Tu-160 Blackjack
Type: Strategic Bomber
Domain: air
Country of Origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Tupolev
NATO Designation: Blackjack
First Deployed: 2022
Overview
The Tu-160M2 Blackjack is Russia's most capable strategic bomber and the world's largest and fastest, powered by four NK-32-02 afterburning turbofans enabling Mach 2.05 at altitude. Twelve Kh-101 (conventional, 5,500 km range) or Kh-102 (nuclear) cruise missiles are carried in two internal rotary launchers, with six missiles each. Range exceeds 12,000 km unrefuelled. The M2 modernisation includes a new glass cockpit, modern avionics, NK-32-02 engines with improved fuel efficiency, and compatibility with newer weapons. A new-build production line was restarted at KAPO Kazan; deliveries of new-build M2 aircraft began 2022. Total fleet remains approximately 16 aircraft.
Technical Specifications
| crew | 4 |
|---|---|
| range | 12,300 km |
| ceiling | 52,000 ft |
| armament | 40,000 kg payload, Kh-55/101/102 missiles |
| max_speed | Mach 2.05 |
Operators
- Russia
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