Tupolev Tu-2

Tu-2
A Chinese Tu-2 bomber at the China Aviation Museum, Beijing
General information
Type	Medium bomber
Manufacturer	Tupolev
Designer	Andrei Tupolev
Primary users	VVS Soviet Naval Aviation People's Liberation Army Air Force Polish Air Forces
Number built	2,257
History
Manufactured	1941–1948
Introduction date	1942
First flight	29 January 1941
Retired	1950 (Soviet Air Forces), 1982 (PLAAF)
Variants	Tupolev Tu-1 Tupolev Tu-8

The Tupolev Tu-2 (development names ANT-58 and 103; NATO reporting name Bat) is a twin-engined Soviet high-speed daylight and frontline bomber aircraft used during World War II. The Tu-2 was tailored to meet a requirement for a high-speed bomber or dive-bomber, with a large internal bomb load and speed similar to that of a single-seat fighter. Designed to challenge the German Junkers Ju 88, the Tu-2 proved comparable and was produced in torpedo, interceptor and reconnaissance versions. The Tu-2 was an effective combat aircraft and it played a key role in the final offensives of the Red Army.^[1]