Tupolev Tu-22M

Also known as Tu-22M Backfire, Backfire, Tupolev Tu-26, Tu-26, Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire

bomber aircraft family by Tupolev

Key facts

Type: Strategic bomber /Maritime strike
National origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Tupolev
Status: In service
Primary users: Russian Aerospace Forces Soviet Air Forces (historical) Ukrainian Air Force (historical)
Manufactured: 1967–1993
First flight: 30 August 1969 ; 56 years ago ( 1969-08-30 )
Developed from: Tupolev Tu-22

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-22M3 Beltyukov.jpg

Sources (7)

wikidata.org

Article

The Tupolev Tu-22M (Russian: Туполев Ту-22М; NATO reporting name: Backfire) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1960s. The bomber was reported as being designated Tu-26 by Western intelligence at one time. During the Cold War, the Tu-22M was operated by the Soviet Air Forces (VVS) in a missile carrier strategic bombing role, and by the Soviet Naval Aviation (Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota, AVMF) in a long-range maritime anti-shipping role.

The Tu-22M was first used for conventional bombing by the Soviet Union in the Soviet–Afghan War. Russia has flown the Tu-22M on bombing missions in the First Chechen War, Russo-Georgian War, intervention in the Syrian civil war, and Russo-Ukrainian war. On 1 June 2025, Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb drone attack destroyed four Tu-22Ms at Belaya air base.