Tupolev
Tupolev Tu-98
The Tupolev Tu‑98, often called the “Berkut”, was a Soviet experimental supersonic bomber developed in the early 1950s. Conceived as a response to Western jet‑powered strategic bombers, the aircraft first flew on 22 June 1952 under the guidance of the famed design bureau of Andrei Tupolev. Only two prototypes were built, designated Tu‑98 and Tu‑98A, and the program was cancelled in 1955 when the larger Tu‑16 proved more practical.
Key features included a sleek, sharply swept delta wing with a 55‑degree leading‑edge sweep, twin afterburning Kuznetsov NK‑6 engines mounted in tandem under the fuselage, and a distinctive T‑tail. The aircraft could reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 at altitude and had an operational ceiling above 15 000 m. Its internal weapons bay was designed for nuclear payloads, and the cockpit offered advanced radar and fire‑control systems for its time.
Although it never entered service, the Tu‑98 provided valuable data on high‑speed aerodynamics, material stresses, and engine performance that directly influenced later Tupolev designs such as the Tu‑16 and Tu‑22. Its brief existence highlighted the Soviet Union’s rapid transition into the jet age and underscored the strategic emphasis on long‑range, high‑speed bombing capability during the Cold War.
Key features included a sleek, sharply swept delta wing with a 55‑degree leading‑edge sweep, twin afterburning Kuznetsov NK‑6 engines mounted in tandem under the fuselage, and a distinctive T‑tail. The aircraft could reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 at altitude and had an operational ceiling above 15 000 m. Its internal weapons bay was designed for nuclear payloads, and the cockpit offered advanced radar and fire‑control systems for its time.
Although it never entered service, the Tu‑98 provided valuable data on high‑speed aerodynamics, material stresses, and engine performance that directly influenced later Tupolev designs such as the Tu‑16 and Tu‑22. Its brief existence highlighted the Soviet Union’s rapid transition into the jet age and underscored the strategic emphasis on long‑range, high‑speed bombing capability during the Cold War.
