Tupolev Tu-4
Encyclopedia
The Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO reporting name
: Bull) was a piston-engined Soviet
strategic bomber that served the Soviet Air Force
from the late 1940s to mid 1960s. It was a reverse-engineered
copy of the U.S.-made Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
, the Soviet Union saw the need for a strategic bombing capability similar to that of the United States Army Air Forces
. The U.S. regularly conducted bombing raids on Japan
, virtually in the Soviet Union's backyard, from distant Pacific forward bases using B-29 Superfortresses. Joseph Stalin
ordered the development of a comparable bomber.
The U.S. declined to supply the Soviet Union with B-29 heavy bombers under Lend Lease. However, on three occasions during 1944, individual B-29s made emergency landings in Soviet territory after bombing raids on Manchukuo
and Japan. In accordance with the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact, the Soviets were neutral in the Pacific War
and the bombers were therefore interned and kept by the Soviets, despite American demands for their return. Stalin tasked Tupolev with cloning the Superfortress, and Soviet industry was to produce 20 copies of the aircraft in just two years. The three B-29s were flown to Moscow and delivered into Tupolev
OKB. One B-29 was fully dismantled, down to the smallest bolt, the second was used for flight tests and training, and the third one was left as a standard for cross-reference.
The Soviets used a different engine, the Shvetsov ASh-73
, which had some parts in common with the Superfortress' Wright R-3350
but was not identical. The remote-controlled gun turrets were also redesigned to accommodate Soviet Nudelman NS-23 23mm cannon.
The Soviet Union used the metric system, thus 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) thick sheet aluminum and proper rivet lengths were unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was thicker; as a result, the Tu-4 weighed about 3100 lb (1,406.1 kg) more than the B-29, with a corresponding decrease in range and payload.
Tu-4 engineers were under very heavy pressure to achieve an exact clone of the original B-29. Each minute alteration had to be scrutinized and was a subject to a lengthy bureaucratic process. For instance, because 1/16 inch nominal sheet thickness equals 1.5875mm, no industry in the USSR was willing to take the responsibility to produce sheets with such accuracy. Engineers had to lobby high-ranking military officials even for the most basic common sense decisions. In another example, the Soviets reverse-engineered and copied the American IFF
system and actually had it installed in the first Tu-4 built. As yet another example, Kerber, Tupolev's deputy at the time, recalled in his memoirs that engineers had to obtain an authorization from a high-ranking Air Force general in order to use Soviet-made parachutes for the crew.
The dismantled B-29 had a small flaw in one wing - a small rivet hole that was drilled mistakenly by an unknown Boeing engineer. Given Stalin's order for preciseness, all Tu-4's had this same hole drilled in the same location on the wing.
Another item that ended up going all the way to Stalin himself were the markings to be used on the Tu-4. As Stalin had directed an exact copy to be made, that would natually mean copying the U.S. markings, but Tupolew knew that Stalin and the NKVD could view that as disloyalty to the USSR. The placing of Soviet red stars could also be interpreted as a willful disobedience of Stalin's directive to have an exact copy of the B-29 made. In the end Tupolev went to Stalin and presented the dilemma as a joke. Stalin was reported to have laughed, then approved having Soviet markings applied to the Tu-4.
The Tu-4 first flew on 19 May 1947, piloted by test pilot Nikolai Rybko. Serial production started immediately, and the type entered large-scale service in 1949. Entry into service of the Tu-4 threw the USAF into a virtual panic, since the Tu-4 possessed sufficient range to attack Chicago
, Los Angeles
and New York City
with a worthwhile load on a one-way mission, and this fear may have informed the maneuvers and air combat practice conducted by US and British air forces in 1948 involving fleets of B-29s. Some limited attempts to develop midair refueling systems were made to extend the bomber's range, but these were fitted to only a few aircraft.
. Three aircraft flew overhead. It was assumed that these were merely the three B-29 bombers that were known to have been diverted to the USSR during World War II. Minutes later a fourth aircraft appeared. Western analysts then concluded that the Soviets had the capability to reverse-engineer the B-29. The appearance of an obviously Superfortress-derived Tu-70 transport over the crowd removed any doubt about the success of the reverse-engineering task.
aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe outfitted with turboprop engines. The project was named KJ-1, with a Type 843 rotordome mounted on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF
's requirements, thus the project was cancelled in 1971.
(starting in 1954) and the Tupolev Tu-95
(starting in 1956). By the beginning of the 1960s, the only Tu-4s still operated by the Soviets were used for transport or airborne laboratory purposes.
Tu-4K: Anti-naval version, armed with KS-1 Komet missiles.
Tu-4 AWACS: Chinese prototype with KJ-1 AEWC
, "AWACS" radar and powered by Ivchenko AI-20K turboprop
engines.
