Tu-95 Bear
Type: Strategic Bomber
Domain: air
Country of Origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Tupolev
NATO Designation: Bear
First Deployed: 1956
Overview
The Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H is Russia's numerically dominant strategic bomber, with approximately 60 aircraft in active service. Powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12MV contra-rotating turboprop engines (each driving 8-bladed contra-rotating propellers), it achieves approximately 925 km/h — the fastest turboprop aircraft ever. The Tu-95MSM (modernised) variant carries up to 16 Kh-101 conventional or Kh-102 nuclear cruise missiles on external pylons (8 under wings, 8 on internal rotary launcher). Has been heavily used in Ukraine for mass Kh-101 salvos targeting Ukrainian energy and military infrastructure. Range exceeds 11,000 km unrefuelled.
Technical Specifications
| crew | 7 |
|---|---|
| range | 15,000 km |
| ceiling | 45,000 ft |
| armament | 15,000 kg payload, Kh-55/101 cruise missiles |
| max_speed | 920 km/h |
Operators
- Russia
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