Tupolev Tu-4 - Variants

Variants

Tu-4

main production version, originally designated B-4

Tu-4 Variants without special designations:

Tu-4 ELINT and ECM

Tu-4 mothership for DFS 346.

Tu-4 escort fighter mothership (Project Burlaki)

Tu-4 remotely controlled target drone converted from time expired bombers.

Tu-4 fuel carrier

Tu-4 in-flight refuelling testbeds (4 different systems were trialled)

Tu-4 radiation reconnaissance aircraft

Tu-4 communications relay aircraft

Tu-4A

nuclear capable bomber used to test Soviet RDS-1 RDS-3 and RDS-5 nuclear bombs. The standard Tu-4 was not capable of carrying these weapons.

Tu-4D

troop transport (300 conversions).

Tu-4K/KS

anti-shipping version, armed with KS-1 Komet missiles carried between the engines under the wings.

Tu-4LL

engine testbed for the Mikulin AM-3 jet engine, the Ivchenko AI-20, Kuznetsov NK-4 and Kuznetsov 2TV-2F turboprop engines, the Dobrynin VD-3K radial engine and AV-28 contra-rotating propellers.

Tu-4NM

drone launcher aircraft with Lavochkin La-17 unmanned aerial vehicles carried underwing

Tu-4R

long range reconnaissance.

Tu-4T

paratroop transport (1 example only)

Tu-4TRZhK

liquid oxygen tanker aircraft.

Tu-4UShS

navigational trainer.

ShR-1

testbed for Myasishchev M-4 to develop a bicycle type landing gear.

UR-1/-2

testbed for Myasishchev M-4 powered controls.

Tu-4 AWACS

Chinese prototype with KJ-1 AEWC, "AWACS" radar and powered by Ivchenko AI-20K turboprop engines. 2 converted to allow the Chinese to monitor US nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific.

Tu-70

Airliner derivative, never reached mass production.

Tu-75

Cargo aircraft derivative, never reached mass production.

Tu-79

Tu-4 with M-49TK engines.

Tu-80

Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.

Tu-85

Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.

Tu-94

Tu-4 with turboprop engines.