Tupolev Tu-16

The Tupolev Tu‑16, nicknamed “Badger” by NATO, is a Soviet-era, twin‑engine jet bomber that first flew on 24 May 1952 and entered service in 1954. Designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau, the aircraft was built to replace earlier propeller‑driven bombers and to provide the USSR with a long‑range, high‑speed strike platform capable of delivering nuclear payloads. Its swept‑back wings, pressurized cabin and twin Mikulin AM‑3 turbo‑jet engines gave it a maximum speed of about 1 050 km/h and a combat radius exceeding 7 000 km, enabling missions deep into hostile territory.

A versatile airframe, the Tu‑16 was adapted for reconnaissance, maritime patrol, electronic warfare and even as a launch vehicle for air‑launched cruise missiles such as the AS‑1 and later the Kh‑22. Over 1 500 units were produced, serving not only in Soviet and Russian forces but also in the air forces of China, India and several Eastern‑Bloc nations. Its rugged construction and ease of maintenance kept it operational for more than five decades, and its legacy influenced later Tupolev designs, cementing the Tu‑16 as a cornerstone of Cold‑War strategic aviation.

Tupolev

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