As Putin re-asserts Russia's military might with regular bomber flights to the American and British coasts, we are again reminded of the beautiful machinery that made up the Soviet Air Force. The Tu-22M Backfire, a supersonic medium range bomber, is an exquisite example of Cold War chic.
Capable of traveling at over Mach 2, this bomber saw combat in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Iran and China tried to buy them, but Russia was not willing to upset the regions' balances of power. Russia still has 162 running, more or less. No other country has the Backfire, with the exception of India, which recently leased three or four of them.
Cold War-vintage range mapCKY
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