Tupolev Tu-360

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tu-360
Role strategic bomber
Manufacturer Tupolev OKB
Status Cancelled
Number built 0

The Tupolev Tu-360 was a proposed hypersonic strategic bomber conceived by the Tupolev design bureau in the 1980s. It utilized most of the same technologies as the Tupolev Tu-2000.[1]

Design and development

The Tupolev OKB intended the Tu-360 as a potential replacement for the Tupolev Tu-160, like the Mach 4 Tupolev Tu-230. Although some sources refer to it as the Tupolev Tu-2000B, largely because it utilized the same liquid hydrogen ramjet engine technology as the Tu-2000, it was officially called Tu-360 in the project index. The Tu-360 had the same layout as the Tu-230 but was much larger and faster. Speeds at Mach 6 required the use of liquid hydrogen, and the weapons were to be housed in two bomb bays. Take-off weight was projected at around 350,000 kg, weapons load at 10,000 kg.[2] Tupolev planned to build a subscale technology demonstrator weighing 176,370 pounds (80,000 kg) to test the flight characteristics of the Tu-360, but a lack of funds following the fall of the Soviet Union meant that the project was axed in 1992.[1][3][4]

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 100 m (328 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 40.7 m (133 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 1,250 m2 (13,500 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 192,000 kg (423,288 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 350,000 kg (771,618 lb)
  • Powerplant: × Liquid hydrogen (LH2) Turbo jet/ramjet

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 6
  • Range: 15,000 km (9,300 mi, 8,100 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 30,000 m (98,000 ft)

Armament

References

  1. ^ a b Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergey (2013). Unflown wings : Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010. Birmingham: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. pp. 90-91. ISBN 978-1906537340.
  2. ^ "360 (Ту-360)".
  3. ^ Tu-2000
  4. ^ " Tu-2000 ", astronautix.com, Retrieved 24 April 2010

External links