Blinder: the Tu-22 at War

[Matt Wiser]

The predecessor to the Backfire, the First Supersonic Soviet Bomber in service:



The Tu-22 Blinder in World War III


The Tu-22 (NATO code name Blinder) was the first operational Soviet supersonic bomber, entering service as a bomber in 1962, and also as a missile carrier, reconnaissance aircraft, and conversion trainer in the following years. Despite continuing teething troubles, and a high accident rate which meant the aircraft was unpopular with its crews, the aircraft had a long service history, seeing combat during the Third World War in Soviet and Libyan service, and in the Second Russian Civil war.


Variants:


Tu-22B: Initial production variant armed with free-fall gravity bombs. First introduced in 1962, and assigned to the 203rd DBAP (Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment). Armed with up to 24 500-kg (1100 lb) FAB-500 bombs or a single thermonuclear weapon. Deemed a failure in Soviet service and primarily used for training. Tu-22Bs built for Libya and Iraq were rebuilds of Tu-22R models. NATO code Blinder-A.

Tu-22R: Reconnaissance version with cameras, surface-search radar, and ECM system. Also adaptable as an escort jammer with ECM equipment in the bomb bay replacing the camera system. Free-fall bombing capability retained. NATO code Blinder-C. Used by both SAF and SNAF.

Tu-22U: Two-seat conversion trainer. WSO seat exchanged for raised cockpit for instructor pilot, fuel tankage decreased, all combat capability removed. NATO code Blinder-D.

Tu-22K: Missile carrier version armed with single Kh-22 (NATO code AS-4 Kitchen) ASM, with PN radar (NATO code Down Beat) and free-fall bombing capability deleted. Entered SAF service 1965, not declared operational until 1967 due to issues integrating aircraft and missile system. SAF only. NATO code Blinder-B.

Tu-22P: ELINT reconnaissance variant, also used as standoff jammer. ELINT system in bomb bay, and ECM system installed. One squadron per Tu-22KD regiment. NATO code Blinder-E.

Tu-22KP: Tu-22K fitted with ELINT system to detect air defense radars for attack with Kh-22P Antiradar missile.

A series of upgrades to the aircraft began in 1965 with improved engines, hydraulic boosters to the flight control system, and aileron fences to address aileron reversal issues. The aircraft also received inflight refueling capability with a IFR probe being installed, and the letter “D” added to the designation (Tu-22KD, Tu-22RD, etc.) Reconnaissance versions had their systems upgraded beginning in 1975 with new cameras, SLAR, improved ECM and chaff dispensers.


Users:

Soviet Air Force: Five regiments became operational with the aircraft; three regiments of the 46th Air Army's (DA: Long-Range Aviation) 15th Heavy Bomber Division, and two reconnaissance regiments reporting directly to the 46th Air Army.

Soviet Naval Air Force (AV-MF): Two reconnaissance regiments in the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets. 15th ODRAP (Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment) at Chaklavosk (Kaliningrad); 30th ODRAP at Saki in the Crimea.


Libya: 12-18 Blinder-Bs were delivered to the Libyan Air Force in 1977, often flown by foreign crews under secondment to the Libyan AF due to a shortage of trained Libyan aircrew.


Iraq: At least 12 aircraft delivered, with combat in the Iran-Iraq War.


Service:


Soviet Tu-22s saw combat beginning on Day One, with an attempted strike against the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from the 121st Guards TBAP, flying via the Balkans. This strike was foiled with heavy losses by F-14s from USS Nimitz (CVN-68), but was, unknown to the crews, a diversionary strike for a major SNAF effort which damaged the carrier and sank two escorts. A further strike against RAF bases in Cyprus by the 203rd TBAP met with some success, but follow-up strikes by both SAF and Libyan Blinders were not successful. SAF Blinders flew occasional anti-shipping strikes into the Mediterranean, using Libyan fields for staging during 1985-6, before attrition in the air and on the ground-usually strikes by Sixth Fleet aircraft against Libyan air bases-took its toll.

SNAF Blinders flew reconnaissance missions over the Mediterranean, and also supported the Soviet Baltic Fleet during the Battle of the Baltic Exits.

The 341st TBAP deployed to Mexico via Occupied Iceland and Cuba, and flew strikes into the U.S. Southwest and Southeast, with strategic targets in California, Arizona, Mississippi, and Alabama being attacked. At the top of the target list were aircaft factories, shipyards, and power plants. Attrition took its toll, among both the missile carriers, reconnaissance aircraft, and EW support, so that by the time of the Armistice in 1989, only a handful of Blinders remained. Though turned over to Mexico as the men of the 341st left for home, the Mexicans were unable to support the aircraft and the Blinders were all found at Hermosillo AB by U.S. Forces during the Baja War of 2010, having been abandoned as if their Soviet crews had only left the day before.


