Tupolev Tu-98

The Tupolev Tu-98 (NATO reporting name 'Backfin') was a prototype swept wing jet bomber developed for the Soviet Union.

1 Development
2 Specifications (Tu-98)
3 Related content

Development

The Tu-98 emerged from a program for a fast supersonic bomber to replace the Tupolev Tu-16. It was powered by two Lyulka AL-7 turbojet engines with side-mounted intakes high on the fuselage (above the wingroot). The Tu-98 was built in 1955 and first flown in 1956. It was shown to an American delegation at the Kubinka Air Force base outside Moscow in June 1956, but it subsequently did not enter service, and only the single prototype was completed.

The West incorrectly believed that the aircraft (thought to be an Ilyushin or Yakovlev design) was in service, possibly designated Yak-42, but that was not correct. The basic design of the Tu-98 did, however, have a great influence on the subsequent Tu-102, which became the basis of the Tupolev Tu-28P 'Fiddler' interceptor.

Specifications (Tu-98)

General characteristics

Crew: three
Length: 32.06 m (105 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 17.27 m (56 ft 8 in)
Height: 8.06 m (26 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 87.5 m² (941 ft²)
Empty: N/A
Loaded: N/A
Maximum takeoff: 39,000 kg (85,800 lb)
Powerplant: 2 x Lyulka AL-7F, 93.2 kN (20,900 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,365 km/h (853 mph)
Range: 2,440 km (1,525 miles)
Service ceiling: 12,750 m (41,820 ft)
Rate of climb: N/A
Wing loading: 445.7 kg/m² (91.2 lb/ft²)
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.49:1

Armament

3x 23 mm AM-23 cannon
5,000 kg (11,000 lb) of ordnance