Tu-95 ("Bear-A")

The Tu-95 (NATO Bear-A) was the initial production model, derived from the second prototype (Tu-95/2) with Kuznetsov NK-12 engines. It lacked a nose refueling probe, distinguishing it from later variants. The bomber were designed to carry 9,000 kg of bombs at its maximum design range, which could be further increased by reducing the aircraft's range.

The plane was initially tasked solely with free-fall bombing, either with nuclear or conventional payload. For its time, the Tu-95 combined several state-of-the-art systems with others that were straight out of pre-WWII days; the Tu-95 carried one of the most advanced electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems of its day, yet it also had two automatic gun turrets onboard (and one tail gun turret), the usefulness of which was questionable well before the Tu-80 first flew, never mind the Tu-95.

Armament included 23mm AM-23 cannons in a radar-controlled tail turret. It had a maximum speed of 882 km/h, range of approximately 15.000 km with a 5.000 kg payload.

A small number of initial Tu-95/Bear-A were built before transitioning to the improved Tu-95M

More information:

• Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear". A variant history