{
  "id": "tu-22m3",
  "name": "Tu-22M3",
  "aliases": [
    "Backfire"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Long-range bomber",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 1977,
  "operators": [
    "RUS"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 2,
  "summary": "Soviet-designed long-range supersonic bomber with variable-sweep wings, first flown in 1977 and used by Russia for standoff missile and bombing strikes.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Tupolev",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hardpoints",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Wing and fuselage pylons and internal weapons bay with a capacity of 24,000 kg.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 42.46,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 34.28,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Wing area",
      "section": "dims",
      "v": "183.6 m2",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 11.05,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 58000,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 112000,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Gross weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 126000,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2 × Kuznetsov NK-25",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "247.9 kN (55,700 lbf) with afterburner",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_kmh",
      "v": 2300,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 6800,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Combat range",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2,410 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Ferry range",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "7,000 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 13300,
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of climb",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "15 m/s",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Search and Target Radar",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1 x PNA (Isdeliya 030A) Down Beat I-band for AS-4",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire Control System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1 x Fan Tail FCS for 23-mm guns",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Radar Warning System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1 x Bee Hind I-band radar warning system in the tail",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Target Navigation Radar",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1 x MTN missile system with integral TV-optical bomb sight, integrated with search radar.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missile System",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "1-3 x Kh-22MA (NATO AS-4 Kitchen) air-to- surface; or 10 x Kh-15 (NATO AS-6 Kickback) air-to-surface (4 externally and 6 internally on rotary launchers).",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Bomb System",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "24,000 kg (half internal, half on external racks). The standard load is 69 x FAB-250 or 8 FAB-1500 bombs.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "v": "1 × 23-mm GSh-23 cannon in the Remotely Controlled Tail Turret",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "1 × 23-mm GSh-23 cannon in the Remotely Controlled Tail Turret",
      "role": "Autocannon",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Autocannon",
        "Caliber": "23 mm",
        "Rate of fire": "3,400–3,600 rounds/min"
      }
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Tu-22Mo Backfire-A",
      "text": "The first bombers received the designation Tu-22Mo. Development began in 1964-65 to meet a joint requirement by the former Soviet air force and navy for a replacement for the Tu-22/Tu-16.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22M Backfire-A",
      "text": "This was a pre-production series of an estimated 12 aircraft placed in operational service with Soviet naval aviation.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22M1 Backfire-A",
      "text": "This version first flew on July 1, 1971. Nine were built; a 10th was for static testing.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22M2 Backfire-B",
      "text": "This was the initial production model, which differed from the Tu-22M3 Backfire-C. It was developed for the long-range strategic bombing role in the early 1970s.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22M2Ye Backfire-B",
      "text": "his variant was equipped with the new NK-25 engines and an advanced flight-control system. However, it did not achieve improved flight characteristics.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22M3 Backfire-C",
      "text": "This version first flew June 20, 1977, and entered serial production that same year. A total of 268 were completed when production ended in 1993.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22MR Backfire reconnaissance variant",
      "text": "This variant entered made its first flight on Dec. 6, 1985. About a dozen were built between 1989 and 1993.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tu-22MP escort jammer",
      "text": "This variant, equipped with the Myass jamming system, was developed in the mid-1980s. The program ultimately did not progress due to problems with onboard systems.",
      "src": [
        "weg-tu-22m3"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "bomber",
  "image": {
    "file": "tu-22m3.jpg",
    "thumb": "tu-22m3-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Max071086",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 3.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tu-22M3_Ryazan2.JPG",
    "title": "File:Tu-22M3 Ryazan2.JPG"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-05",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-06",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 3.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/tu-22m3.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-tu-22m3": {
      "title": "Tu-22M3 (Backfire-C) Russian Long-Range Strategic Bomber",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Tu-22M3_Backfire-C_Russian_Long-Range_Strategic_Bomber",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}