Military Factory
Military Pay Chart
Global Firepower
Military Industrial Complex
Second World War
Home
Military Pay Scale
Military Ranks
Small Arms
Aircraft
Land Systems
Navy
Education
Military Factory Facebook Logo
flag of Soviet Union

Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger) Reconnaissance / Electronic Warfare / Heavy Bomber (1954)

Authored By Staff Writer | Last Updated: 8/7/2012

The Tu-16 Badger was one of the most important medium aircraft of the USSR during the Cold War.

Find a School Near You
Follow Military Factory on Facebook:
Trending on Military Factory:
Recent Articles:
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
Little MF Logo
The Tupolev Tu-16 (codenamed "Badger" by NATO) owed its success story to the Cold War and its own versatility. Throughout its production life, the Tu-16 would go on to become arguably the best medium-type bomber platform in service with the Red Air Force, so much so in fact, that a slew of variants would be produced from the initial Type 88 prototype system flown in April of 1952. The Tu-16 would be a common site throughout the periphery of Soviet airspace, often photographed in "friendly" encounters by patrolling NATO forces in the air.

The Type 88 prototype spawned a limited production run by 1954 with the missile-carrying derivative now designated as the Tu-16KS. The system was a twin-engine bomber powered by Mikulin turbojet engines mounted in a mid-level monoplane wing. The cockpit featured a green-house type nose assembly and crew accommodations amounted to 7 personnel depending on the mission and the model variant (the "Badger-G" model carries 6 to 9 personnel for instance). Defensive armament was fitted to the system in the form of two ventral barbette turrets featuring twin 23mm cannons of the NR-23 type. Additionally, twin 23mm cannons were fitted to the tail assembly in a radar-controlled turret.

The missile-carrying capabilities inherent in the "Badger-B" and later designs afforded the system the opportunity to carry an array of air-to-surface missiles. Badgers were highly respected for their anti-shipping roles and the available missiles showcased were the AS-2 "Kipper", AS-5 "Kelt" and the AS-6 "Kingfish" anti-ship missile systems. When not used for anti-ship patrolling, the Badger would appear in an equally effective electronic warfare and maritime reconnaissance model in the form of the "Badger-D". The "Badger-E" went a step further and was fitted with a vast array of specialized equipment and cameras for high-level reconnaissance and picture-taking duties. The Badger-G model can be regarded as the definitive Badger model as it performed double duty as an anti-ship and anti-radar missile platform.

The Tu-16 Badger series was discontinued from Russian use as late as 1998, to which some 2,000 examples were thought to have been produced. China was granted a license in 1957 to produce their own derivative in the form of the Xi'an Hu-6 model series as bomber and anti-ship missile types. Later examples of Soviet Tu-16's were converted to the most important role of inflight refueling tanker. Iraq and Egypt were supplied with "Badger-A" models with 9 and 30 going to each respectively whilst Indonesia received the "Badger-B" model totaling some 25 such examples. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Picture of Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger)
Pic of the Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger)
Image of the Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger)
View All Images (28)

Specifications for the
Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger)
Reconnaissance / Electronic Warfare / Heavy Bomber


Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Tupolev - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1954
Production: 2,000


Focus Model: Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger-A)
Crew: 6 - 9


Length: 114.17ft (34.8m)
Width: 108.23ft (32.99m)
Height: 33.99ft (10.36m)
Weight (Empty): 88,185lbs (40,000kg)
Weight (MTOW): 167,110lbs (75,800kg)


Powerplant: 2 x Mikulin RD-3M turbojet engines generating 20,944lbs of thrust each.


Maximum Speed: 597mph (960kmh; 518kts)
Maximum Range: 2,983miles (4,800km)
Service Ceiling: 49,213ft (15,000m; 9.3miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)


Hardpoints: 1
Armament Suite:
STANDARD:
2 x 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons in remote-controlled dorsal turret.
2 x 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons in remote-controlled ventral turret.
2 x 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons in remote-controlled tail turret.
1 x 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 manned cannon in fixed nose position.

OPTIONAL:
1 x AS-6 "Kingfish" (Kh-26) anti-ship missile along portside underwing hardpoint.
1 x AS-2 "Kipper" (Kh-10) anti-ship missile in semi-recessed bomb bay.

