Tupolev Tu-91

Tupolev Tu-91 is a Soviet experimental naval attack bomber. It was cancelled after Stalin's death.

Tupolev Tu-91
Tu-91, the naval flying tank
Description
Role	Naval Strike bomber
Crew	two
First Flight
Entered Service	Cancelled
Manufacturer	Tupolev
Dimensions
Length	17.7 m	ft in
Wingspan	16.4 m	ft in
Height	5.06 m	ft in
Wing area	47.48 m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	kg	lb
Loaded	12,850 kg	lb
Maximum takeoff	14,400 kg	lb
Powerplant
Engines	1x TV-2M turboprop engines
Power	5,700 kW	7,650 hp
Performance
Maximum speed	800 km/h	mph
Combat range	unknown km	miles
Ferry range	2,350 km	miles
Service ceiling	8,000 m	ft
Rate of climb	m/min	ft/min
Wing loading	kg/m²	lb/ft²
Power/Mass	kW/kg	lb/hp
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	3 x 23 mm in wings and tail barbette
Bombs	6x 100 kg bombs or anti-submarine bomb or 3x RAT-52 jet torpedoes or assortment of mines
Missiles	120x APS-85 unguided rockets in place of bombs

Background

Stalin ordered an aggressive naval expansion to counter the US naval superiority. It called for building extra warships and a fleet of carrier-born force. A fleet of bombers to effectively attack and destroy the US naval flotilla is in consideration. This becomes the basis of Tu-91, a carrier-borne bomber.

The NATO reporting name is Boot. It is practically a flying tank, heavily armed and armoured. However after the death of Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev cancelled such plans, concentrating instead of ICBMs and strategic nuclear forces.

Design Features

• One 7650 hp (5,700 kW) TV-2M turboprop located in mid fuselage, behind the cockpit driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers

• Heavily armoured cockpit (total 550 kg of armor)

• straight wings

• slightly swept tail surfaces.

Related content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft	Fairey Gannett
Designation Series	Tu-86 - Tu-88 - Tu-90 - Tu-91 - Tu-95 - Tu-96 - Tu-98
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS

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