MilitaryTu-22M3 Backfire
Bomberconfirmed
The Tu-22M3 Backfire is a variable-sweep wing supersonic strategic and maritime strike bomber. Designed to attack NATO carrier groups and European targets, it carries Kh-22 and Kh-32 anti-ship missiles. Used extensively in strikes against Ukraine, several have been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.
Specifications
| Type | Bomber |
| Origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Introduced | 1974 |
| Status | In service |
| Payload | 24,000 |
| Range | 7,000 |
| Weight | 54,000 |
| Speed | 2,327 |
| Crew | 4 |
History
Entered service 1974. About 57 in Russian service per 2024 IISS Military Balance, with significantly fewer operational. The Tu-22M3M upgrade adds modern avionics and Kh-32 missiles. Several destroyed in Ukrainian drone strikes on airbases in 2024.
Operators
| Country | Quantity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | ~42 Tu-22M3 (fewer 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.
