HOME | DD

Description
The destruction of most of the western USSR in the October War left the remaining Soviet government in a precarious position. Desperate to maintain a deterrent of any kind, it was rapidly determined that the most capable aircraft able to be mass-produced again was the Tu-16, with a new line set up in Omsk. The Modified Tu-16M was much improved from the original, incorporating lessons learned from the Tu-95 and Myasishchev M-4.
Initial plans revolved around simply building free-fall bombers and missile carriers fitted with in-flight refueling probes for hose-and-drogue refueling. While the plan was to replace the Mikulin AM-3 turbojets with a derivative of the more fuel-efficient Soloviev D-20 turbofan, this would take several years to come to fruition.

Known in the west as the Badger-H (Tu-16MA free-fall bomber) and Badger-J (Tu-16MK missile carrier), the rejuvenated type would provide the new USSR's primary airborne deterrent until the late-1970s. With further modifications, Tu-16 variants would operate in ELINT and stand-off missile carrier roles well into the 1990s.

* * *

You can see the rest of the stuff in this AU here: The October War, 27-10-1962

Description
The destruction of most of the western USSR in the October War left the remaining Soviet government in a precarious position. Desperate to maintain a deterrent of any kind, it was rapidly determined that the most capable aircraft able to be mass-produced again was the Tu-16, with a new line set up in Omsk. The Modified Tu-16M was much improved from the original, incorporating lessons learned from the Tu-95 and Myasishchev M-4.
Initial plans revolved around simply building free-fall bombers and missile carriers fitted with in-flight refueling probes for hose-and-drogue refueling. While the plan was to replace the Mikulin AM-3 turbojets with a derivative of the more fuel-efficient Soloviev D-20 turbofan, this would take several years to come to fruition.

Known in the west as the Badger-H (Tu-16MA free-fall bomber) and Badger-J (Tu-16MK missile carrier), the rejuvenated type would provide the new USSR's primary airborne deterrent until the late-1970s. With further modifications, Tu-16 variants would operate in ELINT and stand-off missile carrier roles well into the 1990s.

* * *

You can see the rest of the stuff in this AU here: The October War, 27-10-1962