Tu-95

Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1952 · bomber

The Tu-95 Bear is a long-range strategic bomber unique for combining swept wings with four powerful turboprops driving contra-rotating propellers.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Long slender fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Swept wings with four turboprops
Contra-rotating propellers
Long slender fuselage

Unmistakable for its swept wings carrying four large turboprops with eight-blade contra-rotating propellers, a long slim fuselage and a conventional swept tail. The propeller noise is famously loud.

Specifications

The Tu-95 has a length of 46.2 m (152 ft).
It has a wingspan of 50.1 m (164 ft).
Its maximum speed is 920 km/h (572 mph).
Typical crew: 6-7.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1952 and in service from 1956, the Tu-95 was Tupolev's solution to intercontinental range without jets mature enough for the task, mating a swept wing to Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprops. It remains the only swept-wing turboprop strategic bomber in service.

Variants

The family spans the bomber Tu-95MS missile carrier, the maritime Tu-142, the airliner-derived Tu-114 and various reconnaissance and command versions. The Bear has been continually upgraded to carry modern cruise missiles.

Where you'll see it

Bears have long probed UK airspace, frequently intercepted by RAF Typhoons over the North Sea and North Atlantic. They are not based in the UK but remain a recurring feature of Russian long-range patrols near British airspace.

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