Russian long - range aviation occupies a special place in the ranks of the air and strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation. The Supreme High Command uses it to solve operational and strategic tasks in intercontinental and naval military conflicts.
The history of the creation of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation
The history of Russian long-range aviation dates back to December 23, 1914, when Emperor Nicholas II issued a decree on the creation of the world's first squadron of four-engine aircraft, called "Ilya Muromets." This was the first attempt in the world to unite heavy-class bombers. The commander of the squadron was M.V. Shidlovsky, who came to aviation from the naval department. At that time, he was the current chairman of the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works, where Ilya Muromets aerial vehicles were produced.
During World War I, these long-range aircraft of Russia completed more than 400 combat missions, including bombing important strategic enemy targets and reconnaissance of the location of ground attack groups. In 1917, the squadron consisted of four military units and consisted of more than twenty vehicles. For all the time of the military operations, only one plane was lost.
The development of long-range aviation in the USSR
In September 1917, a squadron of bombers was destroyed. They simply burned the planes so that they would not go to the enemy. Russian long-range aviation began to revive after the October Revolution. 03/22/1918 a decree of the Council of People’s Commissars was issued, which said about the creation of the Northern group of air liners "Ilya Muromets" with a strength of 3 combat units.
The next qualitative stage in the development of this area of aviation occurred in the thirties of the twentieth century. During this period, the young army of Russia was armed with the latest aircraft aircraft designers Tupolev and Ilyushin. From the first days of the Second World War, Russian long-range aviation successfully carried out combat missions in the rear of the enemy, which made an invaluable contribution to the great victory over the enemy.
In the postwar years, the development of strategic aeronautics entered a new stage. Modern Tu and Il aircraft began to come into service, which currently form the basis of the fleet of modern long-range aviation of the Russian Federation.
Ilya Muromets - the world's first strategic bomber
The world's first strategic bomber was constructed with the participation of the outstanding aircraft manufacturer I.I. Sikorsky. The place of production of Ilya Muromets is the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works. The first time an aircraft took to the skies on 12/10/1913, the aircraft until 1918 was mass-produced in various modifications. During the First World War, December 23, 1914, the Ilya Muromets aircraft were consolidated into a single squadron - the world's first military aircraft combination. That is why December 23rd in Russia celebrates the day of long - range aviation of the Russian Air Force .
Ilya Muromets aircraft were used as bombers, attack aircraft or reconnaissance aircraft. Bomb shells could be placed both inside and outside, vertically along the fuselage. For the projectile discharge, an electronic trigger was first developed and used, and eight machine guns were installed for defense against enemy aircraft. At the end of the Civil War, the surviving aircraft were used to organize mail and passenger transportation on the route Moscow - Oryol - Kharkov. Aircraft "Ilya Muromets" could reach a maximum speed of 130 km / h. Their high ceiling reached 3200 m, flight range - up to 560 km, and the maximum travel time was about 4.4 hours.
Aircraft "TB-3" - the first bomber of long-range aviation of the USSR
The development of the first long-range bomber in the USSR began in 1925. Already in 1930, his prototype, which had the secret marking "ANT-6," took to the sky. The first serial aircraft "TB-3" made its flight in 1932. These aircraft were used as bombers, military transport or landing ships.
Strategic vehicles “TB-3” have proven themselves during military conflicts in various countries. At the end of the 1930s, due to the development of air defense and fighter aircraft, aircraft became obsolete, and in 1938 their serial production ceased. Despite this, the TB-3 strategic aircraft performed combat missions during the Second World War.
Over the entire production period, more than 800 airliners of various modifications were produced. Such a machine had improved technical characteristics: its maximum speed reached 380 km / h, flight altitude could be up to 7000 m with a range of about 3 thousand km. The TB-3 aircraft was capable of holding up to 2 tons of bomb charges.
"IL-4" - the basis of long-range aviation during World War II
The long-range bomber, code-named "TsKB-26," began to be developed in the design bureau of S. V. Ilyushin in the early 1930s. The first prototype took to the air in 1935. It was made of a one-piece metal structure with free-carrying duralumin wings. The fuselage was streamlined and had an oval cross-section. The flight range of the prototype was up to 3 thousand km. The crew of the car consisted of three pilots, and its defensive armament was represented by three machine guns. The demonstration of the sample took place in 1936, and mass production was mastered in 1938. Such machines received new engines, allowing speeds up to 445 km / h. The bomb load was 2.5 tons, and the defensive properties of the aircraft were also improved. Long-range aircraft of Russia “IL-4” in terms of speed and range were the best in the world at the time.
Also, a DB-3T torpedo bomber was created on the basis of such a vehicle for the Navy's Air Force, which was intended to destroy naval targets and mine fairways. The DB-3T aircraft became the first mass Russian model that could perform certain functions in the water area.
During the Second World War, the Il-4 aircraft became the basis of Russian long-range aviation, carrying out raids on the enemy’s deep rear, military echelons and airfields. Over the entire production period, more than 7 thousand different modifications of such a legendary bomber were produced.
Tu-4 - Russia's first air carrier of nuclear weapons
Immediately after the end of the Second World War, Russian long-range aviation was left without the necessary machines. By that time, IL-4 twin-engine aircraft had developed their technological resource of capabilities. The urgent issue was the creation of a new type of strategic bomber. Such an aircraft was the “Tu-4” - a piston machine, which was an adapted copy of the US military aircraft “V-29”.
