What is Tupolev Tu-22?
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin |name=Tupolev Tu-22 |image=File:Engels_Air_base_museum_03.jpg |caption='''Tu-22''' at Engels air base in [[Russia]]. }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type=[[Bomber]] |national origin =[[USSR]] |manufacturer= [[Tupolev]]. |first flight= 1959 |introduction= 1962 |status= Retired |primary user= Soviet Air Force. |produced= |number built= 313 |unit cost= }} |} The '''Tupolev Tu-22''' is a former [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[bomber]] of the [[Cold War]]. It is a twin-[[turbojet]]s built entirely of metal with a swept-[[wing]]. It can carry about 6,000 [[kilogram|kg]] of [[bomb]]s in internal bay. It was used only by the USSR, [[Libya]], and [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/tu-22/tu-22.htm|title=Tupolev Tu-22 'Blinder'|website=www.milavia.net}}</ref> The bomber could carry 3 crew members. [[NATO]] called the Tu 22 as ''Blinder''. [[Tupolev Tu-22M]] is a modernized variant. == Operational uses == Soviets forces used some '''Tu-22''' as high-speed [[reconnaissance]] [[aircraft|planes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=316|title=Tupolev Tu-22 (Blinder) Medium Bomber / Reconnaissance Aircraft - Soviet Union|website=www.militaryfactory.com}}</ref> Iraq<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.airforceworld.com/bomber/eng/tu22-supersonic-bomber-1.htm |title=Tu-22 Supersonic Bomber |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-date=2011-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002231700/http://www.airforceworld.com/bomber/eng/tu22-supersonic-bomber-1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> used there bombers in [[Iran-Iraq War]]. Libyan [[air force]] used the '''Tupolev Tu-22''' in September 1987<ref>{{in lang|fr}} http://www.avionslegendaires.net/avion-militaire/tupolev-tu-22-blinder/</ref> for bombing [[N'Djamena]] and the [[France|French]] [[infantry]]. The bomber was shoot down by a [[MIM-23 Hawk]]'s [[missile]] of the [[French Air Force|Armée de l'Air]]. == Bibliography == * Frawley, Gerard, ''The internatio