Tupelov Tu-160 Blackjack

Red Star Volume 9
By Yefim Gordon
Midland Publishing, 2003
ISBN 1-85780-147-4
128 pages, softbound
$27.95 from Specialty Press

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

This latest title in the Red Star series provides some excellent material on the large Tu-160 Blackjack bomber. Developed to counter the advantage of the Rockwell B-1 in USAF service, the Tu-160 followed a similar design, with variable sweep wings and engines mounted under the fuselage. Rather than a copy, though, the Tu-160 was the result of a logical progression during the development process, and this book details this process quite well. Photos of design models leading up to the Tu-160 offer some fascinating insight to Soviet bomber development.

After the overview on the development of the Tu-160, this book progresses through the testing phase and eventual operational record. The photos presented here are some of the best images of the Blackjack bomber that I have seen and cover the early prototypes all the way to the current production examples. In addition to the great selection of photos, the text is well written and very informative. Rounding out this book are scale drawings and color profiles, providing a good overview of what the Tu-160 Blackjack looks like.

This is another excellent title in the Red Star series and probably the best English reference on the Tu-160 currently available. The great selection of photos, coupled with the well-written text, makes it well worth the price. Highly recommended.

This title, and others in the Red Star series, is available from Specialty Press. Check out their website for more great titles.