Tu-160 Blackjack

[DaveBB]

I was reading about the Tu-160 Blackjack, in an attempt to figure out how many are left.  I was very surprised to see that Russia has restarted the production line on this aircraft, and is modernizing the existing aircraft.  One new aircraft has been completed.  This required a suprising amount of work due to needing to weld titanium.  Allegedly 50 new aircraft will be built.

[Shuffler]

Our shop welds titanium. Seems strange that causes a bottleneck in russia.

[BBQsam]

That sure is an extra large B-1.

[STXAce8]

The Bone is about 70% the size of a TU160.

[Meatwad]

That sure is an extra large B-1.

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Extra payload capability to hold cluster turnips

[1stpar3]

Didnt they ban use of cluster tubers? 

[BuckShot]

"They" can't tell the commies what to load or not load in their wanna b a b1b!

[Vulcan]

"They" can't tell the commies what to load or not load in their wanna b a b1b!

Tu-160 was originally designed by Stalin, Amerikans clearly copied the glorious design albeit into a smaller puny bomber.

[BuckShot]

Who had the first plane of this type or first idea for the type is debatable. Several sites point to each plane.

62 b1bs in service vs 16 tu160s in service puts the flapjack in wanna b status.

[DaveBB]

The TU-160 is like a B-1A on steroids.  Huge payload, very high maximum speed, very long range.  That being said, I don't think it has much low level ability.  This might change with the modernization program.  I don't think the current models have terrain following radar.

The B-1B is optimized for low level flying (think it can do Mach 1.2 on the deck).  A study in the late 70s showed that very few or any U.S. aircraft would have been able to penetrate Soviet airspace.  This is why the B-1A was cancelled.  Also, the B-2 was secretly being produced at the time.