Tupolev Tu-142
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| Tu-142 | |
|---|---|
| |
| A Tu-142 Bear F | |
| Role | Maritime reconnaissance and patrol |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Soviet Navy Russian Navy Indian Navy |
| Developed from | Tupolev Tu-95 |
The Tupolev Tu-142 (Туполев Ту–142) (NATO reporting name 'Bear F' and 'Bear J') is a Russian maritime reconnaissance/anti-submarine warfare (ASW) turboprop aircraft. It is based on the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber.
Design and development
Originally designed as a maritime surveillance aircraft to supplement the Bear D and the Ilyushin Il-38, the Bear F evolved to become the premier anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War. The ASW variants were designated as Tu-142M2 (Bear F Mod 2), Tu-142M3 (Bear F Mod 3), and Tu-142M4 (Bear F Mod 4).
The Tu-142MR (Bear J) was a variant of the Bear F modified for use in submarine communications as well as other command, control and communications (C3) duties.
With eight-bladed contra-rotating propellers the engine that emerged was the Kuznetsov NK-12 with a nominal 8,948 kW (12,000 eshp) power rating. Although the engine was advanced, the fuselage design was conventional: it is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with 35 degrees of sweep. The angle ensured that the main wing spar passed though the fuselage in front of the bomb bay. It had a retractable tricycle landing gear, with the main gear retracting rearwards.The first aircraft flew in 1953.
Operational history
The Indian Navy uses 8 Tu-142s as maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.[1]
Variants
- Tu-142/Tu-142M (Bear F)
- Anti-submarine variant with extended forward fuselage and other changes from Tu-95.
- Tu-142MR (Bear J) Morskoy Razvedchik
Operators
- Indian Navy - received eight Tu-142 aircraft for maritime patrol.
- Ukrainian Air Force - have two Tu-142 in flying condition but not operational.
Former
- Soviet Naval Aviation - passed all their aircraft to Russia.
Specifications (Tu-142M3)
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Data from The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft [1]
General characteristics
Performance
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
External links
