Tupolev Tu-142

Tu-142
A Tu-142 of the Russian Navy.
Role	Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	Soviet Union Russia
Design group	Tupolev
Built by	Kuibyshev Aviation Plant Taganrog Machinery Plant
First flight	18 July 1968[1]
Introduction	December 1972[1]
Retired	2017 (India)
Status	Out of production, in service
Primary users	Russian Navy Soviet Navy (historical) Indian Naval Air Arm (historical)
Produced	1968–1994[2]
Number built	100[2]
Developed from	Tupolev Tu-95

The Tupolev Tu-142 (Russian: Туполев Ту-142; NATO reporting name: Bear F/J) is a Soviet/Russian 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 Navy.

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 failed 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.