Up to 20,000lbs of internal and external ordnance.


Variants:
Tu-16 (Badger-A) - Base and Initial Production Model Designation.

Tu-16A (Badger-A) - Nuclear-Capable Tu-16; 453 examples produced.
Tu-16Z (Badger-A) - Airborne Aerial Refueling Tanker; retaining bomber capabilities.
Tu-16G (Badger-A) - Fast Air Mail Transport
Tu-104G (Badger-A) - Trainer for Aeroflot civilian aircrews.
Tu-16N (Badger-A) - Dedicated Aerial Refueling Platform servicing Tu-22 and Tu-22M series bombers; similar to Tu-16NN production models; probe and drogue fuel systems; conversions from Tu-16Z models.
Tu-16T (Badger-A) - Naval Aviation Variant; maritime strike platform; converted to Tu-16Z models.
Tu-16S (Badger-A) - Search and Rescue (SAR) Platform.
Tu-16Ye (Badger-A) - ELINT Platform
Tu-16KS (Badger-B) - Naval Aviation Variant; AS-1/KS-1 missile launch platform; 107 examples produced.
Tu-16K-10 (Badger-C) - Naval Aviation Variant; anti-ship missile capability; nose-mounted radar; 216 examples produced.
Tu-16K-10-26 (Badger-C) - Missile Launch Platform; further development of Tu-16K-10 model; some later converted to ELINT; anti-ship missile capability.
Tu-16RM-1 (Badger-D) - Maritime Reconnaissance Platform; fitted with ELINT equipment; nose-mounted radar system; K-10S missile guidance compatibility; 23 examples converted from existing Tu-16K-10 production models.
Tu-16R (Badger-E) - Maritime Reconnaissance Platform; fitted with ELINT equipment; KS missile guidance capability.
Tu-16RM-2 (Badger-E) - Naval Aviation Variant; modified Tu-16R production model; KSR-2 missile guidance capability.
Tu-16KRM (Badger-E) - Based on the Tu-16K-26; target drone launch platform.
Tu-16RM-2 (Badger-F) - Reconnaissance Platform based on the Tu-16R and Tu-16RM models; additional ELINT equipment mounted on external fittings.
Tu-16K (Badger-G) - Naval Aviation Conversion Models; air-to-surface missile and conventional drop bomb capability.
Tu-16KSR (Badger-G) - Variant of the Tu-16K.
Tu-16KSR-2 (Badger-G) - Variant of the Tu-16K; modified to carry K-16 missiles.
Tu-16K-16 - Variant of Tu-16K; previous Badger models converted to Tu-16KSR-2 capabilities.
Tu-16K-11-16 (Badger-G) - Variant of Tu-16K; modified to carry K-11 or K-11 missiles.
Tu-16KSR-2-11 - Variant of Tu-16K; similar to Tu-16K-11-16.
Tu-16K-26 (Badger-G) - Variant of Tu-16K; modified to carry K-26 missiles as well as KSR-2 and KSR-11 missiles.
Tu-16KSR-2-5-11 - Variant of Tu-16K; similar to Tu-16K-26.
Tu-16KSR-2-5 - Variant of Tu-16K; similar to Tu-16K-26 sans KSR-11 capability.
Tu-16K-26P (Badger-G) - Variant of Tu-16K; modified to carry K-26P missiles.
Tu-16 "Elka" (Badger-H) - Electronic Warfare Platform; Electronic Countermeasures.
Tu-16P "Buket" (Badger-J) - Electronic Warfare Platform; Electronic Countermeasures.
Tu-16Ye (Badger-K) - Badger-F model with ELINT equipment.
Tu-16P (Badger-L) - Modernized Badger-J; ELINT platform.


