Tupolev Tu-22 - Variants

Variants

A total of 311 Tu-22s of all variants were produced, the last in 1969. Production numbers were following: 15 of bomber version (B), about 127 of reconnaissance versions (R, RD, RK, RDK and RDM), 47 of ELINT versions (P and PD), 76 of missile carriers (K, KD, KP and KPD) and 46 of training versions (U and UD).

Tu-22B (Blinder-A)

Original free-fall bomber variant. Only 15 built, ultimately used mostly for training or test purposes.

Tu-22R (Blinder-C)

Reconnaissance aircraft, retaining bombing capability.

Tu-22RD

Version of Tu-22R with refueling equipment.

Tu-22RK

Reconnaissance aircraft, retaining bombing capability and fitted with Kub ELINT systems during the 1970s.

Tu-22RDK

Version of Tu-22RK with refueling equipment.

Tu-22RDM

Upgraded reconnaissance version, converted from earlier RD aircraft in the early 1980s, with instruments in a detachable container.

Tu-22P (Blinder-E)

Electronic warfare/ELINT version.

Tu-22PD

Version of Tu-22P with refueling equipment.

Tu-22K (Blinder-B)

Missile-carrier version built from 1965, equipped to launch the Raduga Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) missile.

Tu-22KD

Version of Tu-22K with refueling equipment.

Tu-22KP

Electronic warfare / bomber version, introduced circa 1968, carrying the Kh-22P anti-radiation missile.

Tu-22KPD

Version of Tu-22KP with refueling equipment.

Tu-22U (Blinder-D)

Trainer version.

Tu-22UD

Version of Tu-22D with refueling equipment.