Tupolev Tu-141
KhAZ · Soviet Union · first flew 1974 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Tupolev Tu-141 (NATO reporting name 'Swift') was a Soviet jet-powered reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle, designed to conduct high-speed tactical reconnaissance missions and recovered by parachute after each sortie. It entered service in 1974 and was produced in substantial numbers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Narrow fuselage with engine intake below the tail |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet turbojet-powered reconnaissance drone with delta wing
- Narrow fuselage with engine intake below the tail
- Rocket-assisted takeoff from wheeled launch trolley
A slender dart-like fuselage with a small delta wing and a large engine intake positioned under the rear fuselage; the overall configuration resembles a scaled-down supersonic jet with no cockpit.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-141 has a length of 14.33 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 3.88 m (13 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1100 km/h (684 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by the Tupolev bureau and manufactured by the Kharkov Aviation Plant (KhAZ), the Tu-141 was designed to replace earlier drone types. It was launched from a wheeled trolley using rocket boosters and carried cameras and sensors in its nose. After completing its mission, it deployed a parachute and retrorocket to land. The Tu-141 saw combat use and examples have been found in ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, as some were taken from storage and refurbished.
Variants
The Tu-143 was a shorter-range tactical variant; both types were produced in significant numbers during the Cold War.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Soviet Air Forces and subsequently by the Ukrainian Air Force, which has used refurbished examples operationally since 2022.
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