Soviet Strategic Aviation in the Cold War - Hardcover

Gordon, Yefim

4

6 ratings by Goodreads

9781902109084: Soviet Strategic Aviation in the Cold War

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1902109082 ISBN 13: 9781902109084

Publisher: Hikoki, 2009

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Born in the 1930s, the Soviet Air Force's long-range bomber arm (known initially as the ADD and later as the DA) proved itself during World War II and continued to develop in the immediate post-war years, when the former allies turned Cold War opponents. When the strategic bomber Tu-4 was found to be too 'short-legged' to deliver strikes against the main potential adversary - the USA, both Tupolev and Myasishchev OKBs began the task by creating turbine-engined strategic bombers. By the Khrushchev era in the mid/late 1950's the Soviet defense industry and aircraft design bureau set about adapting the bombers to take air-launched missiles for use against land and sea targets. In 1962 the DA fielded its first supersonic aircraft - the Tu-22 Blinder twinjet, which came in pure bomber and missile strike versions. The Brezhnev years saw a resurgence of strategic aviation with the Tu-22M Backfire 'swing-wing' supersonic medium bomber entering service in the mid-1970s followed in 1984 by the Tu-95MS Bear-H and Tu-160 Blackjack which were capable of carrying six and 12 air-launched cruise missiles respectively. Soviet Strategic Aviation in the Cold War shows how the DA's order of battle changed in the period from 1945 to 1991. Major operations including the air arm's involvement in the Afghan War, the Cold War exercises over international waters in the vicinity of the 'potential adversary', and the shadowing of NATO warships are covered together with details of Air Armies, bomber divisions and bomber regiments, including their aircraft on a type-by-type basis. More than 500 photos, most of which are previously unpublished in the West, are supplemented by 61 color profiles, color badges, and line drawings of the aircraft and their weapons, making this an essential reference source for the historian and modeler alike.

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About the Author:

Yefim Gordon is one of Russia's leading aviation writers and publishers. He is the author of many books on Soviet aviation and currently lives in Moscow.

Review:

"It is a book I am positive you will very much enjoy reading and belongs on the shelves of any student of Soviet military aviation and long range bombers. A book I can easily recommend to you." (Scott Van Aken Modeling Madness 2009-12-01)

"If you're interested in the Cold War, