China began license production of Tu-16s in 1959, and developed the H-6 version by 1968. Modern variants such as the H-6K are still being produced as of 2020[update].
The Tupolev design bureau began work on the Tu-88 ("Aircraft N") prototypes in 1950. The Tu-88 first flew on 27 April 1952. After winning a competition against the Ilyushin Il-46, it was approved for production in December 1952. The first production bombers entered service with Frontal Aviation in 1954, receiving the service designation Tu-16. It received the NATO reporting nameBadger-A.
Rear side view of a Tu-16 Badger reconnaissance variant (most likely a Tu-16R) c.1989
Although the Tu-16 began as a high-altitude, free-fall bomber, in the mid-1950s, it was equipped to carry early Soviet cruise missiles. The Tu-16KS-1 (Badger-B) version could carry AS-1 missiles over a combat radius of 1,800km (1,100mi). These very large weapons were aerodynamically similar to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighter, fitted with either a nuclear or conventional warhead, having a range of about 140km (85mi). They were intended for use primarily against US Navyaircraft carriers and other large surface ships. Subsequent Tu-16s were converted to carry later, more advanced missiles, while their designations changed several times.
Egyptian Tu-16s c.1980
A versatile design, the Tu-16 was built in numerous specialized variants for aerial reconnaissance, maritime surveillance, electronic intelligence gathering (ELINT), and electronic warfare (ECM). In total, 1,507 aircraft were constructed in three plants in the Soviet Union, in 1954–1962. A civilian adaptation, the Tupolev Tu-104, saw passenger service with Aeroflot. The Tu-16 was also exported to Indonesia, Egypt, and Iraq. It continued to be used by the Air Forces and naval aviation of the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia, until 1993.
Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation license-produced the aircraft under the Chinese designation Xian H-6. The Soviets provided China with semi-knocked down and complete knock down kits, as well as raw materials for manufacture. The first Chinese-assembled Tu-16 was completed and flown in 1959. After the Sino-Soviet split, the first full domestically-produced H-6 took flight in December 1968. At least 120 of H-6 aircraft remain in service. On 14 May 1965, one of the PLAAF Tu-16 bombers carried out the first airborne nuclear weapon test inside China.
Operational history
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In the Yom Kippur War, the Egyptian Air Force made extensive use of Tu-16 variants for bombing runs, and the Tu-16K variant for missile attacks.
In the Egyptian–Libyan War, Egypt used Tu-16s to strike Libyan bases and radars.
Iraq
Tu-16s of the Iraqi Air Force carried out bombing raids on Israel during the Six-Day War. In one such raid, a Tu-16 was damaged and crashed into a barracks at the Ramat David Airbase, killing its crew and 11 to 14 Israeli reservists.
Tupolev Tu-16 in Indonesian service saw only provocation and intimidation use in the Indonesia-Malaysian confrontation where 3 was reportedly conducting intimidation missions 2 of which dropped pamphlets in Malaysia while another reportedly flew into Australian territory as a show of force.
Later on 7 December 1963, as part of the larger Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation an Indonesian Tupolev Tu-16 bomber flew over Tawau bay and bombed the town twice.
An F-8H Crusader of VF-13 escorts an Egyptian Tupolev Tu-16 in May 1969Tu-16 Badger G with KSR-5 missileTu-16K-10-26 Badger CTu-16K-26 or Tu-16KSR-2-11-16, with KSR-5 missiles under wings (1998)
Among the main production variants of the Badger were the Tu-16 and Tu-16A bombers and Tu-16KS and Tu-16K-10 missile carriers, Tu-16SPS, "Elka", and Tu-16Ye ECM aircraft, Tu-16R reconnaissance aircraft, and Tu-16T torpedo bombers; others were produced from conversions. Individual aircraft could be modified several times, with designations changed, especially concerning missile-carrying aircraft.
"Aircraft 88" – Initial prototype.
"Aircraft 97" – Twin-engined long-range bomber development project of Tu-16 with two RD-5 engines.
"Aircraft 103" – Supersonic bomber development project of Tu-16 with four VD-7 AM-13 engines.
Badger A (Tu-16) – This is the basic configuration of the Tu-16 bomber deployed in 1954 to replace the Tu-4. Several modified models of this variant existed, all of which were known as Badger A in the West.
Tu-16A – Modified Tu-16s designed to carry nuclear bombs, one of main versions, with 453 built. Many of these were subsequently converted into other variants.
Tu-16Z – An early specialized version of the Tu-16 that served as airborne tankers (a refuelling method: wing-to-wing), though retaining their medium bomber role.
Tu-16G (Tu-104G) – Fast air mail model, Aeroflot aircrew training version.
Tu-16N – A dedicated tanker version for Tu-22/Tu-22M bombers, with probe and drogue system. Entered service in 1963. Similar aircraft Tu-16NN converted from Tu-16Z.
Tu-16T – Limited production maritime strike version (torpedo bomber), that served in the Soviet Naval Aviation, and carried torpedoes, mines and depth charges. 76 built and some more converted. All units subsequently converted into Tu-16S configuration.
Tu-16S – A lifeboat carrier version used for search and rescue operations.
Badger B (Tu-16KS) – Variant designed as a launch platform for two AS-1 Kennel/KS-1 Komet missiles. 107 built in 1954–1958, served with the Soviet Naval Aviation, Egypt and Indonesia. Soviet ones later converted with newer missiles.
