Tupolev Tu-95

Tupolev Tu-95
A Tu-95 flying over Moscow, 2008.
General information
Type	Strategic heavy nuclear bomber
National origin	Soviet Union
Manufacturer	Aviakor
Designer	Tupolev
Status	In service
Primary users	Russian Aerospace Forces, Iranian Air Force Soviet Air Forces (historical) Soviet Navy (historical) Ukrainian Air Force (historical)
Number built	>500
History
Manufactured	1952–1993
Introduction date	1956
First flight	12 November 1952; 71 years ago (1952-11-12)
Variants	Tupolev Tu-114 Tupolev Tu-142 Tupolev Tu-95LAL Tupolev Tu-116

The Tupolev Tu-95 (Russian: Туполев Ту-95; NATO reporting name: "Bear") is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the Long-Range Aviation of the Soviet Air Forces in 1956 and was first used in combat in 2015. It is expected to serve the Russian Aerospace Forces until at least 2040.

A development of the bomber for maritime patrol is designated the Tu-142, while a passenger airliner derivative was called the Tu-114.

The aircraft has four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines with contra-rotating propellers. It is the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today. The Tu-95 is one of the loudest military aircraft, particularly because the tips of the propeller blades move faster than the speed of sound.^[1] Its distinctive swept-back wings are set at an angle of 35°. The Tu-95 is the only propeller-driven aircraft with swept wings built in large numbers.