wing with large sweep angle Main landing gears were retracted into sponsons similar to those of TU-16 a/c. Graceful and swift missile-carrier bomber showed its brilliant qualities also in real combat circumstances and demonstrated high efficiency and survivability.

TU-22 a/c took “sonic barrier” by storm.

Total output of TI22s was equal to 313 units. TU-22s were produced in series in TU-22P version as a reconnaissance a/c, TU-22K missile-carrier, TU-22P jammer and TU-22U training aircraft. During operation and serial production the aircraft was several times modified regarding set of equipment and weapon.

TU-16s and TU-22s were in operation up to early 1990-s, abroad they are still operated.

Simultaneously with further development of heavy combat Russian aviation in late 1950-s an extended program of advanced investigation of further mastering supersonic envelopes was launched. Within this program the Design Bureau developed a number of projects of supersonic and hypersonic air vehicles including unmanned reconnaissance a/c TU-123 (“Yastreb”). A mobile unique unmanned reconnaissance complex built in early 1960-s was added to operation in Air Force. Priceless experience gained when “Yastreb” development and flight test ensured solution of a package of aerodynamic problems and made it possible to overcome “thermal barrier” which occurs during high supersonic speeds including the first in the world supersonic passenger TU-144 aircraft (1968) and heavy multimode TU-22M aircraft (1969).