The Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name: Bear) is a genuinely 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 it is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until no less than 2040. A naval development of these bomber is designated Tu-142.
The Tu-95 BEAR was perhaps the most successful bomber produced by the Soviet aviation, enjoying long service in many different roles and configurations. It was the only bomber deployed by any country to make use of turbo-prop engines, Which provided extraordinarily long endurance at speeds only slightly less than comparable turbojet-powered heavy bombers.
The TU-95 houses a massive bomb bay at the centre of gravity of the aircraft, which is immediately aft of the wing central torsion box. The Tu-95MS Bear H is capable of carrying six KH-55 Granat (Nato designation AS-15 Kent) nuclear-armed long-range cruise missiles with a range of 3,000km. The missiles seem to be mounted on a catapult launch drum at the bomb bay.
Alternatively, the aircraft can carry 14 Kh-SD anti-ship missiles with a range of 600km or eight conventionally armed Kh-101 air launch cruise missiles, And also this have a range of as much as 3,000km. The rear gun compartment is fitted with a twin barrelled GSh-23L cannon. The entry into the rear turret is separate from the main crew entry and is through a ventral hatch.
