Developed as the answer to the American B-1, the Tupolev Tu-160 was the Soviet Union s most potent strategic bomber. Several project versions were rejected, and a highly controversial contest involving some of the Soviet Union s top-class aircraft design companies took place before the Tu-160 variable-geometry bomber reached the hardware stage. Its design made use of many advanced features not used previously on Soviet bombers. While being a nuclear deterrent for most of its career, the Tu-160 has recently seen actual combat in the war on terrorism. The Tu-160 story is not over yet, since Russia is now resuming production of the type to bolster its strategic potential. The book gives the type s complete development, test and service history of the Tu-160, including such intriguing episodes as the type s overseas deployment to Venezuela, and the flight of a Tu-160 with Russian President Vladimir Putin aboard.
It is richly illustrated with color photos and original factory drawings. A comparison is made of the Tu-160 and its American counterpart, the B-1.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Gordon, Y./Kommissarov, D.
Title
Tupolev Tu-160. Soviet Strike Force Spearhead
Details
English text, 576 bw- and colour images, large format. 288 pages.
State
new
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 77 Lower Valley Road PA 19310 Atglen, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
