| The Tupolev TU-160 Blackjack is a Russian built | | | | such a large aircraft. |
| strategic bomber that first flew in 1981.The Blackjack | | | | The Blackjack is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-321 |
| bears a strong resemblance to the North American | | | | Turbofan engines each rated at 30,900 lbs (dry |
| B-1 but there are some very significant differences. | | | | thrust) and 55,100 lbs (afterburner thrust). The |
| The TU 160 was built for long-range delivery of | | | | TU-160 has a distinct shape. The wing and fuselage |
| nuclear and conventional weapons. The Blackjack can | | | | blend into a single piece configuration. The variable |
| operate in all weather conditions day or night in any | | | | geometry wings are able to sweep forward to 20 |
| climate. The aircraft was a collaboration between the | | | | degrees for low speed flight and sweep back to 65 |
| Tupolev Aircraft Corporation and the Gorbunov | | | | degrees fro high-speed subsonic and supersonic flight. |
| Aircraft Company. The crew of the TU-160 consists | | | | The horizontal and vertical tail surfaces consist of one |
| of four people, a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and a | | | | piece each and the entire surface moves. |
| systems operator. The crew sits in zero/zero | | | | The Blackjack has a maximum speed of 1,380 mph |
| ejection seats, which means that they're able to | | | | (Mach 2.05), an unrefueled combat radius of 6530 |
| safely eject in all flight regimes including zero altitude | | | | miles and an unrefueled maximum range of 10,815 |
| zero airspeed (when parked on the ground). | | | | miles. It has a service ceiling of 50,00 ft and a climb |
| The cockpit consists of conventional | | | | rate of 14,000 ft/minute. The ability of the bomber |
| electro-mechanical "steam" gauges. The designers did | | | | to refuel in-flight gives it almost a limitless range, the |
| not incorporate a glass cockpit type system, heads | | | | endurance of the crew being the limiting factor. |
| up displays, cathode ray tubes or LCD screens. | | | | TU-160 flights that probe the limits of US and NATO |
| Similarly to the U.S. built F-16, the TU-160 does use | | | | airspace are increasing. Allied air crews are sharpening |
| fly by wire. Instead of a yoke the Blackjack pilot | | | | their intercept skills against one of Russia's mightiest |
| uses a stick to manipulate the flight controls, which | | | | bombers. |
| gives an indication of its maneuverability especially for | | | | |