Tu-70
: Airliner derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-75
: Cargo aircraft derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-80
: Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-85: Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force operated 847 Tupolev Tu-4 bombers between 1948 and early 1960. They were initially used as long range bombers. In 1954 the Soviets began phasing out the Tu-4; units upgraded to Tupolev Tu-16
bombers and, beginning in 1956, to Tupolev Tu-95
bombers. Tu-4s withdrawn from front line units were used for transport duties.
People's Liberation Army Air Force
On 28 February 1953, Joseph Stalin
endowed China with 10 Tu-4 heavy bombers, with which the 4th Separate Heavy Bomber Regiment. These Tu-4's were refitted with AI-20K turbopropellers in 1966. In 1967 China attempted to develop its first airborne early warning
aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotordome on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy, and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements. The project was canceled in 1971. All Tu-4 bombers of PLAAF retired in 1988.
Tu-4 4134 (c/n 2205008), "4134"
Tu-4 unknown (c/n 2805103), "01"
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
: Bull) was a piston-engined Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
strategic bomber that served the Soviet Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
from the late 1940s to mid 1960s. It was a reverse-engineered
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
copy of the U.S.-made Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
Design and development
Towards the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Soviet Union saw the need for a strategic bombing capability similar to that of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. The U.S. regularly conducted bombing raids on Japan
Air raids on Japan
During World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
, virtually in the Soviet Union's backyard, from distant Pacific forward bases using B-29 Superfortresses. Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
ordered the development of a comparable bomber.
The U.S. declined to supply the Soviet Union with B-29 heavy bombers under Lend Lease. However, on three occasions during 1944, individual B-29s made emergency landings in Soviet territory after bombing raids on Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
and Japan. In accordance with the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact, the Soviets were neutral in the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
and the bombers were therefore interned and kept by the Soviets, despite American demands for their return. Stalin tasked Tupolev with cloning the Superfortress, and Soviet industry was to produce 20 copies of the aircraft in just two years. The three B-29s were flown to Moscow and delivered into Tupolev
Tupolev
Tupolev is a Russian aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Basmanny District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow. Known officially as Public Stock Company Tupolev, it is the successor of the Tupolev OKB or Tupolev Design Bureau headed by the Soviet aerospace engineer A.N. Tupolev...
OKB. One B-29 was fully dismantled, down to the smallest bolt, the second was used for flight tests and training, and the third one was left as a standard for cross-reference.
The Soviets used a different engine, the Shvetsov ASh-73
Shvetsov ASh-73
The Shvetsov ASh-73 was an 18-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engine produced between 1947 and 1957 in the Soviet Union. It was primarily used as the powerplant for the Tupolev Tu-4 heavy bomber, a copy of the American Boeing B-29 Superfortress....
, which had some parts in common with the Superfortress' Wright R-3350
Wright R-3350
The Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone was one of the most powerful radial aircraft engines produced in the United States. It was a twin row, supercharged, air-cooled, radial engine with 18 cylinders. Power ranged from 2,200 to over 3,700 hp , depending on the model...
but was not identical. The remote-controlled gun turrets were also redesigned to accommodate Soviet Nudelman NS-23 23mm cannon.
The Soviet Union used the metric system, thus 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) thick sheet aluminum and proper rivet lengths were unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was thicker; as a result, the Tu-4 weighed about 3100 lb (1,406.1 kg) more than the B-29, with a corresponding decrease in range and payload.
Tu-4 engineers were under very heavy pressure to achieve an exact clone of the original B-29. Each minute alteration had to be scrutinized and was a subject to a lengthy bureaucratic process. For instance, because 1/16 inch nominal sheet thickness equals 1.5875mm, no industry in the USSR was willing to take the responsibility to produce sheets with such accuracy. Engineers had to lobby high-ranking military officials even for the most basic common sense decisions. In another example, the Soviets reverse-engineered and copied the American IFF
Identification friend or foe
In telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...
system and actually had it installed in the first Tu-4 built. As yet another example, Kerber, Tupolev's deputy at the time, recalled in his memoirs that engineers had to obtain an authorization from a high-ranking Air Force general in order to use Soviet-made parachutes for the crew.
The dismantled B-29 had a small flaw in one wing - a small rivet hole that was drilled mistakenly by an unknown Boeing engineer. Given Stalin's order for preciseness, all Tu-4's had this same hole drilled in the same location on the wing.
Another item that ended up going all the way to Stalin himself were the markings to be used on the Tu-4. As Stalin had directed an exact copy to be made, that would natually mean copying the U.S. markings, but Tupolew knew that Stalin and the NKVD could view that as disloyalty to the USSR. The placing of Soviet red stars could also be interpreted as a willful disobedience of Stalin's directive to have an exact copy of the B-29 made. In the end Tupolev went to Stalin and presented the dilemma as a joke. Stalin was reported to have laughed, then approved having Soviet markings applied to the Tu-4.
