Tu-22 BLINDER (TUPOLEV)
Several versions of the Blinder-bomber were built:
Variants
- Blinder A - Tu-22B -- The basic reconnaissance bomber with internal weapons bay for a free-fall bombs weighing up to 12,000 kg, including bomb FAB-9000 weighing 9000 kg; without rod for refueling; RBP-4 radar ( "Short Horn"); production aircraft manufactured after 1968 were equipped with engines VD-7M weight of 16500 kg (36375 lbs).Blinder A is primarily employed as a medium bomber dropping free-fall bombs, each of the ten 22B bombers were mainly used for training purposes. The aircraft also could be modified to serve as a tanker. Initially, converted TU-16Z planes served as tankers, but from 1972 on they were replaced by TU-22RM aircraft carrying new onboard avionics.
- Blinder B - Tu-22K -- The Tu-22K was equipped to carry one Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen ) 250-nm range air-to-surface missiel, With the increased radar Rubin "Down Beat", the TU-22K carried a missile, and could also carry free-fall bombs. It carried out its' first tests in 1961 and deployment started in 1967 after conclusion of the testing phase.
- Blinder C -- In 1962 the maritime reconnaissance aircraft TU-22P with cameras or sensors in the weapons bay [Radar "Initiative" BPR-4]. It was equipped with an air refueling system and received the designation TU-22PD. About 70 'Blinder-C' reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft were produced
- Blinder D - Tu-22U -- The - Tu-22B is a trainer version similar to Blinder A, though space for an instructor in a raised and enclosed rear cockpit.
- Blinder E - TU-22RDM -- Further upgrading in the 1980s lead to the TU-22RDM reconnaissance aircraft. The Tu-22P «Blinder-E» was created on the basis of the Tu-22P with radar RBP-4, equipment for electronic jamming (ECM) in the tail fairing instead of the tail turret, with the ventral gondola with equipment for electronic intelligence and multiple antennas for electronic warfare.
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