Tupolev Tu-243

Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise · Soviet Union · first flew 1987 · reconnaissance aircraft

The Tupolev Tu-243 (NATO: Reys-D) is a Russian jet-propelled tactical reconnaissance drone, an improved derivative of the Tu-143 Reys, designed to carry day/night imaging and radiation sensors over the battlefield.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, delta
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.29 m fuselage
T — Tail	No tailplane

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

Spot it by:

Jet-powered reconnaissance drone with delta wing and no conventional tail
Parachute recovery system for post-mission retrieval
Launches from a ground vehicle by rocket booster

Dart-like fuselage with a small cropped delta wing, single turbojet engine in the rear fuselage, no pilot cockpit, and a parachute compartment in the tail cone.

Specifications

The Tupolev Tu-243 has a length of 8.29 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 2.25 m (7 ft).
Its maximum speed is 940 km/h (584 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

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

History

Development of the Tu-243 began in the 1970s as an evolution of the Tu-143, with improved sensors and extended range. The system entered service with the Soviet and later Russian armed forces and has been exported. It uses rocket-assisted take-off from a wheeled launcher and recovers by parachute. The type has seen use in several post-Soviet conflicts.

Variants

The Tu-243 is itself a development of the Tu-143 Reys; the family also includes the smaller Tu-141 Strizh for longer-range missions.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Russia and several export customers including Ukraine, which inherited stocks from Soviet inventory; used for battlefield reconnaissance.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.