Artistic illustration Tu-170 © Konstantinos Panitsidis

 Technical specifications      Photos      Video

VVS licensed work on the design of a new strategic aircraft under the program Tupolev's "Advanced Strategic Aviation System" in 1994.

According to Tupolev, three systems were developed in parallel: Aerofon, Samara and Zoolog.

The office's proposal envisioned two aircraft, one supersonic and spacecraft.

During the development of the Aerofon program, there were two different proposals: a Tu-180 multipurpose with double-engine with variable geometry wings of designer V.I. Bliznyuk and the Tu-170 with a maximum weight of 145,000 kg with the ability to carry up to 6 new-generation missiles or up to 15 tons of bombs, thus ensuring the destruction of targets in strategic areas.

There was another suggestion of designers B.I. Gribanov and V.A. Maksimov for a four-engine Tu-190 subsonic, with a maximum take-off weight of 190,000 kg, capable of carrying up to 12 missiles or up to 30,000 kg of cargo.

The back of the aircraft 

"Samara" program is dedicated to a supersonic aircraft propelled by a Pulse-detonation engine, and with a maximum take-off weight of up to 150,000 kg.

“Zoolog” Program - Modified version of the Tu-160 Blackjac to carry the RSM-54 (SS-23) projectile. Initially, VVS accepted the issue but later rejected it because of the high environmental risk. The program was continued and funded by Rostelecom, but abandoned for the same reasons.

Tu-160 with a ballistic missile RSM-54 (SS-23) hanging in the center. Pilot program 2003. The program has been terminated.

The Tu-160SK is intended primarily for launching the "Burlak-Dyana" space rocket.

Tu-160 (SK) with  “Burlak-Dyana”

Further events developed as follows. The country was not yet ready for the implementation and implementation of all these revolutionary technologies and programs were finally sealed in 2002.

The Chinese JII-X has many similarities to the Tu-170

THREE-VIEW DRAWING