The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting name: Badger) (China: Xian H-6) was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 50 years and remains in service with the Chinese air force.
In the late 1940s the Soviet Union was strongly committed to matching the United States in strategic bombing capability. The Soviets' only long-range bomber at the time was Tupolev's Tu-4 'Bull', a reverse-engineered version of the American B...
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The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting name: Badger) (China: Xian H-6) was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 50 years and remains in service with the Chinese air force.
In the late 1940s the Soviet Union was strongly committed to matching the United States in strategic bombing capability. The Soviets' only long-range bomber at the time was Tupolev's Tu-4 'Bull', a reverse-engineered version of the American B-29 Superfortress. The development of the extremely powerful Mikulin AM-3 turbojet led to the possibility of a large, jet-powered bomber.
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 name 'Badger-A'.
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