Mekstizzle wrote:
imortal wrote:
Mekstizzle wrote:
I was reading the other day and I found out that the Russian Tu-160 actually has a bigger payload than the B-52. I was like wow, supersonic swing wing with a bigger payload than the massive B-52
Is that internal payloads only, or does that include the B-52s ability to carry external hardpoints as well? I only ask because I don't think a sweep-wing design lends itself well to carrying too much external loads (on the wing as opposed to the fuselage).
I dunno, according to the best source ever the Tu-160 has an internal payload of 40,000Kg whilst the B-52 has upto 31,500Kg of ordinance, but wiki doesn't talk about internal or external nor does the website it references to:
http://www.minot.af.mil/library/factshe … sp?id=3724I think this aircraft actually out-bombs the B-52
Boeing says it lists the 70,000 pound capacity as internal and external, while it appears that the Tu-160 is internal only. Very friggin impressive, to be honest. However, there are only 17 of the Russian bombers in service to the 72 US B-52s.
Also, while it is a matter of supposition and not deduction, I wonder if you would run out of internal volume for bombs before you maxed out your bomb weight? I know that happened to the B-52, hence the external hardpoints. That huge capacity is most likely for the carrying of much heavier nuclear weapons.
EDIT Then again, maybe not.
Weapons are carried in two internal bays, each capable of holding 20,000 kg (44,400 lb) of free-fall weapons or a rotary launcher for nuclear missiles; additional missiles may also be carried externally. The aircraft's payload capacity is 45,000 kg (99,208 lb), making it the heaviest bomber ever built. However, no defensive weapons are provided; the Tu-160 is the first unarmed post-World War II Soviet bomber.
wiki
Last edited by imortal (2009-06-14 13:00:57)