After the Russian Federation has resumed flights of aircraft of strategic carriers in the mode of combat duty, the press began to appear reports that the Tu-95MS seen near the air borders of the United Kingdom, Guam, Japan, and other places where previously such activity is notobserved.Air borders of our air force is not broken, but the approach to them closely, which is perceived as unfriendly behavior.Sometimes interception (conditional) fly interceptors of NATO, and the incident is settled.Only at the moment in the world of screw bomber "Tu", some military observers called "relic."Despite this insulting nickname, his appearance near the exercise area of armies and navies of potential enemies is a concern.Why is that?
beginning of an era, "Hey bombs»
Tu-95MS "Bear" - a direct descendant of "aircraft-95-1", first took to the air in the autumn of 1952.Summer operation units began in 1956, about the same as in America, there was the famed B-52 carrying the service today.The events that preceded a certain prehistory.
In August 1945, the US Air Force made two atomic bombing of Japanese cities.On the military expediency of this action political scientists still argue, but the psychological effect is definitely occurred.The era of the atomic psychosis.Stalin's leadership was clear that without their own nuclear forces of the USSR lose geopolitical independence.At the same time the bomb itself (it has already developed) is not enough, we need a means of delivery.First and justifiable measure taken in this direction was up, "Boeing" B-29 "Stratofortress", we called Tu-4.In 1950, war broke out in Korea, where US troops are already traditional and proven strategy relied on the carpet bombing carried out by large large air, flying in tight formation.The system, however, failed.
Making of "The Bear»
After appearing in the sky Korean jet fighters MiG-15 vulnerability of the B-29 became apparent.The paradox was that the Soviet aircraft designers with their own hands to refute the concept of the nuclear bomber with piston engine (ie, the Tu-4) and the other from the Soviet Union at that time was not.The urgency was to cease its forward-looking model of the Tu-85 because of its obsolescence already in the design phase.AN KBTupolev was assigned to create a new aircraft carrier svobodnopadayuschie tonnage of bombs that could fly much higher, faster and would have greater combat radius.To realize such a project could only use turbine engines.In mid-1951 work began.By 1952, they failed, the result was a plane with the modest index of "95", transported to the airfield "Zhukovsky" and assembled there.Outwardly, it hardly differs from the Tu-95MS bombers, flying day.
general scheme
By today's standards layout "Bear" (as he was called in NATO) is not amazing.Driving a classic, the fuselage of circular cross section (usually Tupolev decision), swept wing, sredneraspolozhennoe.Surprised experts in the early fifties would have caused very long nacelle, engine power due to a large and unusual scheme of propulsion.The Tu-95MS is not equipped with four (like the B-17 or B-29) with screws, and eight.On each motor axis counter rotating propellers, two (thanks to a very interesting pattern gearbox), the inclination of the blades which also has the opposite direction.Thus, they send air in concert, thereby achieving a very high efficiency (up to 82%).This solution is immediately brought the parameters of the power plant on the Tu-95MS quality level close to the turbojet performance.
addition to these extraordinary moments, impressed by the size and geometry of the airframe.Its length and wingspan - about 50 meters.Take-off weight - 180 tons.
As for the mass of payload, at the time of adopting it amounted to 12 tons, but in the process of refining and improving the design of it could bring up to 20 tons (as bears Tu-95MS "Bear").
«around the corner»
growing capabilities of defense both in the USSR and in opposing it militarily countries gradually undermined the idea of using svobodnopadayuschie bombs FEATURES spetszaryadom.The United States and the Soviet Union at the time of this realization were hundreds of good-quality and durable machines, has several unique flight characteristics (range, speed, carrying capacity).In their design and construction has been spent a lot of money.It was necessary to find a new use for them.It is not known who had the idea to use a bomber flying as a launcher for cruise missiles, but she was saving for a whole class of aircraft.The modified Tu-95MS has become such "air battery", designed to launch the CD from the neutral zone, without entering enemy airspace and fired unexpectedly, as out of the corner.
civilian version
Since the fifties (and in some cases from earlier times) bomber becomes a kind of "donor" passenger air fleet.This phenomenon is most characteristic of the CB ANTupolev is enough to recall the famous Tu-104, which is a conversion of military Tu-16.The state has long been considered unnecessary costs for the project exclusively civilian cars, preferring the use of ready-made designs and adapt them.The Tu-95MS bombers operated much longer than the other version of "95th" passenger Tu-114, have already served in the "Aeroflot" and even had time to bring the general secretary Khrushchev to the United States.
Self Defense
In the 50s and 60s were equipped with stern gun emplacements even transport aircraft An-12.Today, these weapons seem outdated, but the idea of using air guns to protect against fighters - naive.Nevertheless artillery rocket carrier Tu-95MS retained their caliber - 23 mm.In earlier versions there were more (up to six trunks, 3 twin system).Against missiles "air-air" they can hardly help but give some chance to repel the attack fighters from the rear hemisphere.By design, installation of a cannon GS-23 about the same as that used for the Tu-4, artillery equipment generally characterized by conservatism.
main weapon
cruise missiles X-55 - the main armament bomber Tu-95MS.Characteristics of deserve a separate article, but the way they are integrated into the aircraft structure is original and elegant in its own way.Inside the fuselage placed six shells with folded wings, just as the cartridges are located in the drum of a revolver.After launching one rocket entire internal system is rotated by 60 degrees, and the next X-55 is ready to secede through a large bomb bay.
underwing pylons (four of them) are designed for suspension even ten cruise missiles, aircraft load capacity allows to carry much weight, but the flight characteristics are reduced, increasing aerodynamic drag and, as a consequence, fuel consumption and range reduced.
Terms crew
Tu-95MS - not the most comfortable car.The cockpit is quite cramped, although many unpleasant factors specific to earlier versions, is now eliminated.The crew of the front pressurized cabin takes place high up the ladder through a hatch in the bottom of the bow, next to the nose landing gear, through it he leaves the aircraft in case of emergency situations.To expedite the process provided a kind of conveyor belt, but a parachute jump down is always more dangerous, as the majority of air accidents occur at low altitudes (takeoff and landing).Catapult, as such, no.
rear pressurized cabin is equipped with its own hatch.To save in a crash over the sea provided an inflatable raft.
Pilots complain about high levels of noise (motors are very powerful, to 15 thousand. Liters. With. And huge bolts and eight).Inconvenient and toilet.It should however be borne in mind that the design work on the 95th begins in the Stalin era, when a matter of convenience has received little attention.
Prospects
range aviation airfield "Engels" in the Saratov region began after the collapse of the Union of the main base of operations 32 units of the 90 aircraft made this modification.In 1992 it was completed edition of "Bears" Tu-95MS.Features missile allow the management of the Ministry of Defence to rely on the possibility of their use for at least another ten years.
Range 6 to 10 thous. Km provide combat capability inherent in aircraft subsequent generations.Speed up to 900 km / h corresponds to the parameters referred to the bomber B-52 performing similar functions.Possibility of installation of equipment of electronic warfare eliminates the high visibility of the "Bear" for hostile radars.Timely preventive maintenance helps extend engine life.Nevertheless, the Tu-95 destined for the cancellation after the last of them run out of margin.In their place stand modern operational strategic missile.
