Tupolev Tu-28
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The Tupolev Tu-28 (NATO reporting name Fiddler) is a long-range interceptor aircraft introduced by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. The official designation was Tu-128,<ref name=k /> but this designation was less commonly used in the West. It was the largest and heaviest fighter<ref name="fi" group="nb">Tu-128 was the largest fighter assuming that the definition of "fighter" includes an interceptor aircraft. Tu-128 was not intended for fighter-to-fighter combat (i.e. air superiority battle). For an even heavier interceptor design, which did not enter service, see Lockheed YF-12.</ref> ever to enter serial production.<ref name=k/><ref name=s>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Background
In the 1950s, the Soviet Union sought means to defend against nuclear-armed American bombers possibly penetrating its borders (especially its long and vulnerable northern border). Contemporary interceptors, such as the Yakovlev Yak-28P, were able to cover a radius of just a few hundred kilometers<ref name=r/><ref name=b >Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=w>Template:Cite web</ref> flying from northern Soviet bases like Talagi and Savatiya;<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the newly developed surface-to-air missiles had even shorter range.<ref name=r/> Considering both, the sheer numbers required to defend a 5,000 km air front<ref group="nb">The geographical distance between Murmansk and Anadyr is 4,911 km.</ref> were economically impossible to maintain. This left the Soviet Union able to provide a modern air defense only for selected valuable areas.<ref name=w /> The PVO decided to cover the entire territory, but with a looser defence. In 1955 it placed a requirement for a large area-defense interceptor, that would achieve it with sparse<ref group="nb">For example, in 1972, a mere six air bases provided the sole interceptor cover for almost a half of the Soviet Union's interior. These bases employed most of the Tu-128 force.<ref name=k/>Template:Rp<ref name=b/>Template:Rp</ref> airbases. The PVO requirement called for a supersonic aircraft with enormous fuel tanks for both a good patrol time and long range, a capable radar, and the most powerful air-to-air missiles possible. The first attempt, although unsuccessful, was the Lavochkin La-250, a 30-tonne interceptor prototype which was<ref name=w /> the last of the Lavochkin design bureau's aircraft.
Design and development
Iosif Nezval<ref name=k/><ref name=w /> of Tupolev Design Bureau led development of the new interceptor aircraft. The work began in 1958, based on an existing single prototype of the unsuccessful Tu-98 supersonic bomber. The military designation of the interceptor was at first Tu-28, but it was changed in 1963 to Tu-128, identical to the designation used by the OKB.<ref name=r /><ref name=k /><ref name=w/>
The Tu-128 had a broad, low/mid-mounted swept wing carrying the main landing gear in wing-mounted pods, and slab tailplanes. Two Lyulka AL-7F-2 turbojet engines<ref name=r /><ref name=k /> were mounted in the fuselage. The two-man crew of pilot and navigator were seated in tandem.
The Tu-128, with its maximum weight of 43 tonnes, was the heaviest fighter to enter service.<ref name=fi group=nb/><ref name=k/> A pure interceptor with high wing loading, unsophisticated but reliable avionics, and poor visibility, it was not an agile aircraft<ref name=k/> and was intended only to engage NATO bombers like the B-52,<ref name=k/><ref name=w/> not dogfight smaller aircraft.
The interceptor made its initial public appearance in the 1961 Tushino air parade. Western experts, unaware that the bulge on the belly carried testing instruments, mistook it for a large ventral radar for a mixed interceptor/AWACS role.<ref name=s/> The production version lacked the bulge and had a large nose radome housing a radar, known as RP-S<ref group="nb">Some sources provide the radar's designation as RP-5 instead of RP-S, possibly a mistake.</ref> Smerch, having a detection range of about 50 km (31 mi<ref name=k />) and a lock-on range of about 40 km (25 mi).<ref name=r/>
Armament of the Tu-128 was four Bisnovat R-4 air-to-air missiles (known as K-80 during development;<ref name=r /> NATO reporting name AA-5 'Ash'). Usually two of them were R-4Rs with semi-active radar homing and two were R-4T infrared-homing missiles, with the former on the outer pylons and the latter on the inner underwing pylons. There was no internal weapons bay.
Production of the Tu-128 ended in 1970 with a total of 198 aircraft having been built.<ref name=r /><ref name=e>Template:Cite book</ref>
Development of various projects designated Tu-28A, Tu-28-80, Tu-28-100, Tu-138, and Tu-148 were proposed by the Tupolev Design Bureau but all were abandoned.<ref name=r />
Operational history
The Tu-128's only publicly reported combat operation was the destruction of NATO reconnaissance balloons. The aircraft remained in service until 1990.<ref name=r /><ref name=k /> Through the 1980s, units armed with the Tu-128 converted to the Mikoyan MiG-31,<ref name=r /><ref name=s /> which features more advanced sensors and weapons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Variants
- Prototype of Tu-28 ('Fiddler-A')
- Development test aircraft, one built. OKB designation was 128.<ref name=r /><ref name=k /><ref name=s /> In the West, Fiddler-A was used for all the aircraft with twin ventral fins<ref name=k /> — these included a prototype and a few of initial production (perhaps two<ref name=r /> planes).
- Tu-128 (also known as Tu-28; 'Fiddler-B')
- Main version, first deployed operationally in 1964<ref name=r/> (or 1966<ref name=k/><ref name=w/> – sources differ). The military designation was at first Tu-28,<ref name=k/><ref name=w/> but the existing aircraft were renamed in 1963.<ref name=r/><ref name=t>Template:Cite web</ref> The entire weapon complex (aircraft, radar, missiles) was designated Tu-128S-4.<ref name=r/><ref name=k/> In the Western sources, but not in Soviet, often the more precise, but erroneous, designation of this version<ref name=s/><ref name=b/><ref name=e/> is mentioned as either Tu-28P or Tu-128P.
- Tu-128UT (also known as Tu-28UT)
- Training version with an additional cockpit forward of the normal one, in place of a radar. Ten built and four converted from standard interceptors.<ref name=r/><ref name=t/>
- Tu-128M
- A 1979 modernization of almost all<ref name=r /> existing aircraft for better interception at low altitude. Development originated in 1970.<ref name=k /> Engines and airframe were not altered.<ref name=r /> The full designation of the entire weapons complex was Tu-128S-4M.<ref name=r /><ref name=k /><ref name=t/> It contained a new RP-SM Smerch-M radar, and new missile set: R-4RM plus R-4TM.<ref name=r /><ref name=t/>
Abandoned
- Tu-28A
- New development, abandoned.<ref name=r /><ref name=t/>
- Tu-28-80
- Development designation, abandoned.<ref name=r /><ref name=t/>
- Tu-28-100
- Development designation, abandoned.<ref name=r /><ref name=t/>
- Tu-138
- New development, abandoned.<ref name=r /><ref name=t/>
- Tu-148
- New development, variable geometry wings, abandoned.<ref name=r /><ref name=t/>
Operators
- Soviet Air Defence Forces<ref name=t/>
Specifications (Tu-128)
See also
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