This bomber first flew into the sky in 1947, and the
aircraft began to enter the aviation
units in 1949. The development of such a machine gave the country a modern aircraft of a new type and led the USSR into the leader of strategic aviation. The Tu-4 had a maximum speed of 558 km / h, its flight altitude was up to 11,200 m with a range of up to 6,200 m. Such a machine was armed in a new way. Over 11 tons of combat load, this aircraft of the Russian Air Force could take on board. Long-range aviation was replenished with a unique representative, having the ability to carry on its board nuclear weapons of the RDS-3 type.
Tu-16 - the first long-range jet aircraft of the Russian Federation
Tu-16 is the first strategic long-range aircraft in Russia to have a jet engine. The purpose of this machine is to solve various strategic problems. Engineers at the Tupolev Design Bureau began to work on the creation of the aircraft in 1950, and on April 27, 1952, the first prototype took to the sky. At the end of the year, this aircraft was launched into serial production. The Tu-16 aircraft first joined the strategic aviation ranks in 1954.
The design of this aircraft was distinguished by the presence of a swept mid-wing and plumage of the same shape. The fuselage of the aircraft consisted of five compartments and had a circular cross section. The bomber’s cabin was characterized by increased tightness, was divided into two compartments and reinforced with armored glass and protective plates. The crew of the aircraft consisted of six pilots. The main engines of the machine were two turbojet plants of various modifications. The bomber could carry up to 9 tons of bombs, which were located in one compartment. Also, the Tu-16 could be equipped with two KS-1 guided missiles.
The Tu-16 model was so successful that it began to produce Tu-16R reconnaissance aircraft, Tu-163 tanker liners and the first Tu-16K-10 aviation missile system in Russia. Also, this bomber became the prototype for the Tu-104 passenger airliner, which was launched in 1964. Russia's first strategic jet aircraft Tu-16 is rightfully considered to be a long-liver of domestic and foreign aviation. It was withdrawn from service only in 1994.
Tu-95MS - the basis of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation
Tu-95MS is a strategic Russian long-range aircraft designed to launch a missile and bomb strike on stationary objects at any time of the day, regardless of weather conditions. Work on the design of the basic model of the Tu-95 began in the early 1950s. In 1956, the first production vehicles entered service with long-range aviation.
In connection with the rapid re-equipment of strategic US aeronautics, the Russian government decided to create the latest aircraft, which could compete with American aviation. In 1981, the ranks of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation joined the upgraded Tu-95MS aircraft.
Today, the main long-range aircraft of the Russian Air Force is a high-wing aircraft with four turboprop engines, which are located on swept wings. The vessel is equipped with differential gears, with the help of which two twin four-blade propellers rotate in different directions. The cockpit is located in the nose of the fuselage, it is completely tight. There is also a galley and a toilet.
The missile carrier is equipped with a modern Obzor radar installation, an airborne defense complex that includes the most advanced developments of Russian military engineers, as well as offensive and defensive weapons. Currently, the Russian Air Force has 60 Tu-95MS aircraft of various modifications.
Tu-160 - The White Swan of Russian long-range aviation
The Tu-160 aircraft are modern supersonic missile carriers. At the heart of their design is the modified geometry of the wing. These representatives of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation can hit important enemy targets with nuclear weapons even in the deep rear of the enemy in continental military conflicts.
Work on the creation of such a combat vehicle began in 1975. Tupolev Design Bureau engineers designed a supersonic strategic missile carrier. As a result, the Tu-160 was created - a free-carrying monoplane with a larger elongation wing, on which there were four power plants. The design of the aircraft allowed to place all the missile and bomb weapons inside in the same compartments. The crew of the aircraft is four pilots, for whom a sealed cabin in the bow of the bomber is provided.
The first test flights began in 1981, and in the late 1980s, production vehicles began to enter service. To date, the Tu-160 aircraft has the best flight characteristics in comparison with world analogues. The maximum speed of the car at an altitude of up to 2000 km / h, near the ground - 1030 km / h. Practical high-altitude ceiling can reach 16 km, flight range - up to 13200 m. Today, 15 long-range aircraft are armed with Russian long-range aviation. They are called the White Swan.
In 2014, the country celebrated a significant date - 100 years of Russian long-range aviation. Read more about this below.
Russian Air Force Long-Range Aviation Day
The festive date for Russian long-range aviation pilots is December 23. In 1999, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Anatoly Kornukov, the day of long-range aviation of Russia was determined. The date of December 23 was not chosen by chance. It was on this day in 1914 that the first air squadron Ilya Muromets was formed.
2014 was a jubilee year - 100 years of long-distance aviation in Russia were celebrated. In this regard, many festive events were held. An important event in the celebration of the centenary was the opening of several monuments and monuments dedicated to the main striking force of the Air Force. The board of Russian long-range aviation veterans also took part in this process.
Conclusion
At the moment, Russian long-range aviation, due to its merits to the Fatherland, has every right to be called the main striking force of the Russian Air Force. This unit is an important strategic reserve of the Supreme High Command. It is the long-range aviation of Russia that is the air detachment that can solve military tasks regardless of the geographical position of a strategic object. 2014 was a jubilee year for this Air Force unit. Indeed, it was then that the country celebrated 100 years since the founding of long-range aviation.