Tu-22M 'Backfire' Bomber  (1)

Manufacturer: (1)

Role: (1)

Bomber / Strike / Reconnaissance

Year Adopted: (1)
     Prototype Rollout (Tu-22M0):
     Backfire A (Tu-22M1):
     Backfire B (Tu-22M2):
     Backfire C (Tu-22M3):

1969
1971
1976
1989

Operational Status: (1)

Russia - In active service.
(479 produced between 1972 to 1993)

Ukraine - Retired

Armament: (1)

1 x Twin 23mm cannon in tail
24,000 kg (52,910 pounds) of free fall bombs

- or -

1 x Twin 23mm cannon in tail
3 x Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) anti-shipping missiles can be carried instead.  This weapon can fit either a 350 kiloton nuclear warhead or a high explosive warhead depending on mission.

- or -

1 x Twin 23mm cannon in tail
6 x Kh-15 (AS-15 Kent) missiles on internal MKU-6-5 rotary launcher
2 x Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) anti-shipping missiles on wing hardpoints

Engine: (2)

2 x Kuznetsov NK-144 turbofan engines producing 48,000 pounds of thrust each.

Crew: (2)

4 (Pilot, Navigator, Communications, Weapons Officer)

Wingspan (1)
     (wings swept @ 20 degrees):
     (wings extended @ 65 degrees):

 
34.28 meters (112 feet, 5 inches)
25.0 meters (82 feet, 0 inches)

Length: (1)
(with refueling probe)

41.46 meters
(136 feet 0 inches)

Height: (1)

11.05 meters
(36 feet 3 inches)

Maximum Speed: (1)

1800 km per hour
(1118 miles per hour)

Take-Off Weight: (1)

122,000 kg (268,960 pounds)