Түпәлев Ту-22М: Ұзақ қашықтықтағы стратегиялық бомбалаушы

Russian long range supersonic strategic bomber
the earlier, non variable sweep wing bomber

The Tupolev Tu 22M (Туполев Ту 22М; NATO reporting name: Backfire) is a supersonic, variable sweep wing, long range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1960s. The bomber was reported as being designated Tu 26 by Western intelligence at one time. During the Cold War, the Tu 22M was operated by the Soviet Air Forces (VVS) in a missile carrier strategic bombing role, and by the Soviet Naval Aviation (Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota, AVMF) in a long range maritime anti shipping role.

In 1962, after the introduction of the Tupolev Tu 22, it became increasingly clear that the aircraft was inadequate in its role as a bomber. In addition to widespread unserviceability and maintenance problems, the Tu 22's handling characteristics proved to be dangerous. Its landing speed was greater than previous bombers and it had a tendency to pitch up and strike its tail upon landing. It was difficult to fly, and had poor all round visibility. In 1962, Tupolev commenced work on major update of the Tu 22. Initially, the bureau planned to add a variable sweep wing and uprated engines into the updated design. The design was tested at TsAGI's wind tunnels at Zhukovsky. Compared to the T 4, it was an evolutionary design, and thus its appeal lay in its simplicity and low cost. The Soviet government was skeptical about the need to approve the development of a replacement aircraft so soon after the Tu 22 had entered service. The Air Force and Tupolev, in order to save face regarding the Tu 22's operational deficiencies and to stave off criticisms from the ICBM lobby, agreed to pass off the design as an update of the Tu 22 in their discussions with the government. The aircraft was designated Tu 22M, given the OKB code "Aircraft 45", and an internal designation of "AM". Their effort was successful as the government approved the design on 28 November 1967, and decreed the development of the aircraft's main weapon, the Kh 22 missile. The T 4 itself made its first flight in 1972, but was later cancelled. As in the case of its contemporaries, the MiG 23 and Su 17 projects, the advantages of variable sweep wing (or "swing wing") seemed attractive, allowing a combination of short take off performance, efficient cruising, and good high speed, low level flight. The result was a new swing wing aircraft named Samolyot 145 (Aeroplane 145), derived from the Tupolev Tu 22, with some features borrowed from the abandoned Tu 98 project. The Tu 22M was based on the Tu 22's weapon system and used its Kh 22 missile. The Tu 22M designation was used to help get approval for the bomber within the Soviet military and government system. The Tu 22M designation was used by the Soviet Union during the SALT II arms control negotiations, creating the impression that it was a modification of the Tu 22. Some suggested that the designation was deliberately deceptive, and intended to hide the Tu 22M's performance. Other sources suggest the "deception" was internal to make it easier to get budgets approved. According to some sources, the Backfire B/C production variants were believed to be designated Tu 26 by Russia, although this is disputed by many others. The US State and Defense Departments have used the Tu 22M designation for the Backfire. Production of all Tu 22M variants totalled 497, including pre production aircraft. In 2007, work began on a new radar for the Tu 22M, the NV 45, which was first flown on a Tu 22M in 2008, with four more repaired Tu 22Ms refitted with NV 45 radars in 2014–2015. A contract for a full mid life upgrade, the Tu 22M3M, was signed in September 2014. The aircraft was then planned to receive a further modified NV 45M radar, together with new navigation equipment and a modified flight control system. A new self defense electronic radar suite was to be fitted, replacing the tail gun of the existing Tu 22M3. Much of the new avionics were planned to be shared with the upgraded Tu 160M2. , armament was planned to be enhanced by adding the new Kh 32 missile, a heavily modified version of the current Kh 22, the subsonic Kh SD, the hypersonic Kh MT, or the Kh 47M2 Kinzhal missiles. In 2018, deliveries of the Tu 22M3M were expected to begin in 2021. A separate, simpler, upgrade program (SVP 24 22) was being carried out in 2018 by the company Gefest & T, based on avionics developed for the Sukhoi Su 24 attack aircraft, including a new computer, a new navigation system and digital processing for the aircraft's radar. The upgrade is claimed to greatly increase navigation accuracy and bomb delivery. A SVP 24 22 equipped Tu 22M underwent trials in 2009, and the program was moved into production, with deliveries after 2012.

