Tupolev Tu-95

Tu-95
A Tu-95MS Bear H flying over Moscow in 2014
Role	Strategic heavy bomber Type of aircraft
National origin	Soviet Union
Manufacturer	Aviakor
Design group	Tupolev
First flight	12 November 1952; 71 years ago (1952-11-12)
Introduction	1956
Status	In service
Primary users	Russian Aerospace Forces Soviet Air Forces (historical) Soviet Navy (historical) Ukrainian Air Force (historical)
Produced	1952–1993
Number built	>500
Variants	Tupolev Tu-114 Tupolev Tu-142 Tupolev Tu-95LAL Tupolev Tu-116

The Tupolev Tu-95 (Russian: Туполев Ту-95; NATO reporting name: "Bear") is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the Long-Range Aviation of the Soviet Air Forces in 1956 and was first used in combat in 2015. It is expected to serve the Russian Aerospace Forces until at least 2040.

A development of the bomber for maritime patrol is designated the Tu-142, while a passenger airliner derivative was called the Tu-114.

The aircraft has four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines with contra-rotating propellers. It is the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today. The Tu-95 is one of the loudest military aircraft, particularly because the tips of the propeller blades move faster than the speed of sound.^[1] Its distinctive swept-back wings are set at an angle of 35°. The Tu-95 is the only propeller-driven aircraft with swept wings built in large numbers.