Operators:
Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; China; Egypt; Georgia; Indonesia; Iraq; Russia; Soviet Union; Ukraine

ALL AIRCRAFT CATEGORIES

BY DECADE:


• 1900 to 1909
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• 2020 to 2029
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Aircraft


BY TYPE:


• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
• Attack Helicopters
• Bomber Aircraft
• Medium Bombers
• Heavy Bombers
• Close-Air Support (CAS)
• Commercial Aircraft
• Dive Bombers
• Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA)
• Experimental / X-Planes
• Fighter Aircraft
• Floatplane Aircraft
• Flying Boat Aircraft
• Aerial Refueling Tankers
• Helicopters (ALL)
• Interceptor Aircraft
• Multi-Role Aircraft
• Navy Carrier Aircraft
• Night Fighters
• Reconnaissance / Scout
• Search & Rescue (SAR)
• Scout Helicopters
• Special Purpose
• Torpedo Bombers
• Trainer Aircraft
• Transport Aircraft
• Transport Helicopters
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs)


COLLECTIONS:


• 4th Generation Fighter Aircraft
• 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft
• US X-Planes
• Classic US Warbirds
• French Military Helicopters
• Grumman "Cats"
• Howard Hughes Aircraft
• Indian Air Force
• Israeli Air Force
• Libyan Aircraft
• Modern Chinese Aircraft
• Modern Chinese Fighters
• Modern Military Aircraft
• Modern North Korean Aircraft
• Modern Trainer Aircraft
• Modern US Aircraft
• Mikoyan Aircraft
• Sukhoi Aircraft
• Syrian Aircraft
• Top 10 Fighter Aircraft of All Time


AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT:


• Arab-Israeli War (1948)
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1959-1962)
• Falklands War (1982)
• Indo-Pak War (1965, 1971)
• Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
• Lebanon War (1982)
• Operation Allied Force (1999)
• Operation Desert Storm (1991)
• Six Day War (1967)
• Spanish Civil War (1936)
• Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
• Yom Kippur War (1973)


MISCELLANEOUS:


• Aircraft Cockpits
• Aircraft Manufacturers List
• Aircraft Production
• Aircraft Timeline

WORLD WAR 2:


• 1939 Aircraft
• 1940 Aircraft
• 1941 Aircraft
• 1942 Aircraft
• 1943 Aircraft
• 1944 Aircraft
• 1945 Aircraft
• 1946 Aircraft
• Australian Aircraft
• Battle of Britain Aircraft
• Bombers
• Four-Engine Bombers
• British Aircraft
• British Bombers
• British Transports
• Dive Bombers
• Canadian Aircraft
• Fighters
• Chinese Aircraft
• French Aircraft
• German Aircraft
• German Fighters
• German Flying Boats
• German Jets
• Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe
• Italian Aircraft
• Imperial Japanese Aircraft
• Imperial Japanese Fighters
• Mitsubishi Bombers
• Navy Aircraft
• Pearl Harbor
• Polish Aircraft
• Romanian Aircraft
• US Aircraft
• US Bombers
• US Navy Aircraft
• Soviet Aircraft
• Torpedo Bombers
• Trainer Aircraft
• Transport Aircraft
• Tuskegee Airmen Aircraft
• W.A.S.P. Aircraft
• WW2 Aircraft Ranked by Speed
• VIEW ALL


WORLD WAR 1:


• 1914 Aircraft
• 1915 Aircraft
• 1916 Aircraft
• 1917 Aircraft
• 1918 Aircraft
• Aircraft Timeline
• Austro-Hungarian Aircraft
• Bomber Aircraft
• British Aircraft
• Fighters
• Flying Boats
• French Aircraft
• Imperial German Aircraft
• Italian Aircraft
• Scout Aircraft
• Russian Empire Aircraft
• US Aircraft
• WW1 Aircraft Ranked by Speed
• VIEW ALL


KOREAN WAR:


• Australian Aircraft
• Korean War Aces
• Korean War Jets
• North Korean Aircraft
• US Military Aircraft
• VIEW ALL


VIETNAM WAR:


• Helicopters (ALL)
• Transport Helicopters
• North Vietnam Air Force
• US Airpower
• VIEW ALL


COLD WAR:


• 1950s French Aircraft
• British V-Bombers
• Cold War Bombers
• Soviet Aircraft
• Soviet Bombers
• Soviet Interceptors
• Soviet Helicopters
• Strategic Air Command
• US Aircraft
• US Bombers
• US Interceptors
• VIEW ALL
Site Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Site Map | MF Origins


©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.


Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories


Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.


eXTReMe Tracker