The two prototypes Tu 22M(0) were delivered to Long Range Aviation's 42nd Combat Training Centre at Dyagilevo air base, near Ryazan, in February 1973. The aircraft began practice sorties in March. Within 20 days of the aircraft's delivery, the air and ground crew at the air base had received their type ratings; this was helped by their earlier training at Tupolev, the Gromov Flight Research Institute and the Kazan plant. In June that year, the aircraft were demonstrated to Soviet government officials, destroying tanks and armoured personnel carriers. In June 1981, four Tu 22Ms were intercepted and photographed by Norwegian aircraft flying over the Norwegian Sea. The first simulated attack by the Tu 22M against a NATO carrier group occurred between 30 September and 1 October 1982. Eight aircraft locked onto the U. S. task forces of USS Enterprise and USS Midway which were operating in the North Pacific. They came within 120 mile (193 km) of the task forces. The reaction of the U. S. Navy was thought to have been restrained during this event so as to allow the observation of the Tu 22M's tactics. The bomber also made attempts to test Japan's air defense boundary on several occasions. The Tu 22M was first used in combat in Afghanistan. It was deployed December 1987 to January 1988, during which the aircraft flew strike missions in support of the Soviet Army's attempt to relieve the Mujahideens' Siege of Khost. Two squadrons of aircraft from the 185th GvBAP based at Poltava were deployed to Maryy 2 air base in Turkmenistan. Capable of dropping large tonnages of conventional ordnance, the aircraft bombed enemy forts, bases and material supplies. In October 1988, the aircraft was again deployed against the Mujahideen. Sixteen Tu 22M3s were used to provide cover to Soviet forces that were pulling out of the country. The Tu 22Ms were tasked with destroying paths of access to Soviet forces, attacking enemy forces at night to prevent regrouping, and to attack incoming supplies from Iran and Pakistan. Working alongside 30 newly arrived MiG 27s, the aircraft also flew missions aimed at relieving the besieged city of Kandahar. The aircraft had its last Afghan operation in January 1989 at Salang pass. The Tu 22M suffered from widespread maintenance problems due to poor manufacturing quality during its service with the Soviet forces. The engines and airframes in particular had short service lives. The Air Force at one point sought to prosecute Tupolev for allegedly rushing the inadequate designs of the Tu 22M and the Tu 160 into service. This was compounded by the government bureaucracy, which hampered the provision of spare parts to allow the servicing of the Tu 22M. With some aircraft grounded for up to six months, the mission capable rate of the aircraft in August 1991 was around 30–40%.

At the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, 370 remained in Commonwealth of Independent States service. Production ended in 1993. The Russian Federation used the Tu 22M3 in combat in Chechnya during 1995, performing strikes near Grozny. On 9 August 2008, a Russian Tu 22MR reconnaissance aircraft was shot down in South Ossetia by a Georgian air defence Buk M1 surface to air missile system during the 5–day Russo Georgian War. One of its crew members was captured (Major Vyacheslav Malkov), two others were killed and the crew commander, Lt. Col. Aleksandr Koventsov, was missing in action. On 29 March 2013, two Tu 22M3 bombers flying in international airspace made a simulated attack on Sweden. The Swedish air defense failed to respond. Two Tu 22Ms flew supersonic over the Baltic Sea on 24 March 2015. Two Tu 22Ms approached Öland in international airspace on 21 May 2015. The Swedish Air Force sent two Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters to mark their presence. On 4 July 2015, two Tu 22Ms approached the Swedish island of Gotland without violating its airspace, followed by Swedish and other fighter aircraft. In 2014, Russian aerospace expert Piotr Butowski estimated there were seven squadrons of Tu 22Ms in service, each with approximately 10 aircraft, stationed at three airbases; 40 at Belaya airbase in southeastern Siberia, 28 at Shaykovka airbase southwest of Moscow, and 10 at Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan southeast of Moscow which serves as the training unit for the bomber.

Since late January 2017, six Tu 22M3s resumed airstrikes in the area of Deir ez Zor to prevent capture of the city by jihadists and again in late 2017 to support a government offensive. 22–31 January 2016, Tu 22M3s reportedly conducted 42 sorties performing airstrikes in the vicinity of Deir ez Zor. On the morning of 12 July 2016, six Tu 22M3 bombers carried out a concentrated attack around Palmyra, Al Sukhnah and Arak. On 14 July, six Tu 22M3 bombers operating from airfields in Russia delivered another massive strike on the newly detected IS facilities in the areas east of Palmyra, as well as in Al Sukhnah, Arak, and the T 3 oil pumping station in the province of Homs. New raids were conducted on 21 July, 8 August, 11 August, and 14 August 2016. On 16 August 2016, the bombers began to fly missions in Syria using Iran's Hamedan Airbase. In November 2017, six Tu 22M3s resumed airstrikes in the area of Deir ez Zor to support a government offensive. In May 2021, three Tu 22Ms were temporarily deployed to the Khmeymim airbase in Syria. Tu 22Ms were again deployed in eastern Mediterranean in June of the same year for large RF Navy and Air Force drills.

