A brief preface
Hello and welcome to Heavy Bomber March suggestion #3! This month I’m cranking out suggestions for heavy bombers. Next on our list, the first representative of perhaps the most famous and successful Soviet bomber family, the Tu-95M Bear-A!
Overview
The Tupolev Tu-95M is the first Tu-95 model to enter service, featuring more powerful engines than the original Tu-95 prototypes. Developed as a counter to the American B-36 and using lessons from the Korean War, the Tu-95 is the fastest mass-produced propeller-driven aircraft in the world, thanks to its turboprop engines and swept-wing design. The Tu-95M is also the only model of the Tu-95 equipped with conventional free-fall bombs, later models utilizing primarily cruise missiles.
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History
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Predecessors- the Tu-80 and Tu-85
Not long after the Tu-4 entered service, Soviet high command recognized its limitations, particularly its inability to reach key targets in the United States—an essential capability for future conflicts. To address this, development of an improved, longer-ranged version was launched. This was the Tu-80, essentially a Tu-4 with redesigned, pressurized fuselage, larger wings, and more efficient engines. Even so, the Tu-80’s range was still insufficient to target the US outside of one-way trips. Following on the Tu-80 was the Tu-85, with entirely new engines and a much larger wing, finally enabling truly intercontinental sorties. However, by this point conventional piston engines were determined to be obsolete and development of a turboprop-powered Tu-85 derivate began. The Korean War would reinforce the obsolescence of piston engines, with American B-29s suffering heavy losses against MiG-15s. And so development of a next-generation bomber to replace the Tu-4 shifted solidly to the Tu-95.
Development
Requirements for a new, ultra-long-range high-speed, high-altitude were created in 1951 with the extremely tight deadline of entry to service no later than 1954. Two programs were launched- Myasishchev began developing a jet-powered bomber that eventually resulted in the M-4 Molot. Tupolev meanwhile would turn to the Izdeliye 95, a turboprop-powered derivative of the Tu-85 that had begun work in late 1950. The Soviets had spent the last years developing advanced turboprop designs based on German wartime projects. These engines, while not as powerful as the AM-3 turbojets that would power Myasishchev design, were still substantially more powerful than any conventional piston engine and offered higher reliability and much higher fuel economy than the jets.
The Tu-95 design would feature the fuselage of the Tu-85, swept aerodynamic surfaces, the aforementioned turboprops, and a reduced defensive armament. Production of a first prototype, powered by four TV-2Fs, began in October 1951. This was the Tu-95/1, completed a year later. The 95/1 flew 17 times between 11th November 1952 and 11th May 1953, when it was lost in a crash. Nonetheless, testing data from the 95/1 proved valuable in the development of the 95/2 prototype, beginning construction in February 1952. The 95/2 was powered by 4x TV-12s, the engines intended for production aircraft. The 95/2 was finished in December 1952, but due to numerous tweaks and changes to the design it only took flight 16th February 1955, a full year after the vehicle was supposed to already be in production. While delayed, the Tu-95/2 had great flight performance, flying a mock combat mission consisting of dropping a FAB-5000 at a target 6,950km away.
Production began in August 1955, with two production Tu-95 sans suffixes used alongside the Tu-95/2 for evaluation. Based on flight testing, it was decided that the TV-12s were underpowered and so the more powerful TV-12Ms were fitted to the second production Tu-95, designated the Tu-95M. The Tu-95M also featured an increased fuel load. 30 aircraft, not counting the converted Tu-95, were produced from 1957.
Into Service
The Tu-95M entered service in 1957. It was deployed at various airfields around the Soviet Union- initially, bases in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, and later bases on the Arctic frontiers, probing NATO defenses. The Tu-95M proved to be a reliable and easy-to-fly aircraft, with the only major issue being the manual prop feathering, an issue resolved with the refitting of TV-12MV turboprops from 1958. However, the Tu-95M never saw combat and its service life was short- starting in the 60s, the Tu-95Ms were converted to Tu-95K standard, and in the 80s these aircraft were converted to Tu-95U training and recon aircraft.
A Bear Dynasty
While the Tu-95M didn’t have a very eventful or long life, the Tu-95 family as whole was enormously successful. The first successive variant was the Tu-95A, designed for dropping nuclear weapons with antiradiation paint. A special subvariant of the Tu-95A was the Tu-95V, redesigned to carry the infamous Tsar Bomba.
