Tupolev Tu-143
Voronezh Aircraft Production Association · Soviet Union · first flew 1970 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Tu-143 Reys (Flight) is a Soviet short-range tactical reconnaissance drone developed in the late 1960s, designed for low-altitude photographic and electronic intelligence gathering.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single turbojet mounted in rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small delta-winged reconnaissance drone
- Single turbojet mounted in rear fuselage
- Parachute recovery system at tail
Identified by its small delta wing, cruciform tail fins, single rear-mounted turbojet, and the prominent nose intake with a pointed radome.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-143 has a length of 8.06 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 2.24 m (7 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 950 km/h (590 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 design bureau in the late 1960s and first flown around 1970, the Tu-143 entered service with Soviet forces in 1973. It was widely exported to Warsaw Pact nations and saw operational use in multiple conflicts including the Iran-Iraq War and more recently in the Ukrainian conflict.
Variants
The baseline Tu-143 carried a camera or radiation sensor payload; the Tu-243 Reis-D is an upgraded successor with improved sensors and range.
Where you'll see it
Operated extensively by Soviet and later Russian forces, as well as Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, and Czechoslovakia; Ukrainian stocks saw renewed use in the 2020s conflict.
Related aircraft
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