Tupolev Tu-95 Tu-95K-22

In the early 1970s work began on re-equipping existing Tu-95K and Tu-95KD bombers with Kh-22 missiles and the guidance systems used on the Backfire: the subsonic AS-3 gave way to the supersonic AS-4. Aircraft reconfigured this way, designated Tu-95K-22, carried either one Kh-22M under the fuselage or two Kh-22N on underwing pylons. The broad flat nose radome differs in detail from those of the Bear-B and Bear-C because it houses the antenna for the Down Beat guidance radar. The deeper change was doctrinal: the many radomes and fairings betray a comprehensive defensive avionics suite, and in exchange the gun armament was cut back hard — an extended tailcone replaced the tail turret, the dorsal turret was deleted, and only the ventral gun remained. First flight tests took place in October 1975, conversion of the fleet started at the end of that decade, and the type entered the active inventory in 1982. Several conversions were complete by 1985, and by 1998 more than 45 aircraft were operational.