Following the Tu-95A was the Tu-95K, designed as a launch platform for the Kh-20 cruise missile, entering service in 1954. The Tu-95K was followed by the Tu-95KD and KM, with aerial refuelling kit and new avionics and finally the Tu-95K-22 armed with Kh-22 supersonic cruise missiles. The Tu-95U was an unarmed trainer variant converted from existing stocks.
Another notable Tu-95 model was the Tu-95LAL, an experimental aircraft powered by a nuclear reactor.
After the Tu-95K series came the Tu-142, a maritime reconnaissance, antisubmarine, and antishipping aircraft. The Tu-142 featured reduced defensive armament and advanced avionics. The first variant of the Tu-142 was the Tu-142M with redesigned stretched forward fuselage. The Tu-142M was shortly followed by the Tu-142MK with redesigned cockpit and improved avionics, this was exported to India (the only export customer of the Tu-95 family) as the Tu-142MK-E with downgraded avionics. Finally, there was the Tu-142MZ with new engines, armament, and avionics- this model is still in service today with the Russian Navy.
Back to the Tu-95, the next variant was the Tu-95MS based on the Tu-142M airframe. This aircraft was armed with Kh-55 cruise missiles, with reduced defensive armament and improved avionics. The Tu-95MS-6 and MS-16 were modifications to carry 6 and 16 Kh-55s, respectively. These variants are still in service with the Russian Air Force, and are being upgraded to Tu-95MSM standard with the capability of firing Kh-101 and Kh-102 cruise missiles.
Finally, the Tu-95 was the basis for the Tu-114 commercial transport, Tu-116 military transport, and Tu-126 AEW aircraft.
All in all, the Tu-95 family saw around 500 aircraft produced. While substantially smaller in numbers than the Tu-16, the Tu-95 managed to outlive all other Soviet bombers due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Specifications
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Airframe
Length: 46.17m
Span: 50.04m
Height: 12.5m
Wing Area: 283.7m^2
Empty Weight: 84,300kg
MTOW: 182,000KG
Crew: 8
Propulsion
4x NK-12MV contrarotating turboprop
15,000hp (each)
60,000hp (total)
Max hp/kg: 0.71
Internal fuel: 101,800L
Flight Performance
Maximum speed (? high alt): 905km/h
Maximum Climb Rate: ~10m/s (Tu-95MS)
Ceiling: 12,000m
Armament
Defensive:
2x AM-23 cannon, dorsal turret
350rpg
2x AM-23 cannon, ventral turret
400rpg
2x AM-23 cannon, tail turret
500rpg
Offensive:
Maximum 12,000kg bombs*
*various sources also list 15, 18, or even 20 tonnes as overload capacity
250, 500, 1000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 9,000 kg bombs
Avionics
RPB-4 bombing radar
PRS-1 gun radar
SPO-2 “Sirena” RWR
ASO-2B countermeasure dispensers
The Tu-95M in-game
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The Tu-95M would be a very unique and interesting heavy bomber. While lacking in terms of payload compared to its American competitor, the B-36, the Tu-95 would still have excellent flight performance and decent defensive capabilities. With 6 punchy 23mm cannons guided by radar as well as countermeasures, the Tu-95M would be a difficult target for contemporary jets to take down.
Gallery
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The Tu-95M can be identified from the glass nose and lack of refueling probe. This is a Tu-95A based on its underfuselage paint
From the Tu-95K the nose section was redesigned and refuelling probes were added (Tu-95MS)
Unique of the Tu-95M was the armament of conventional free-fall bombs. From the Tu-95K onwards cruise missiles were the aircraft’s primary armament, with the Tu-95K using specifically the massive Kh-20 (AS-3 Kangaroo)
Tu-95M internals
Turret maintenence
NK-12MV turboprop- a monstrously powerful engine
The Tu-95V was a specially modified Tu-95M
The Tu-95 family has had an extremely long service life, still being upgraded today
Sources
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“OKB Tupolev. A History Of The Design Bureau And Its Aircraft”- Yefim Gordon and Vladimir Rigmant
Tu-95 BEAR (TUPOLEV) - Russian and Soviet Nuclear Forces
Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95/142
Уголок неба ¦ Туполев Ту-95М
Tu-95M (Bear A) :: Ruslet