MilitaryTu-160 Blackjack
Bomberconfirmed
The Tu-160 is the world's largest and heaviest supersonic combat aircraft. A strategic nuclear bomber, it can carry up to 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles or 12 Kh-15 nuclear missiles in two internal bays.
Specifications
| Type | Bomber |
| Origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Introduced | 1987 |
| Status | In service |
| Ceiling | 16,000 |
| Payload | 45,000 |
| Range | 12,300 |
| Weight | 110,000 |
| Speed | 2,220 |
| Crew | 4 |
History
Developed during the Cold War as a supersonic nuclear penetrator. Entered service 1987. Resumed production in the 2010s as Tu-160M with updated avionics and engines. Has been used to launch cruise missiles in Syria and Ukraine.
Operators
| Country | Quantity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | ~17 operational | estimated |
Text adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo from Wikimedia Commons; see the Wikipedia article for author and license.
