Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1969 · bomber
The Soviet long-range swing-wing strike and missile-carrying bomber known to NATO as Backfire.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Two big turbofans buried side by side in the rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Variable-sweep wings with large fixed inner gloves
- Two big turbofans buried side by side in the rear fuselage
- Long pointed nose and a single tall swept fin
Look for the variable-sweep wings with broad fixed gloves, two engines buried in the rear fuselage and a single fin. It is larger and longer than an F-111, with a more slab-sided fuselage and a distinctly Soviet pointed nose.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire has a length of 42.4 m (139 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 34.3 m (113 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2300 km/h (1429 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Tupolev derived the Tu-22M from the earlier Tu-22 Blinder, adding variable-geometry wings for better low-level performance; it first flew in 1969 and entered service in the 1970s. Built primarily to carry stand-off anti-ship and land-attack missiles, the modernised Tu-22M3 remains in Russian service and has been used in combat over Syria and Ukraine.
Variants
Development ran from the limited Tu-22M0 and M1 through the M2, to the definitive Tu-22M3 with revised intakes, uprated engines and greater range. A reconnaissance and electronic-warfare derivative also served.
Where you'll see it
A Soviet and Russian aircraft never operated by the RAF; it has no UK service history and is not a Western airshow regular, though it was a defining Cold War threat that shaped Royal Navy and RAF air-defence planning.
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- Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1
- Handley Page Victor K.2
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