Tupolev Tu-360
| Tu-360 | |
|---|---|
| Role | strategic bomber |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev OKB |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Number built | 0 |
The Tupolev Tu-360 was a proposed hypersonic strategic bomber conceived by the Tupolev design bureau in the 1980s. It utilized most of the same technologies as the Tupolev Tu-2000.[1]
Design and development
[edit]The Tupolev OKB intended the Tu-360 as a potential replacement for the Tupolev Tu-160, like the Mach 4 Tupolev Tu-230. Although some sources refer to it as the Tupolev Tu-2000B, largely because it utilized the same liquid hydrogen ramjet engine technology as the Tu-2000, it was officially called Tu-360 in the project index. The Tu-360 had the same layout as the Tu-230 but was much larger and faster. Speeds at Mach 6 required the use of liquid hydrogen, and the weapons were to be housed in two bomb bays. Take-off weight was projected at around 350,000 kg, weapons load at 10,000 kg.[2] Tupolev planned to build a subscale technology demonstrator weighing 176,370 pounds (80,000 kg) to test the flight characteristics of the Tu-360, but a lack of funds following the fall of the Soviet Union meant that the project was axed in 1992.[1][3][4]
Specifications
[edit]Data from https://www.testpilot.ru/russia/tupolev/360/
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 100 m (328 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 40.7 m (133 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 1,250 m2 (13,500 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 192,000 kg (423,288 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 350,000 kg (771,618 lb)
- Powerplant: × Liquid hydrogen (LH2) Turbo jet/ramjet
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 6
- Range: 15,000 km (9,300 mi, 8,100 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 30,000 m (98,000 ft)
Armament
References
[edit]- ^ a b Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergey (2013). Unflown wings : Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010. Birmingham: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. pp. 90-91. ISBN 978-1906537340.
- ^ "360 (Ту-360)".
- ^ Tu-2000
- ^ " Tu-2000 ", astronautix.com, Retrieved 24 April 2010
External links
[edit]