Tu-22 'Blinder' Bomber

Designer: D. S. Markov of Tupolev Bureau

Manufacturer:

Aviation Plant No. 22 at Kazan

Role:

Bomber / Strike / Reconnaissance

Year Adopted:

1959

Operational Status:

Russia - No longer in service
(produced from 1957 to 1969)

Ukraine, Libya, and Iraq - No longer believed to be serviceable. 

Armament:

1 x Twin 23mm cannon in tail
24 x FAB-500 (500kg) free fall bombs*

*1 x Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) anti-shipping missile can be carried instead.  This weapon can fit either a 350 kiloton nuclear warhead or a high explosive warhead depending on mission.

Engine:

2 x RD-7M2 engines producing 36,376 pounds of thrust in afterburner mode

Crew:

3 (Pilot, Navigator, Weapons Officer)

Wingspan:

77.43 feet
(23.6 meters)

Length:

139.76 feet w/ refueling probe
(42.6 meters w/ refueling probe)

Height:

32.8 feet
(10.0 meters)

Maximum Speed:

938 miles per hour
(1510 km per hour)

Take-Off Weight:

207,230 lbs (maximum w/ four RATO units)
94,000 kg (maximum w/ four RATO units)