Book Review of
Tupolev TU-22 “Blinder”
Supersonic Bomber, Attack, Maritime Patrol
& Electronic Countermeasures Aircraft
Authors: Sergey Burdin & Alan E. Dawes
Pen & Sword Military Books
ISBN: 9781526783417
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.95
ISBN: 9781526783417
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.95
HISTORY:
The Tupolev Tu-22 (NATO reporting name: Blinder) was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union and the world's first aircraft of its class. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s.
The last examples were retired during the early 2000s. Produced in comparatively small numbers, the aircraft was a disappointment, lacking the intercontinental range that had been expected. Later in their service life, Tu-22s were used as launch platforms for the Soviet Kh-22 standoff missile, and as reconnaissance aircraft.
Tu-22s were sold to other nations, including Libya and Iraq. The Tu-22 was one of the few Soviet bombers to see combat; Libyan Tu-22s were used against Tanzania and Chad, and Iraqi Tu-22s were used during the Iran–Iraq War.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Medium bomber
Manufacturer: Tupolev
First flight: 7 September 1959
Introduction to service: 1962
Retired: Early 2000s (Libya)
Primary users: Soviet Air Force, Ukrainian Air Force, Libyan Air Force, Iraqi Air Force
Produced: 1960–1969
Number built: 311
Developed into: Tupolev Tu-22M
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Publishers is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 272 pages, in 6 ¾” x 9 ¾” page format. The last 3 pages are blank.
The cover art shows two SU-33’s in flight and the back cover shows one in flight.
CONTENTS:
Acknowledgements
Translator’s Comments
Introduction
Tu-22 Variants
I Development History of the Tu-22
II Design of the Tu-22
III Tu-22 weapons
IV Reconnaissance & ECM Variants of the Tu-22
V Introduction of the Tu-22
VI Combat Applications of the Tu-22R
VII Combat Applications of the Tu-22K
VIII Emergency Escape & Life-support Systems
IX Incidents & Wright-offs Involving Long-range Air Force Tu-22s Between 1960 & 1989
X Training of Iraqi & Libyan Aircrews
Appendix
Index
The book holds 83 black and white photos. The only color photos are on the covers.
Photos are shown of: a portrait of Dmitry Sergeyevich Markov, Tupolev head engineer, a photo of a Tu-22 being refueled in air by a tanker, 29 photos of Tu-22s sitting on the ground, 9 photos of them taking off, 3 photos of wrecked ones and 10 photos of them sitting on the ground.
Walk-around type photos of the Tu-22 show: 1 photo of an ejector seat, 1 photo of an engine, 3 photos of weapons, 1 photo of the tail assembly, 2 photos of the center fuselage, 1 photo of a cockpit interior, 4 photos of wheels, 3 photos of the exhaust, 8 photos of under-carriages and 3 photos of the nose.
There are also 5 photos of pilots, 3 line-drawings of the inside of cockpits, 18 data lists, 8 maintenance manual drawings and 4 maps.
Inserted into the book are two post cards to use to get more information about Pen & Sword books.
THE AUTHORS:
Sergey Burdin’s previous military experience in the Russian Air Force gives him the edge in that he has “first-hand” experience of the aircraft and its operation. Additionally, Burdin has recently compiled a comprehensive record of accidents and crashes involving the Tu-22 during its service life.
This includes full descriptions of the circumstances and causes of the accidents, with blame apportioned to the “guilty party/parties” in each case. This is quite unusual for Russian military aircraft accidents.
Alan Dawes is the main contributor to the international aviation press and his Russian linguistic skills have enabled him to bring to light a great deal of recently published Soviet aviation history. He is a major contributor to Air Forces Monthly.
This is one neat picture album of Tu-22’s. I only wish there had been some color profiles included. Other-wise highly recommended.
It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan to build a kit of a Tu-22 and to aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, who sent me this review sample.
All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Tupolev Tu-22 (NATO reporting name: Blinder) was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union and the world's first aircraft of its class. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s.
The last examples were retired during the early 2000s. Produced in comparatively small numbers, the aircraft was a disappointment, lacking the intercontinental range that had been expected. Later in their service life, Tu-22s were used as launch platforms for the Soviet Kh-22 standoff missile, and as reconnaissance aircraft.
Tu-22s were sold to other nations, including Libya and Iraq. The Tu-22 was one of the few Soviet bombers to see combat; Libyan Tu-22s were used against Tanzania and Chad, and Iraqi Tu-22s were used during the Iran–Iraq War.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Medium bomber
Manufacturer: Tupolev
First flight: 7 September 1959
Introduction to service: 1962
Retired: Early 2000s (Libya)
Primary users: Soviet Air Force, Ukrainian Air Force, Libyan Air Force, Iraqi Air Force
Produced: 1960–1969
Number built: 311
Developed into: Tupolev Tu-22M
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Publishers is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 272 pages, in 6 ¾” x 9 ¾” page format. The last 3 pages are blank.
The cover art shows two SU-33’s in flight and the back cover shows one in flight.
CONTENTS:
Acknowledgements
Translator’s Comments
Introduction
Tu-22 Variants
I Development History of the Tu-22
II Design of the Tu-22
III Tu-22 weapons
IV Reconnaissance & ECM Variants of the Tu-22
V Introduction of the Tu-22
VI Combat Applications of the Tu-22R
VII Combat Applications of the Tu-22K
VIII Emergency Escape & Life-support Systems
IX Incidents & Wright-offs Involving Long-range Air Force Tu-22s Between 1960 & 1989
X Training of Iraqi & Libyan Aircrews
Appendix
Index
The book holds 83 black and white photos. The only color photos are on the covers.
Photos are shown of: a portrait of Dmitry Sergeyevich Markov, Tupolev head engineer, a photo of a Tu-22 being refueled in air by a tanker, 29 photos of Tu-22s sitting on the ground, 9 photos of them taking off, 3 photos of wrecked ones and 10 photos of them sitting on the ground.
Walk-around type photos of the Tu-22 show: 1 photo of an ejector seat, 1 photo of an engine, 3 photos of weapons, 1 photo of the tail assembly, 2 photos of the center fuselage, 1 photo of a cockpit interior, 4 photos of wheels, 3 photos of the exhaust, 8 photos of under-carriages and 3 photos of the nose.
There are also 5 photos of pilots, 3 line-drawings of the inside of cockpits, 18 data lists, 8 maintenance manual drawings and 4 maps.
Inserted into the book are two post cards to use to get more information about Pen & Sword books.
THE AUTHORS:
Sergey Burdin’s previous military experience in the Russian Air Force gives him the edge in that he has “first-hand” experience of the aircraft and its operation. Additionally, Burdin has recently compiled a comprehensive record of accidents and crashes involving the Tu-22 during its service life.
This includes full descriptions of the circumstances and causes of the accidents, with blame apportioned to the “guilty party/parties” in each case. This is quite unusual for Russian military aircraft accidents.
Alan Dawes is the main contributor to the international aviation press and his Russian linguistic skills have enabled him to bring to light a great deal of recently published Soviet aviation history. He is a major contributor to Air Forces Monthly.
This is one neat picture album of Tu-22’s. I only wish there had been some color profiles included. Other-wise highly recommended.
It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan to build a kit of a Tu-22 and to aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, who sent me this review sample.
All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at: