Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the strategic bombers category.
01 / Overview
Tupolev Tu-160
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1987–
Quantity
41
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
STRATEGIC BOMBERS · COLD WAR
3
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
35
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the strategic bombers category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1981
- Service Entry Year1987
- Crew4
- Primary Rolestrategic bomber and airborne missile platform
- Generation4th
- In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant10MOD.10
- Engine TypeSamara NK-321
- Engine ModelNK-32
- Number of Engines4
- Thrust (dry, each)137
- Thrust (afterburner, each)245
- Thrust-to-Weight0.37
- AfterburnerYes
- SupercruiseNo
- Thrust VectoringNo
- Internal Fuel171,000 kg
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed2,220 km/h
- Top Speed (Mach)2.05 Mach
- Cruise Speed960 km/h
- Stall Speed140 km/h
- Service Ceiling16,000 m
- Ferry Range12,300 km
- Combat Radius7,300 km
- Rate of Climb70 m/s
- G-Limit2.5
- Takeoff Run2,200 m
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Length54.1 m
- Wingspan56 m
- Height13.1 m
- Wing Area360
- Empty Weight110,000 kg
- Loaded Weight267,600 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight315,000 kg
◆Armament8MOD.8
- Hardpoints2
- Weapons Payload40,000 kg
- Internal Gunnone
- Internal Weapons BayYes
- Air-to-Air MissilesNo
- Air-to-Ground MissilesYes
- Anti-Ship MissilesYes
- Nuclear CapableYes
▤Avionics & Stealth8MOD.8
- RadarObzor-MS (NATO: 'Box Tail')
- AESA RadarNo
- Stealth / Low ObservableNo
- IRSTYes
- Electronic Warfare SuiteYes
- Helmet-Mounted SightNo
- Tactical DatalinkYes
- Targeting PodNo
⬢Production3MOD.3
- Total Built41
- Operators1
- Variants10
▲Service History2MOD.2
- Production Start1984
- Operational Statusactive
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1987Production started
- 1998Sale: Ukraine (8 units) · $285 M
- 1999Sale: Russia (1 units)
- 2010First deployment: Arab Spring
39
years in service
41
units produced
2
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
TUPOLEV TU-160 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries2country
Tupolev Tu-160SALES2records
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
06 / MASS Score
STRATEGIC BOMBERS RANKING Strategic Bombers · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
9STRATEGIC BOMBERS3COLD WAR · STRATEGIC BOMBERS71RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS125PERFORMANCE/PRICE · STRATEGIC BOMBERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theStrategic Bomberscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE8terms
An afterburner is a device that injects fuel into a jet engine's hot exhaust gases, generating additional thrust through combustion.
Air-to-Ground Missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to attack ground targets. They enable aircraft to engage and destroy enemy ground positions, vehicles, and installations.
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles designed to engage and destroy naval vessels. They are typically used by aircraft, ships, or submarines to attack enemy ships.
A collection of integrated electronic systems on a military aircraft designed to detect, identify, disrupt, or deceive enemy radar, communications, and guided weapons.
Infrared Search and Track (IRST) is a passive sensor system that detects and tracks airborne targets by their heat signatures without emitting radiation.
An internal compartment within a military aircraft designed to store and deploy weapons, reducing radar cross-section and aerodynamic drag.
Relating to or using nuclear energy, typically fission, for propulsion or power generation in military vessels.
Enables real-time sharing of position, targeting, and sensor data among aircraft and platforms for coordinated combat operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources