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Skybird · 08-10-07, 06:09 AM

The Tu-95 originally was known as Tu-20.

The general design was/is capable to carry nuclear weapons, and missiles.

Variants according to Wikipedia:

Tu-95/1 - Prototype.

Tu-95/2 - Prototype.
Tu-95K - Experimental version for air-dropping a MiG-19 SM-20 jet aircraft.
Tu-95M-55 - Missile carrier.
Tu-96 - high speed bomber project, never got off the ground.
Tu-119 - Nuclear powered aircraft project. Just like the Tu-96 it did not fly.
Tu-142LL (Letayushchaya Laboratoriya - Flying Laboratory) - Engine testbed aircraft.
Bear A (Tu-95/Tu-95M) - Basic variant of the long-range strategic bomber and the only model of the aircraft never fitted with a nose refuelling probe.
Bear-A (Tu-95U - Uchebnyy) - Training version.
Bear B (Tu-95K/Tu-95KD) - Designed to carry the AS-3 Kangaroo air-to-surface missile. The Tu-95KD aircraft were the first to be outfitted with nose probes.
Bear C (Tu-95KM) - Modified and upgraded versions of the Bear B, most notable for their enhance reconnaissance systems. These were in turn converted into the Bear G configuration.
Bear D (Tu-95RTs - Razvedchik Tseleukazatel') - Variant of the basic Bear A configuration, redesigned for maritime reconnaissance and targeting as well as electronic intelligence (ELINT) for service in the Soviet Naval Aviation. This aircraft was featured in Tom Clancy's techno-thriller Red Storm Rising.
Bear E (Tu-95MR) - Bear A modified for photo-reconnaissance and produced for Naval Aviation.
Bear F (Tu-142/Tu-142M) - Originally designed as a maritime surveillance aircraft to supplement the Bear D, the Bear F evolved to become the premier anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War. The ASW variants were designated as Tu-142M2 (Bear F Mod 2), Tu-142M3 (Bear F Mod 3), and Tu-142M4 (Bear F Mod 4). This aircraft was featured in the 1990 film adaptation of Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October.
Bear G (Tu-95K22) - Conversions of the older Bear bombers, reconfigured to carry the AS-4 Kitchen missile and incorporating modern avionics.
Bear H (Tu-95MS/Tu-95MS6/Tu-95MS16) - Completely new cruise missile carrier platform based on the Tu-142 airframe. This variant became the launch platform of the Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) cruise missile. The Bear-H was referred to by the U.S. military as a Tu-142 for some time in the 1980s before its true designation became known.
Bear J (Tu-142MR - Morskoy Razvedchik) - Variant of the Bear F modified for use in submarine communications as well as other command, control and communications (C3) duties.
Bear T (Tu-95U) - Training variant, modified from surviving Bear A's but now all have been retired.

Several other modification of the basic Tu-95/Tu-142 airframe have existed but these were largely unrecognized by Western intelligence or else never reached operational status within the Soviet military. One of these modified Bears, known as the Tu-95V, was used to drop the Tsar Bomba.

08-10-07, 06:09 AM	#28
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	The Tu-95 originally was known as Tu-20. The general design was/is capable to carry nuclear weapons, and missiles. Variants according to Wikipedia: Tu-95/1 - Prototype. Tu-95/2 - Prototype. Tu-95K - Experimental version for air-dropping a MiG-19 SM-20 jet aircraft. Tu-95M-55 - Missile carrier. Tu-96 - high speed bomber project, never got off the ground. Tu-119 - Nuclear powered aircraft project. Just like the Tu-96 it did not fly. Tu-142LL (Letayushchaya Laboratoriya - Flying Laboratory) - Engine testbed aircraft. Bear A (Tu-95/Tu-95M) - Basic variant of the long-range strategic bomber and the only model of the aircraft never fitted with a nose refuelling probe. Bear-A (Tu-95U - Uchebnyy) - Training version. Bear B (Tu-95K/Tu-95KD) - Designed to carry the AS-3 Kangaroo air-to-surface missile. The Tu-95KD aircraft were the first to be outfitted with nose probes. Bear C (Tu-95KM) - Modified and upgraded versions of the Bear B, most notable for their enhance reconnaissance systems. These were in turn converted into the Bear G configuration. Bear D (Tu-95RTs - Razvedchik Tseleukazatel') - Variant of the basic Bear A configuration, redesigned for maritime reconnaissance and targeting as well as electronic intelligence (ELINT) for service in the Soviet Naval Aviation. This aircraft was featured in Tom Clancy's techno-thriller Red Storm Rising. Bear E (Tu-95MR) - Bear A modified for photo-reconnaissance and produced for Naval Aviation. Bear F (Tu-142/Tu-142M) - Originally designed as a maritime surveillance aircraft to supplement the Bear D, the Bear F evolved to become the premier anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War. The ASW variants were designated as Tu-142M2 (Bear F Mod 2), Tu-142M3 (Bear F Mod 3), and Tu-142M4 (Bear F Mod 4). This aircraft was featured in the 1990 film adaptation of Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October. Bear G (Tu-95K22) - Conversions of the older Bear bombers, reconfigured to carry the AS-4 Kitchen missile and incorporating modern avionics. Bear H (Tu-95MS/Tu-95MS6/Tu-95MS16) - Completely new cruise missile carrier platform based on the Tu-142 airframe. This variant became the launch platform of the Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) cruise missile. The Bear-H was referred to by the U.S. military as a Tu-142 for some time in the 1980s before its true designation became known. Bear J (Tu-142MR - Morskoy Razvedchik) - Variant of the Bear F modified for use in submarine communications as well as other command, control and communications (C3) duties. Bear T (Tu-95U) - Training variant, modified from surviving Bear A's but now all have been retired. Several other modification of the basic Tu-95/Tu-142 airframe have existed but these were largely unrecognized by Western intelligence or else never reached operational status within the Soviet military. One of these modified Bears, known as the Tu-95V, was used to drop the Tsar Bomba. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.