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	Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-142 ASCC codename: Bear Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION: The Tu-95 is the world's only swept-wing turboprop ever to enter service. Its distinct engines, each with two counter-rotating propellers, also make the Bear the fastest propeller-driven airplane ever built. The original Tu-95 was designed to carry two nuclear bombs to targets in the continental US. Later versions carried cruise missiles for long-ange stand-off missions. The Bear has also been used for reconnaissance, especially by the Soviet/Russian Navy which used the aircraft to track US aircraft carrier task forces. A specialized variant of the Bear is the Tu-142 dedicated to maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. Over 300 Bears were built. Data below for Tu-95MS Last modified 13 September 2009
HISTORY:
First Flight	September 1952
Service Entry	1956
CREW:	seven: pilot, co-pilot, tailgunner, four others crew of ten in older models maximum of 16 personnel possible
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	TsAGI SR-5S
Wing Tip	TsAGI SR-5S
DIMENSIONS:
Length	162.42 ft (49.50 m)
Wingspan	167.67 ft (51.10 m)
Height	39.75 ft (12.12 m)
Wing Area	3,330 ft² (310.0 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	198,415 lb (90,000 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	414,470 lb (188,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	(Tu-95) 44,090 lb (20,000 kg) (Tu-142) 25,000 lb (11,340 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	four KKBM Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprops
Thrust	59,180 shp (44,132 kW)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 575 mph (925 km/h) at 40,010 ft (12,205 m), Mach 0.87 at sea level: 405 mph (650 km/h), Mach 0.53
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	39,370 ft (12,000 m) 29,850 ft (9,100 m) with max payload
Range	8,110 nm (15,000 km) with max fuel
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one or two 23-mm cannon in tail
Stations	one internal weapons bay
Air-to-Surface Missile	Kh-20, Kh-22, Kh-26, up to 16 Kh-55
Bomb	nuclear bombs
Other	(Tu-142) torpedoes, nuclear or conventional depth charges, sonobuoys
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Tu-20	Original designation for the Tu-95/Tu-142 aircraft
Tu-95/1, Tu-95/2	Prototypes
Tu-95M 'Bear-A'	First production model carrying two nuclear bombs
Tu-95M-5	Missile carrier model armed with the Kh-26/AS-6 'Kingfish' missile
Tu-95M-55	Missile carrier, details unknown
Tu-95U 'Bear-A'	Trainer version based on the Tu-95M
Tu-95K	Experimental model used to drop a MiG-19 aircraft in flight in order to test systems for the Kh-20 missile
Tu-95K-20 'Bear-B'	Version armed with the Kh-20/AS-3 'Kangaroo' missile and featuring a large, flat nose radar
Tu-95KD	Armed with the Kh-20 missile and equipped with an in-flight refueling probe on the nose
Tu-95KM 'Bear-C'	Missile carrier model nearly identical to the Tu-95K-20 but fited with additional electronic intelligence equipment
Tu-95RT 'Bear-D'	Maritime reconnaissance model with multi-sensor pallets; 45 built
Tu-95MR 'Bear-E'	Maritime reconnaissance model with seven cameras located in the weapon bay
Tu-95K-22 'Bear-G'	Re-built 'Bear-B' and 'Bear-C' airframes with new avionics and armed with the Kh-22/AS-4 'Kitchen' missile
Tu-95MS 'Bear-H'	Armed with the Kh-55/AS-15 'Kent' cruise missile
Tu-95MS-6 'Bear-H6'	Armed with six Kh-55 missiles
Tu-95MS-16 'Bear-H16'	Armed with 16 Kh-55 missiles
Tu-95MR 'Bear-J'	Believed to be a communications relay aircraft
Tu-96	High-speed development aircraft, details unknown
Tu-119	Experimental design to test a nuclear-powered engine, converted from a Tu-95M
Tu-142 'Bear-F'	Maritime version introduced in the late 1960s with a longer fuselage and improved engines; 50 built
Tu-142A 'Bear-F Mod 1'	Tu-142 variant with a slightly different external shape
Tu-142M 'Bear-F Mod 2'	Model with a longer fuselage, redesigned cockpit, and a new infrared probe
Tu-142M2 'Bear-F Mod 3'	Model with a new magnetic anomaly detector (MAD)
Tu-142M3 'Bear-F Mod 4'	Model with multi-sensor antennae and electronic warfare equipment
Tu-142LL	Test aircraft converted from a Tu-142M Mod 3 and used to test engines
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	India (Indian Naval Air Squadron) Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force) Russia, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota Sily Rossii (Russian Naval Aviation) Ukraine, Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny (Ukraine Military Air Forces) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Soviet Naval Aviation)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 371. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 884, Tupolev Tu-95 and -142. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 426-430, Tupolev Tu-95/95M 'Bear-A', Tu-95K 'Bear-B/C/G', Tu-95MS 'Bear-H', Tu-95RT/MR 'Bear-D/E', Tu-142 'Bear-F', Tu-142MR 'Bear-J'. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 273-275, Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear', Tu-95MS 'Bear', Tu-95 and Tu-142 'Bear-D/E/F/J'. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 424-427, Tu-95, Tu-142. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 230-233, Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-142. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 100-102, Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO name Bear), Tu-142 (NATO name Bear-F/J). Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 82-84, Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO name Bear), Tu-142 (NATO name Bear-F/J).