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Tu-160 Blackjack

Soviet aircraft
Also known as: Blackjack, Tu-160

Quick Summary

The Tu-160 Blackjack is a strategic bomber developed by the Soviet Union and later operated by Russia. It is known for its variable-sweep wings, allowing it to fly at both low and high altitudes, and its ability to achieve supersonic speeds. Designed by Aleksey Andreyevich Tupolev, it entered service in 1988.12

The Tu-160 is powered by four turbojet engines and has a maximum speed of Mach 2 at high altitude, though it can perform a supersonic "dash" at low levels. It can carry a significant bomb load, including conventional and nuclear bombs, as well as air-to-surface and cruise missiles. The aircraft is equipped with advanced electronic countermeasures to counter enemy radar systems. It is one of the largest and heaviest combat aircraft ever built, and the fastest bomber currently in service.1

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