On 15 April 2022, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry stated Russia had used Tu 22M3 bombers for the first time since the start of its invasion of Ukraine, to strike targets in Mariupol. It had earlier been reported that FAB 3000M 46 dumb bombs had been reactivated in Russia for use with Tu 22M3 bombers to strike targets at the Azovstal iron and steel works plant that became the last bastion for Ukrainian troops in the besieged city of Mariupol. On 11 May 2022, a video emerged on social media showing a Russian Aerospace Forces Tu 22M3 bomber launching two Kh 22 missiles at targets somewhere in Ukraine. On 5 December 2022, a Russian Aerospace Forces Tu 22M3 bomber, identified as RF 34110, was shown damaged as a result of a long range drone attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the Dyagilevo air base. Images on social media showed at least the engine outputs and the trailing edge of the stabilizers damaged. On 20 August 2023, the Russian government confirmed a drone attack on an airbase in Novgorod and BBC News subsequently published verified images of a Tu 22M3 engulfed in flames at Soltsy air base, Russia, which had been attacked by drones on the day before. According to Ukraine, one Tu 22M3 was destroyed, and two were disabled, in an operation of a Ukrainian intelligence unit led by Oleh Babiy in August 2023. During the 29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine and other attacks, some 300 Kh 22 missiles have been launched at Ukraine by Russian forces, all by Tu 22M bombers. None have been shot down by Ukrainian forces, although it is suggested that Russia has been targeting areas where there are no MIM 104 Patriot or SAMP/T missile batteries. On 19 April 2024, a Russian Tu 22M3 crashed near Stavropol, over 450 km of distance from the nearest Ukrainian controlled territory as of the time of the event. Ukraine claimed to have shot down the long range strategic bomber about 300 km from Ukraine as it was reportedly trying to return to base after a combat sortie. Russian authorities claimed the aircraft crashed in Krasnogvardeysky District due to a technical malfunction, killing one crew member, with another missing. A source claimed that Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence had planned and executed the downing with a S 200 missile, the same type of missile Ukraine claimed to shot down a Beriev A 50 in February 2024. If confirmed, it would be Ukraine's first shot down of a Tu 22M in the air. Ukraine "likely destroyed" one Tu 22M at an airbase in Novgorod Oblast in August 2023, using drones.

The Tupolev company has sought export customers for the Tu 22M since 1992, with possible customers including Iran, India and the People's Republic of China, but no sales have apparently been made. Unlike the Tu 22 bomber, Tu 22Ms were not exported to Middle East countries that were threatened by the US military presence in the region. During 1999, India reportedly signed a lease to buy contract for four Tu 22M aircraft for maritime reconnaissance and strike purposes, which were to enter IAF service in 2001. At the time, the aircraft were to be delivered with Kh 22 cruise missiles. As of 2023 there is no evidence of operation or acquisition by the Indian Air Force.

On 16 September 2017, a Tu 22M3 overran the runway at Shaykovka Air Base due to an aborted take off. The aircraft was written off. All four crew members survived without injury. On 22 January 2019, a Tu 22M3 crash landed after a training flight while attempting to make a landing at the Olenya Air Base near the city of Olenegorsk in Russia's Murmansk region. Three of the four crew members died in the crash. On 23 March 2021, a Tu 22M3's ejection system malfunctioned, suddenly activating while still on the ground. The incident resulted in the deaths of three crew members and the hospitalization of a fourth. An official from Russia's Defense Ministry said that "due to the insufficient altitude for parachute opening, three crew members received fatal injuries upon landing". The aircraft was at Shaykovka Air Base undergoing engine start procedures. On 19 August 2023, a Tu 22M3 was destroyed by a drone strike from the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive while on the ground at Soltsy 2 in Novgorod Oblast. Satellite pictures of the air base showed that the other bombers stationed there had been evacuated, while photographs taken on the ground showed the plane that had been hit by the drone ablaze and was completely destroyed by the resultant fire. On 19 April 2024, a Tu 22M3 crashed in the Stavropol region of Russia. Video shows the aircraft in a flat spin with visible flames on the rear of the aircraft. Ukrainian sources claimed that the bomber was shot down using a surface to air missile, with the loss of the Tu 22M3 being the second confirmed kill of a strategic bomber during the conflict.