Tupolev Tu-95LAL
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1961 · bomber
The Tu-95LAL was a Soviet experimental testbed built to evaluate an onboard nuclear reactor aboard a modified Tu-95 bomber airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | modified, radiation-shielded fuselage section where the reactor was carried |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- four large turboprops with distinctive contra-rotating propellers
- swept wings on a standard Tu-95 bomber airframe
- modified, radiation-shielded fuselage section where the reactor was carried
Outwardly similar to a standard Tu-95 bomber, with four large contra-rotating turboprops and swept wings, but with a modified, radiation-shielded fuselage section housing the reactor.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-95LAL has a length of 46.2 m (152 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 50.1 m (164 ft).
- Typical crew: multiple.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1961, the Tu-95LAL carried a shielded, functioning nuclear reactor in a modified bomb bay to study radiation shielding and crew safety for a proposed nuclear-powered bomber; the reactor itself did not power the aircraft in flight.
Variants
A one-off conversion of a standard Tu-95 airframe; the nuclear-powered bomber program it supported was abandoned.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; it flew only as a research aircraft before the program was shelved amid the practical and safety difficulties of airborne nuclear power.
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