Tupolev Tu-142 (Bear) Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Bomber - History, Specs and Pictures

Authored By Staff Writer

The Tu-142 Bear was an anti-submarine version of the original Tu-95 Bear.

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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. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Tupolev Tu-142 (Bear)
Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Bomber

Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Tupolev - USSR
Initial Year of Service: 1957
Production: Not Available

Focus Model: Tupolev Tu-142 (Bear-F)
Crew: 11 - 13

Length: 174.11ft (53.07m)
Width: 164.17ft (50.04m)
Height: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Weight (Empty): 202,384lbs (91,800kg)
Weight (MTOW): 407,855lbs (185,000kg)

Powerplant: 4 x Kuznetsov NK-P 12M turboprop engines driving contra-rotating propellers and generating 15,000eshp each.

Maximum Speed: 531mph (855kmh; 462kts)
Maximum Range: 7,456miles (12,000km)
Service Ceiling: 36,089ft (11,000m; 6.8miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)

Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
2 x 23mm cannons

Up to 9,000lbs of mission-specific ordnance that would include sonobouys, torpedoes and anti-ship mine dispensers.

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

Operators:
Soviet Union, Russia and India.

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