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The Soviet Union wanted to match the long range bombing capability of the USA. This became possible thanks to the development of the AM-3 turbojet. Based on experiences of the Tu-4, the Tu-88 made its first flight in 1952 and the same year it won the competition against the IL-46. In 1954 the plane became operational as the Tu-16, to the west known as ‘Badger-A’.
The Tu-16 was originally planned as a free fall bomber, but more and more the aircraft was used as a platform for early soviet nuclear cruise missiles against western navies. The type was also extensively used as maritime patrol, Recce, ELINT aircraft, jammer and even as a civilian airliner in the form of the Tu-104.
China had brought the Tu-16 from the USSR as early as 1958, calling the plane H-6. China then copied the aircraft and, staring from 1968, more than 180 have been built. The type is still in limited production in China. The country also uses the H-6 as a dedicated air-to-air refueler.
Many countries inherited the Tu-16 after the fall of the USSR. All these countries had retired the type by 1995. Indonesia used the Tu-16 in anger against the Dutch navy in 1962, but retired the type in 1970. Egypt used both Tu-16 and H-5 to bombard Israel with cruise missiles and retired the aircraft in 2000.
Iraq never officially withdrew its 18 ‘Badgers’. 17 were destroyed during Operation Desert Storm. The only surviving H-6D was destroyed in 2003.
Tu-16: General characteristics
• Crew: 6-7
• Length: 34.80 m (114 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 33.00 m (108 ft 3 in)
• Height: 10.36 m (34 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 165 m2 (1,780 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 37,200 kg (82,012 lb)
• Gross weight: 76,000 kg (167,551 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 79,000 kg (174,165 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Mikulin AM-3 M-500 turbojets, 93.2 kN (21,000 lbf) thrust each
Performance
• Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (652 mph; 567 kn)
• Range: 7,200 km (4,474 mi; 3,888 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 12,800 m (41,995 ft)
• Wing loading: 460 kg/m² (94 lb/sq ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.24
Armament
• Guns: 6-7 × 23 mm АМ-23 cannons, two each in dorsal and ventral remote turrets and manned tail turret, with the occasional addition of one fixed forward in the nose
• Missiles:
o 2 × Raduga KS-1 Komet (AS-1 Kennel) anti-ship missile on underwing hardpoints, or
o 1 × Raduga K-10S (AS-2 Kipper) anti-ship missile semi-recessed in bomb bay, or
o 2 × Raduga KSR-5 (AS-6 Kingfish) anti-ship missile on underwing hardpoints
• Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of free-fall weapons
