The Tupolev Tu-2000 was a planned long-range heavy bomber designed by the Tupolev design bureau of the 1980’s.
The aerospace plane was to provide high-speed intercontinental transportation, delivery a payload to Earth orbit and for military uses in the atmosphere and in near space. It was designed to ensure the vehicle was efficient and cost-effective.
Specs of the Tu-2000:
Total Mass: 350 Tonnes
Landing Mass: 192 Tonnes
Crew: 2
Powerplant Type: Turbojet/Scramjet
Propellants: Slush Hydrogen and Lox
Payload Mass: 4-8 Tonnes.
History
Development of the Tu-2000 started in 1986 as a Soviet response to the U.S. Rockwell X-30 project (single-stage-to-orbit scramjet aerospaceplane).
The Soviet Union’s Ministry of Defence issued a technical specification for a single-stage reusable aerospace plane in 1986. There were competing designs from Tupolev, Yakovlev Design Bureau and NPO Energia. Tupolev received approval for the project.
Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia took over the project and pursued it until 1992, when it was suspended due to lack of funds.
Project
Tupolev bureau proposed to develop the Tu-2000 in two stages.
- Tu-2000a, a 60m long two man suboribtial demonstrator.
- Tu-2000B, a long-range bomber (Tu-2000B)
Tupolev also proposed to develop a hypersonic passenger plane based on the aerospace plane design
Book:
Energiya-Buran: The Soviet Space Shuttle by Bart Hendrickx
from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Walmart.com
Note: Tu-2000 mentioned in book on page 451 and 452.
Tu-2000 Links:
- Tu-2000: (In Russian)
- Mwade’s Tu-2000:
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