Libya:

Libyan Tu-22Bs were in the 1124th Bomber Squadron, and on Qaddafi's orders, flew strikes against Cyprus and against Israel-where the carrier Nimitz had anchored at Haifa for repairs. Losses to defending fighters were heavy, and with a lack of attrition replacements, the aircraft had to be carefully husbanded. Though put into storage in 1992 at Oka Bin Nafi AB, two Blinders flew missions against the Rebels during the Libyan Civil War in 2011, including at least one strike with chemical weapons. The Blinders, along with the rest of Qaddafi's forces, were destroyed on their bases shortly afterwards during the Anglo-American nuclear attack on the Qaddafi Regime's strongpoints.


Iraq:

Iraqi Blinders flew strikes into Iran beginning in 1980, and remained active until the Iran-Iraq War petered out in 1986. A lack of attrition replacement and spare parts resulted in the seven remaining Tu-22s (five B and two U) being used as decoys at their base at Al Taqaddum AB.

Ukraine:

Most surviving Tu-22 aircraft in the 15th Heavy Bomber Division flew for the Ukrainian AF during the Second Russian Civil War. All survivors retired and scrapped at war's end.


Specification:

Powerplant: Two RD-7M afterburning turbojets each rated at 24,250 pounds static thrust and 36,376 pounds in reheat.

Maximum Speed: Mach 1.42 (940 MPH)

Effective range without refueling: 3,045 miles (4,443 miles with one refueling).

Practical combat radius: 808-1,367 miles.

Maximum Bombload (B version and Rs used as bombers): 52,910 pounds.

Missile armament (K versions only): One Kh-22 (NATO designation AS-4 Kitchen) ASM or ARM.

Defensive armament (all versions but U): One twin R-23 23-mm cannon in tail.

Attack Radar: PN-1 (Down Beat)

Crew: 3 (Pilot, Navigator, Weapons Officer). All on downward firing ejection seats, which made ejection during takeoff or landing accidents impossible.

[jemhouston]

NATO's favorite target drone.

[Wolfman]

NATO's favorite target drone.

I thought that was the MiG-17 “FRESCO”?

[Poohbah]

One of Roberta's NCOs captured a Blinder that made an emergency landing at Holloman AFB.

(Well, when they declared the emergency, Ivan still owned the base; Roberta's platoon overran the ops side in less than ten minutes.)

[jemhouston]

NATO's favorite target drone.

I thought that was the MiG-17 “FRESCO”?

Figured it was the TU-22 since it carried more fuel, which make for a nicer fireball.

[Wolfman]

NATO's favorite target drone.

I thought that was the MiG-17 “FRESCO”?

Figured it was the TU-22 since it carried more fuel, which make for a nicer fireball.

Good point.

[jemhouston]

Jaime isn't the only who wants big booms.

[Wolfman]

OOC: Were I portraying a fighter pilot instead of an A-6 B/N, my character would most assuredly be agreeing with you…

[jemhouston]

OOC: Were I portraying a fighter pilot instead of an A-6 B/N, my character would most assuredly be agreeing with you…

Don't A-6s carry AIM-9? If a strike was coming back and saw Blinders, would you go after them?

[Wolfman]

During the War, Intruders were very low on the priority list for Sidewinders (and prior to the A-6F, they’d take up a pylon that could be used for bombs).

[Wolfman]

Didn’t the USAF fly some BLINDERs in an evaluation program at Edwards and keep a couple flying at Nellis until the mad Colonel had been dealt with?

[Matt Wiser]

Not to my knowledge. The AF found out enough from studying wrecks, and when the examples at Hermosillo were found? They had access to all the crew's and maintainers' manuals. Along with some AS-4 missiles. The aircraft's high accident rate in Soviet service was a key factor in the Flight Test Center's decision not to get one or two into the air.

[Wolfman]

OOC: On the previous incarnation of the board, I’d posted a profile of a BLINDER in the Edwards Test Scheme and it was declared canon. I certainly think it would be a short test program, mostly seeing what the performance limits were as safely as possible, then three or four of about a dozen captured are spared for museums, with one example having already been diverted to the Nellis AFB ‘petting zoo’…

[Poohbah]

OOC: On the previous incarnation of the board, I’d posted a profile of a BLINDER in the Edwards Test Scheme and it was declared canon. I certainly think it would be a short test program, mostly seeing what the performance limits were as safely as possible, then three or four of about a dozen captured are spared for museums, with one example having already been diverted to the Nellis AFB ‘petting zoo’…

They flew it just enough times to decide, "Bruh, no. Just no."

[Wolfman]

OOC: Max speed, maximum range, that sort of thing, and they resprayed the aircraft in the Test Scheme.

[Matt Wiser]

OOC: Thanks for reminding me. It would be a very short program. Maybe three or four flights, but enough to say, "No." One big problem would have been the ejection seats: all were downward firing, and could not be used below 300 feet.

[Wolfman]

OOC: Not more than twenty, max, that’s for sure.