The Tu-4 first flew on 19 May 1947, piloted by test pilot Nikolai Rybko. Serial production started immediately, and the type entered large-scale service in 1949. Entry into service of the Tu-4 threw the USAF into a virtual panic, since the Tu-4 possessed sufficient range to attack Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with a worthwhile load on a one-way mission, and this fear may have informed the maneuvers and air combat practice conducted by US and British air forces in 1948 involving fleets of B-29s. Some limited attempts to develop midair refueling systems were made to extend the bomber's range, but these were fitted to only a few aircraft.
Public display surprises the West
The aircraft was first displayed during a flyover at the Aviation Day parade on 3 August 1947 at the Tushino Airport in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Three aircraft flew overhead. It was assumed that these were merely the three B-29 bombers that were known to have been diverted to the USSR during World War II. Minutes later a fourth aircraft appeared. Western analysts then concluded that the Soviets had the capability to reverse-engineer the B-29. The appearance of an obviously Superfortress-derived Tu-70 transport over the crowd removed any doubt about the success of the reverse-engineering task.
People's Republic of China
In 1967, China attempted to develop its first Airborne Early WarningAirborne Early Warning
An airborne early warning and control system is an airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft at long ranges and control and command the battle space in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack plane strikes...
aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe outfitted with turboprop engines. The project was named KJ-1, with a Type 843 rotordome mounted on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
's requirements, thus the project was cancelled in 1971.
Operational history
Eight hundred and forty-seven Tu-4s had been built when production ended in the Soviet Union in 1952, some going to China during the later 1950s. Many experimental variants were built and the valuable experience launched the Soviet strategic bomber program. Tu-4s were withdrawn in the 1960s, being replaced by more advanced aircraft: the Tupolev Tu-16Tupolev Tu-16
The Tupolev Tu-16 was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 50 years, and the Chinese license-built Xian H-6 remains in service with the Chinese air force.-Development:...
(starting in 1954) and the Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
(starting in 1956). By the beginning of the 1960s, the only Tu-4s still operated by the Soviets were used for transport or airborne laboratory purposes.
Variants
Tu-4: Main production version.Tu-4K: Anti-naval version, armed with KS-1 Komet missiles.
Tu-4 AWACS: Chinese prototype with KJ-1 AEWC
KJ-1 AEWC
The KJ-1 AEWC was a first generation Chinese AEW radar fitted to a Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. The project was started in 1969 under the code name "Project 926". The prototype aircraft is currently on display at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing...
, "AWACS" radar and powered by Ivchenko AI-20K turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
engines.
Tu-70
Tupolev Tu-70
|-See also:...
: Airliner derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-75
Tupolev Tu-75
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography...
: Cargo aircraft derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-80
Tupolev Tu-80
|-See also:-References:...
: Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-85: Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.
Soviet Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
The Soviet Air Force operated 847 Tupolev Tu-4 bombers between 1948 and early 1960. They were initially used as long range bombers. In 1954 the Soviets began phasing out the Tu-4; units upgraded to Tupolev Tu-16
Tupolev Tu-16
The Tupolev Tu-16 was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has flown for more than 50 years, and the Chinese license-built Xian H-6 remains in service with the Chinese air force.-Development:...
bombers and, beginning in 1956, to Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
bombers. Tu-4s withdrawn from front line units were used for transport duties.
People's Liberation Army Air Force
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
On 28 February 1953, Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
endowed China with 10 Tu-4 heavy bombers, with which the 4th Separate Heavy Bomber Regiment. These Tu-4's were refitted with AI-20K turbopropellers in 1966. In 1967 China attempted to develop its first airborne early warning
Airborne Early Warning
An airborne early warning and control system is an airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft at long ranges and control and command the battle space in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack plane strikes...
aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotordome on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy, and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements. The project was canceled in 1971. All Tu-4 bombers of PLAAF retired in 1988.
Survivors
Tu-4 4114 (c/n 286501), ex-KJ-1 AEWC, "4114"- Stored at DatangshanDatangshanDatangshan is the name of a hill in the Changping District of Beijing, China. It is the site of China's largest aviation museum, the China Aviation Museum....
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Tu-4 4134 (c/n 2205008), "4134"
- Stored at DatangshanDatangshanDatangshan is the name of a hill in the Changping District of Beijing, China. It is the site of China's largest aviation museum, the China Aviation Museum....
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Tu-4 unknown (c/n 2805103), "01"
- Stored at the Central Air Force MuseumCentral Air Force MuseumThe Central Air Force Museum in Monino at the site of Monino Airfield 40km east of Moscow, Russia, is one of the world's largest aviation museums, and the largest for Russian aircraft...
, MoninoMoninoMonino is an urban locality in Shchyolkovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated east of Moscow. Population:...
, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...