Backfire: the Tu-22M in the War

[Matt Wiser]

The Soviets' most numerous-and feared, long-range bomber, the Tu-22M Backfire...

The Tu-22M Backfire in World War III


The variable-winged and more successful successor to the Tu-22 Blinder, the Backfire was the main long-range bomber assigned to the Soviet Naval Air Force (AV-MF) and was also assigned to the Air Force's Long-Range Aviation for theater attack missions. First flown in 1969, with service entry in 1972-3, the Backfire proved to be a serious threat to USN and RN ships, as well as to convoys in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, while Backfires assigned to three independent Air Armies that reported directly to the Air Force (30th, 37th, and 46th) flew missions against Britain, as well as strikes against targets in North America, staging via Arctic fields and fields in Occupied Alaska and Canada. The aircraft also flew for the various sides in the Second Russian Civil War, and is still in service with the Russian Republic, the Ukraine, and the Far East Republic.


Variants:

Tu-22M (0): Preproduction version built at Kazan. 9 built.

Tu-22M1: Pilot production aircraft with air refueling probe installed (later removed). NATO code name Backfire-A.

Tu-22M2: Initial production version, air refueling probe deleted (and later reinstalled) capability to carry either the AS-4 missile or gravity bombs (conventional, cluster, FAE, and nuclear); twin 23-mm tail cannon, and internal ECM suite. Two NK-22 engines with top speed of Mach 1.65. Produced 1972-83. NATO code name Backfire-B

Tu-22M3: Improved production version with air refueling probe added, improved NK-25 engines, improved Nav-attack system designated NK-45, and improved low-altitude performance with top speed of Mach 2.05. Provision for internal rotary launcher for AS-16 Kickback SRAM/ASM. NATO code name Backfire-C

Tu-22M4: Improved version based on wartime experience; NK-32 engines from the Tu-160, new nav-attack system and EW system, and capability of carrying PGMs. Program halted due to Second Russian Civil War, and never resurrected.

Tu-22MR: Reconnissance version designed to replace Tu-16Rs in AV-MF. Only 12 built prior to outbreak of the Civil War, and flew for the Russian Republic.

Tu-22M3SVP: Modernized version of M3 for Russian Republic AF: new engines, PGM capability, and improved ECM. NATO code Backfire-D

Tu-22M3M: Modernized version of M3 for Russian Republic Naval Air Forces: NK-32 engines, glass cockpit, improved bombsight and ECM, and PGM capability. NATO Code also Backfire-D.

Tu-22DP: Long-range interceptor concept based on Tu-22M3. While believed to be in production during the war, postwar access to Tupolev Bureau archives has found that only a single prototype had been built in 1986, with testing still under way by Tupolev OKB and SAF. Intended armament of eight AA-9 Amos AAMs externally carried, with bomb bay fuel tanks added. Believed to be intended to interdict the Trans-Atlantic Air Bridge between North America and England during the war.


Users:

Soviet Air Force (VVS): Backfires were assigned to the 30th Air Army in the Far East (31st Heavy Bomber Aviation Division), the 37th Air Army's 326th Bomber Aviation Divsion and the 46th Air Army's 13th and 22nd Guards Bomber Aviation Divisions.

Soviet Naval Air Force (AV-MF): Backfires were assigned to the 2nd Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Division in the Baltic Fleet, the 5th Maritime Missile Aviation Division in the Northern Fleet, and the 143rd Maritime Missile Aviation Division in the Pacific Fleet.


Postwar:

Russian Republic Air Force: About 100 aircraft still serve in the Russian Republic Air Force, with about 50 more in storage and available for reactivation and modernization.

Rump USSR: No regiments served with the Rump USSR, but a dozen aircraft at Kazan and at the Ramenskoye Test Center flew for the Rump Soviet Air Force during and after the Civil War. All destroyed or captured during the last gasp of the Soviet State.

Far East Republic: About 40 aircraft from the 31st Heavy Bomber Division (the unit has retained its Soviet designation) and 20 survivors from the 143rd Division serve in a combined unit at Belaya AB near Irkutsk under FER AF control. Reported avionics upgrades from Korean and Japanese firms, but not confirmed.

Ukraine: The 13th Bomber Aviation Division flew to Russia (most of its air and ground crew were Russians) during the Civil War, but the 22nd flew for the Ukrainian AF. One Regiment of 30 survives, and the Defense Ministry in Ukraine has been looking for Western companies to upgrade the avionics and weapons systems of the aircraft.


Captured Aircraft:

The USAF has acknowledged at least one captured Backfire was found at Amarillo IAP (formerly Amarillo AFB) during Operation PRAIRIE FIRE. This aircraft was evaluated at Edwards AFB before being sent to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB after the war.

Two additional Backfires were found at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, after the Soviet surrender in the Northern Theater were sent to the “Lower 48” for evaluation, and for a parts source. One is on display at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, AZ, while the other is held at Davis-Monthan AFB, stored for the Smithsonian.

Reports of additional Backfires acquired via defection to the UK or to the U.S. During the war have not been independently verified. Relatively intact parts of a Backfire on display at the Imperial War Museum's Duxford complex do lend credibility to these claims.

[jemhouston]

What did the Soviets use for tankers?

[Matt Wiser]

Converted Badgers at first, with the Il-78 Midas tanker coming on in 1988-89.