Tu-95/Tu-142 'Bear'
Strategic Heavy Bomber

This section will cover the history, development, and use of the Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear' heavy bomber.  In this section you will find where the aircraft has been used, when it was designed, its limitations and abilities, and how the it functions.

 

Brief Operational History

When in 1946 the United States created Strategic Air Command the Soviet government felt that it needed something comparable in order to defend itself.  The result was the creation of the DA (Dalnaya Aviatsiya) or long range air force.  To make the DA more effective A.N. Tupolev was ordered in 1949 by Joseph Stalin to make a strategic bomber capable of striking targets in the United States and Europe.  The result was what could be called Tupolev's greatest aircraft - the Tu-95 'Bear'.

The aircraft was first seen by Western observers in the mid to late 1950's.  These observers also gave it the incorrect designation 'Tu-20' and the reporting name 'Bear'.   Even though the Tu-95 was never used in combat it played a critical role throughout the Cold War as part of the Soviet Union's strategic reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence force.

The Tu-95 ranged all over the world in these roles keeping a watchful eye on NATO fleet movements in many oceans of the world.  To do this they flew from bases in the Soviet Union, Cuba, Angola, Libya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Guinea, and Vietnam.  They would also be used to probe the air defenses of various NATO countries, where they would be met by NATO interceptors and then be peacefully escorted away.

In the later days of the Cold War there were even informal rules to such intercepts.  The bomber crew would aim their rear guns as far upwards as possible and fly straight and level, while the NATO pilots would fly alongside the Russian aircraft.  Neither aircraft would be allowed to target the other for any reason, to prevent accidents.  Often the crews of both aircraft would wave and take pictures of eachother.

In the 1970's and 1980's the Tu-95 was also a central feature in many arms reduction talks and the overall number of aircraft were reduced.  Despite this the aircraft still serves as the primary strategic bomber of the Russian Republic and even though production was completed in 1992 it is expected to serve for many years to come.

Production Variations

Bear Variant Year Deployed

Modifications

Russian Designation
1953 None None
A 1957 - Original engines replaced by more powerful 
   NK-12M
- Braking parachutes were removed.
- Forward and ventral turrets removed.
- Rear turret fire control modified.
- Avionics were upgraded.		 Tu-95M
B 1961-65 - K-20 radar missile control radar added.
- Mid-air refueling capability added.
- Crew rest area added so missions could last up
   to 36 hours.		 Tu-95KD
C 1962 - Better radar and defensive electronics.
- Also had upgraded radio and navigation  
  systems for better precision polar flights.		 Tu-95KM
D 1964 - Naval recon and target designation version.
- Two large radars added to guide P-6 and P-7
   missiles of other ships and submarines.
- Over the horizon radar added within bomb bay.
- Satellite communications system added.
 - Upgraded electronics intelligence gathering
   system including streamlined Lire pod.
- Most commonly encountered by NATO fleets.		 TU-95RTs
E 1962 - Originally called 'Bear-C'
- Electronic warfare/recon version.
- Bomb bay replaced by pallet with 7 cameras. 
- Infrared cameras were later added.
- Electronics intelligence equipment added.
- In 1975 a chaff pod was added under each wing.
- Developed quickly during Cuban Missile Crisis		 Tu-95MR
F 1972 - Modified version for fleet air forces.
- Wings redesigned, better flaps and internal fuel tanks added
- Landing gear was modified, tail wheel was removed.
- Fuselage was completely rearranged.
- Weapons bay modified to carry torpedoes and depth charges 
   of nuclear or conventional type.
- Lower turret removed and replaced with sonobouy bay.
- Many modifications to sensors and avionics.
- MAD (magnetic anomaly detector) boom mounted at rear of
   aircraft.

Later modifications of the BEAR-F

   Mod I:  Had changes to navigation radar and tires

   Mod II: Operational in 1980, made to detect ultra-quiet submarines.  Internal avionics were modified.

   Mod III: Longest of all operational versions with large MAD boom, sonobouy bay doubled in length.  First operational in 1975

   Mod IV: New ECM package and FLIR installed.  This was the final anti-submarine version.  In 1994 about 39 remained operational.

 Tu-142
G 1975 - Modified 'Bear B'
- New fire control radar added to guide the Kh-22
   missiles which were also added.
- Improved avionics and ECM added.
- Tail wheels were removed. 		 Tu-95K-22
H 1979 - Engines upgraded to long life NK-12MA models.
- Crew reduced to 7 men.
- Better avionics and defensive ECM.
- In 1988 dorsal turret was removed.
- Rotary missile launcher added in bomb bay to
  hold 6 missiles.  Additional 4 could be mounted
  under wings.
- Design was later revised to comply with 
   SALT-2/START treaties.		 Tu-95MS
J 1982 - Made to maintain a secure communication link
   between national headquarters and fleet units.
- Powerful VLF radio relay station added in the
   form of an unstreamlined external box.  The wire
   antenna within this box was 8000 meters long.
- Many GLONASS pods and other sensors
  added.		 Tu-142MR

 

Tactical Use and Limitations

The 'Bear' bomber was probably the most successful of all the Soviet bombers.  It proved to be a highly adaptable airframe that could be modified to fulfill almost any role.  Another of its advantages was that it is much less costly to operate than jet bombers up to and including the Tu-160 'Blackjack'.  Early on the lack of jet propulsion was viewed as a potential weakness, especially in light of the powerful jet bombers then being used by the United States.  These fears proved to be baseless since the 'Bear' had comparable performance to the highly praised B-52.

The role of the Tu-95 in combat varies by the exact sub-type.  The most basic models were originally designed to overfly their targets and drop either conventional or nuclear bombs.  It soon became clear that advances in anti-aircraft defenses and fighter planes would make this impossible.  It was then that the Tu-95 was modified to carry standoff missiles that could carry a nuclear or conventional charge.  The last models of this type could carry large numbers of nuclear cruise missiles and were expected to fly to a point where it could release these weapons against targets in the United States.  

The anti-submarine and anti-ship versions differed from their strategic counterparts in that they were designed to detect hostile ships and submarines.  When this occurred it would wither engage them with its own missiles or depth charges or act as a guidance platform for the missiles of other friendly vessels..

It has few limitations and those are usually shared by its Western counterparts.  The main weakness when compared to Western bombers is its low payload when used as a level bomber.  This is not surprising as it has not been intended to perform that role since its early days.  Overall, the Tu-95/142 'Bear' is an amazingly rugged airframe that will probably be around for a very long time.

  

Deployment Chronology

Here you can see what aircraft the Tu-95 Bear replaced and what aircraft eventually replaced it in the role of heavy strategic bomber.  You can find out more about these aircraft by clicking on the links below.  It should be mentioned that the Tu-95 was supposed to be replaced by the variable geometry jet powered Tu-160 'Blackjack'.  The 'Blackjack' was far too costly to operate, and since the Tu-95 'Bear' performed the same function it was the 'Blackjack' that fell into decline rather than its predecessor.

The Tu-95 'Bear' replaced... Tupolev Tu-95/Tu-142 'Bear' The Tu-95 'Bear'  was
partially replaced by...
Tupolev Tu-4 Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack'

 

Sources Cited

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.