Tupolev Tu-142

Tu-142
A Tu-142 of the Indian Naval Air Arm in-flight at the 2007 Aero India
Role	Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft
National origin	Soviet Union Russia
Design group	Tupolev
Built by	Kuibyshev Aviation Plant Taganrog Machinery Plant
First flight	18 July 1968
Introduction	December 1972
Status	Out of production, in service
Primary users	Soviet Navy (historical) Russian Navy Indian Naval Air Arm Ukrainian Air Force (historical)
Produced	1968–1994
Number built	100
Developed from	Tupolev Tu-95

The Tupolev Tu-142 (Russian: Туполев Ту-142; NATO reporting name: Bear F/J) is a maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft derived from the Tu-95 turboprop strategic bomber. A specialised communications variant designated Tu-142MR was tasked with long-range communications duties with Soviet ballistic missile submarines. The Tu-142 was designed by the Tupolev design bureau, and manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery Plants from 1968 to 1994. Formerly operated by the Soviet Navy and Ukrainian Air Force, the Tu-142 currently serves with the Russian and Indian Naval Air Arm.

Developed in response to the American Polaris programme, the Tu-142 grew out of the need for a viable Soviet ASW platform. It succeeded the stillborn Tu-95PLO project, Tupolev's first attempt at modifying the Tu-95 for maritime use. The Tu-142 differed from the Tu-95 in having a stretched fuselage to accommodate specialised equipment for its ASW and surveillance roles, a reinforced undercarriage to support rough-field capability, improved avionics and weapons, and enhancements to general performance. The Tu-142's capability was incrementally improved while the type was in service, eventually resulting in the Tu-142MZ, the final long-range Tu-142 with highly sophisticated combat avionics and a large payload. Tupolev also converted a number of Tu-142s as avionics (Tu-142MP) and engine (Tu-142LL) testbeds.

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