The Tu-142 Bear was an anti-submarine version of the original Tu-95 Bear. By Staff Writer
The Tupolev Tu-142 "Bear" aircraft was a further development of the massive and successful Tu-95 Bear design popularized by its many appearances along the airspace border between the Soviet union and NATO allies during the Cold War. Continuing with the four turboprop-type engine layout, the Tu-142 designation was reserved for a new class of specialized long-range anti-submarine platforms. Like the Tu-95 before it, the Tu-142 would see a long shelf-life, continuing in some capacity to this day.
As a dedicated anti-submarine / reconnaissance platform, the Tu-142 "Bear-F" model appeared in 1972 with a stretched fuselage from what was found on the base Tu-95 series. Powerful search radars were mounted in the ventral radome and made up the heart of the search-and-destroy system. Additionally, the Tu-142 allowed provisions for anti-submarine weaponry that would include anti-ship mine dispensers, torpedoes and sonobouys. Another Tu-142 variant appeared later in the form of the Tu-142 "Bear-J" and was identified as a submarine communications relay platform by NATO observers. India was the only reported export recipient of the Tu-142 model series. Production for the series as a whole ended in 1994.
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Aircraft Quick Profile
Image courtesy of the United States Department of Defense.
1957
Designation:Tupolev Tu-142 (Bear) Classification Type:Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Bomber Contractor:Tupolev - USSR Country of Origin: Soviet Union Production Total: Not Available
Operators: Soviet Union, Russia and India.
Variants
Tu-95 - Series Designation for "Bear" model aircraft.
Tu-142 - Base Series Designation as applied to the long-range and anti-submarine function of the Tu-95 model series.
Tu-142 "Bear-F" - Anti-Ship Model; stretched fuselage; fitted with maritime search radar in ventral radome; sonobouys, mine dispenser and torpedo capable.
Tu-142 "Bear-F" Mod 2 - Fitted with Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) system on tail assembly fin tip.
Tu-142MR "Bear-J" - Submarine Communications Relay Variant.
Tu-142MK-E
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