TU-95 (NATO reporting name:Bear)

Back


The Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name Bear) is the most successful Tupolev strategic bomber and missile carrier from the times of the Soviet Union, still in service as of 2006 and expected to remain in service with the Russian Air Force until at least 2010 [1]. The Bear is powered by four Kuznetsov turboprop engines, each driving contra-rotating propellers, and remains one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft ever built. To date it remains the only turboprop-powered bomber to have been deployed. A naval version is designated Tu-142.For a long time, the Tu-95 was known to Western intelligence as the Tu-20. While this was, in fact, the original Soviet Air Force designation for the aircraft, by the time it was being supplied to operational units, it was already better known under the Tu-95 designation used internally by Tupolev and the Tu-20 designation fell out of use. Since the Tu-20 designation was used on many documents acquired by Western intelligence agents, the name continued in use there.

Like its American counterpart, the B-52 Stratofortress, the Tu-95 has continued to operate in the Russian Air Force while several iterations of bomber design have come and gone. Part of the reason for this longevity was its suitability, like the B-52, for modification to different missions. Whereas the Tu-95 was originally intended to drop nuclear weapons, it was subsequently modified to perform a wide range of roles, such as the deployment of cruise missiles, maritime patrol (Tu-142 Bear-F), AWACS platform (Tu-126) and even civilian airliner (Tu-114). During and after the Cold War, the Tu-95's utility as a weapons platform has only been eclipsed by its usefulness as a diplomatic icon. When a patrolling Tu-95 appears off the coast of the United States or one of its allies, it may not be the technological menace that it was in its heyday, but it is still a potent and visible symbol of the Russian capability to project military power over great distances.

The Soviet Union did not assign official "popular names" to its aircraft, although unofficial nicknames were common. Unusually, Soviet pilots found the Tu-95/Tu-142's NATO reporting name, 'Bear,' to be a fitting nickname, given the aircraft's large size, 'lumbering' maneuverability and speed, and large arsenal. It is often called Bear in Russian service. An anecdotal story states that it was actually a Russian crew who had the privilege of assigning the NATO reporting name; during the aircraft's Paris Airshow debut, a Western reporter asked the crew what the plane's name was. The pilot responded, "it can't be anything but a bear."

Channel: Howto & Style
Uploaded: November 12, 2006 at 10:37 pm
Author: zeoul001

Length: 00:07:47
Rating: 4.78
Views: 136845

Tags: TU-95 tu 95 strategic bomber aircraft plane airplane pro russian tupolev boeing airbus 747 787 A380 war nuclear bomb jet

Video Comments:
Mikelaren101 (August 19, 2008 at 7:28 am)
Why do you ask they still use it? Cause it still works!
Azkrav47 (August 16, 2008 at 9:17 am)
I like the russian design for their planes
wagneraster (August 8, 2008 at 2:57 am)
what a gorgeous plane!
kalasnikov47 (August 7, 2008 at 9:23 pm)
everyone says its a old plane but when it aporached uk airspace england nearly shit them sleves :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:
ketsan (August 14, 2008 at 1:46 am)
I was there at the time. Most of us were a bit bemused, we deserve at least a tu-160, but I suppose you've not got the balls to fly one of those too close to one of our shiney new Typhoons.
jaspreet112233 (August 18, 2008 at 10:52 pm)
i am from india, it is always going to be my favrite plane, col war legend
manzmna (August 5, 2008 at 12:33 am)
yea, on discovery they once said that even submarines could pick up the sound of a TU-95 flying overhead
xylaphonemaster (August 1, 2008 at 7:21 pm)
Yeah, I don't think people getting bombed by one think to themsevles "oh well, at least it's not the other one!".
xylaphonemaster (August 1, 2008 at 7:20 pm)
Then why does America, the leading proponent of stealth technology use B52s still? At the end of the day, stealth planes are fine for knocking out the other sides SAM capability, but once that's done you want bombers optimised to bomb things rather than evade detection. Bombers like the Bear and B52.
coldshot357 (August 19, 2008 at 8:54 am)
the idea behind keeping the B52 is first it drops lots of bombs for a relativly low cost. also if they go to war with another big power your so busy dealing with the ones that are esy to see it's easier for stealth aircraft to get in and hit vital targets. So not arguing your point xylaph just adding to it