Badger C (Tu-16K-10) – Another Naval Aviation variant, units of this version carried a single AS-2 Kipper/K-10Santi-ship missile. 216 built in 1958–1963. It differed from other variants in having a radar in a nose. A further development, the Tu-16K-10-26, carried a single K-10S and two KSR-2 or KSR-5 AS-6 Kingfish missiles (K-26 missile complex). Some were later converted into ELINT platforms.
Badger D (Tu-16RM-1) – Maritime reconnaissance model with ELINT equipment; 23 converted from Tu-16K-10. It retained its radar in a nose and could guide K-10S missiles, fired from other planes, at targets.
Badger E (Tu-16R) – Reconnaissance version of the airframe, with ELINT equipment, first of all meant for maritime reconnaissance. It could guide KS missiles.
Tu-16RM-2 – modified Tu-16R, serving in the Naval Aviation. It could guide KSR-2 missiles.
Tu-16KRM – Launch platforms for target drones (a variant of Tu-16K-26).
Badger F (Tu-16RM-2) – Another reconnaissance version based on the −16R/RM but with the addition of external ELINT equipment.
Badger G (Tu-16K/Tu-16KSR) – Serving in the Naval Aviation, these were conversions from earlier models. These were designed to carry bombs in internal bays in addition to carrying air-to-surface missiles externally, such as the AS-5 Kelt and AS-6 Kingfish. There existed numerous variants, designated either from carried missile complex (K-11, K-16 and K-26) or from missiles of these complexes (KSR-11, KSR-2 and KSR-5). Following further modifications, they were also given suffixes. Main variants:
Tu-16KSR-2 – carrying the K-16 complex (two KSR-2 missiles). Used from 1962. Similar aircraft, converted from other variants, were designated Tu-16K-16.
Tu-16K-11-16 – carrying the K-16 complex (KSR-2 missiles) or the K-11 complex (two anti-radar KSR-11 missiles). Used from 1962. Similar aircraft were designated Tu-16KSR-2-11. Over 440 Tu-16 could carry the K-16 or K-11 complex.
Tu-16K-26 – carrying the K-26 complex (two KSR-5 missiles), retaining a capability of KSR-2 and 11 missiles. Used from 1969. Similar aircraft were designated Tu-16KSR-2-5-11 or Tu-16KSR-2-5 (no KSR-11 capability). Over 240 Tu-16 could carry the K-26 complex.
Tu-16K-26P – carrying the K-26P missiles (two anti-radar KSR-5P missiles, as well as KSR-5, 2 or 11).
Egyptian Air Force: Operated Tu-16KS, Tu-16T, Tu-16KSR-2-11, and Tu-16R. Also operated H-6. Last retired in 2000. By 1966, Air Group 65, with its primary base at Cairo West Air Base, was operating three squadrons of Tu-16s: No. 34 and 36 Squadrons with bomber variants, and No. 95 Squadron equipped with the Tu-16KS' that could carry AS-1 Kennelair-to-surface missiles.
Indonesian Air Force: 12 Tu-16, 12 Tu-16KS-1, and 2 Tu-16R. The first Tu-16 was delivered in 1961. Used during the preparation of Operation Trikora in 1962 and during Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in 1963–1966. The bomber and recon variant were operated by 41st Air Squadron, while the KS-1 was operated by 42nd Air Squadron. They were primarily based at Iswahjudi Air Force Base in Madiun, East Java. They were grounded in 1969 and removed from service in 1970.
Retired from military service by 1995. A few aircraft were maintained and operated by designers and manufacturers for testing until 2001−2002, when it was finally retired
Ukrainian Air Force: 121 aircraft inherited from USSR. All retired from service.
Notable accidents
On 25 May 1968 a Soviet Air Force Tu-16 Badger-F piloted by Colonel Andrey Pliyev buzzed the US Navy aircraft carrier USSEssex(CV-9) in the Norwegian Sea. The Tu-16 made four passes, and on the last a wing clipped the sea and it crashed with no survivors. Parts of three bodies were recovered by the US.
On 1 February 1971 a modified Tu-16 flying laboratory crashed during testing of a new jet engine, resulting in the death of the entire crew, including test pilot Amet-khan Sultan.
On 28 August 1978 an early model Tu-16 crashed on Hopen island in Svalbard, Norway. All seven crew were killed in the accident. It was discovered by a four-man Norwegian weather forecasting team. The Soviets refused to admit the loss of an aircraft until the bodies of the crew were given to them. Norway transcribed the contents of the flight recorder over the objections of the Soviet government.
Guns: 6–7 × 23 mm Afanasev Makarov AM-23 cannons, two each in dorsal and ventral remote turrets and manned tail turret, with the occasional addition of one fixed forward in the nose
Hardpoints: 2 Underwing hardpoints for missiles and a bomb bay for missiles or bombs (depending on variant)
12Nasser's Gamble: How Intervention in Yemen Caused the Six-Day War and the Decline of Egyptian Power. Jesse Ferris. Princeton University Press, 2013. P.97
↑Simonov, Andrey; Bodrikhin, Nikolai (2017). Combat pilots - Twice and thrice Heroes of the Soviet Union. Moscow: Russian Knights Foundation and Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. p.46. ISBN9785990960510. OCLC1005741956.
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