Tupolev Tu-98

The Tupolev Tu-98 (NATO reporting name 'Backfin') was a prototype swept wing jet bomber developed for the Soviet Union.

Development

The Tu-98 emerged from a program for a fast supersonic bomber to replace the Tupolev Tu-16. It was powered by two Lyulka AL-7 turbojet engines with side-mounted intakes high on the fuselage (above the wingroot). The Tu-98 was built in 1955 and first flown in 1956. It was shown to an American delegation at the Kubinka air base outside Moscow in June 1956, but it subsequently did not enter service, and only the single prototype was completed.

The West incorrectly believed that the aircraft (thought to be an Ilyushin or Yakovlev design) was in service, possibly designated Yak-42, but that was not correct. The basic design of the Tu-98 did, however, have a great influence on the subsequent Tu-102, which became the basis of the Tupolev Tu-28P 'Fiddler' interceptor.

pecifications (Tu-98)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
crew=three
length main=32.06 m
length alt=105 ft 2 in
span main=17.27 m
span alt=56 ft 8 in
height main=8.06 m
height alt=26 ft 5 in
area main=87.5 m²
area alt=941 ft²
empty weight main= kg
empty weight alt= lb
loaded weight main= kg
loaded weight alt= lb
max takeoff weight main=39,000 kg
max takeoff weight alt=85,800 lb
engine (jet)=Lyulka AL-7F
type of jet=turbojets
number of jets=2
thrust main=93.2 kN
thrust alt=20,900 lbf

max speed main=1,365 km/h
max speed alt=737 kt, 853 mph
range main=2,440 km
range alt=1,320 nm, 1,530 miles
ceiling main=12,750 m
ceiling alt=41,820 ft
climb rate main= m/s
climb rate alt= ft/min
loading main=445.7 kg/m²
loading alt=91.2 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=0.49

armament=
* Guns: 3× 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon
* Bombs: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb)

ee also

aircontent

related=
* Tupolev Tu-22
* Tupolev Tu-22M

similar aircraft=

sequence=
* Tu-91 - Tu-95 - Tu-96 - Tu-98 - Tu-99 - Tu-102 - Tu-103

lists=
* List of bomber aircraft
* List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS

see also=