It’s a common mistake to think that Tu-160 is a “copy” of B-1A.But that’s not true.In 1967 in USSR is declared a competition to develop a supersonic strategic bomber(arm with rockets).The 3 participators are the constucting bureaus of Sukhoi(expirienced in the development of T-4),Myasishchev (developer of M 4/3M and M-50,world first supersonic bomber),and of course Tupolev(Tu-22M).Tupolev with his lobby pressure Sukhoi to get out of the competition.Genious Myasishchev with his team(constantly “closed” and “re-opened” bureau)had no chance of fair competition,but still they came up with the M-18 project(http://www.aeronautics.ru/img001/m18a.jpg).The commision is so impresed that they ordered that all materials on M-18 project to be handed over to Tupolev(already won the competition).The only difference between Tu-160 and M-18 is that Tu-160 have main gear comprises two bogies, each with three pairs of wheels,and the M-18 have tree bodies(third in the middle of the body).And here is a mistake:”Tupolev began design work under the leadership of V I Bliznuk of its all new ‘Aircraft 70’, a direct response to the B-1, in 1973……derived from unbuilt Tu-135 bomber and Tu-144 derivatives”
It’s true that the “lazy” Tupolev bureau offered the idea of “cheap” bomber,evoluted from Tu-144,but the air-force didn’t like it.The year is 1972,and still there is no progres on the plane.The project is now under the guide of Tupolev-junior.The air-force don’t like “Izdelie 70″ project and they have additional requirements:”When Tu-160 will be in service,the air defence of USA,will be the F-15 and F-16 fighters.These fighters,nomather what weapons they will carry cannot match the speed of the future soviet bomber on low alltitude…..USA also don’t have SA system capable of surely finding,tracking and intercepting the incoming threat……the measures that will be taken to reduce the RCS,and the onboard jamming devices will ensure further more the survivability of the bomber while he is in enemy territory….aditional advantage is the use of ALCMs,that will allow the aircraft the ability to not enter the zones with most active air-defence…”
Now became clear the need of ariable geometry wings.And guess what?Myasishchev already(in 1967)have the solution of the problem: M-18.This combined with the expirience of Tu-22M(first flight 30 august,1969).
In 1975 the new variant is presented.Аerodynamicly it’s a copy of M-18.The leadership is taken by Valentin Blizniuk(Tupolev-jr became chief of the hole OKB(bureau)
The parammetres of the project are:
Flight range with 9 tons combat weight,without refueling: 14000-16000 km.
Service ceiling: 18000-20000 m.
Max load:40 000 kilos.
Max fuel:162 000 l.
Main armament:
-Two X-45 rockets with long range(one in each bomb bay)project canceled
-or 24,X-15 rockets
-or 40 tons of bombs
The bomb bays dimensions are rulled by the size of X-45(10,5 m lenght,start weight 4500 kg,range 1000km.)The capacity of the bays is 43 cubic metres,the same as Tu-95.
The first true size model is made at the end of 1977(10 years since the beggining!!!),and the production of tree prototipes begin.Two for flight tests and one for strenght tests.The wing and tail is made in Novosibirsk,body in Kazan,wheel bodies-Gorki….
On december 18,1981 the crew with captain B.I.Veremei flew for first time in the area of the airfield(Zhukovski airfield).The world most powerful bomber is born…..
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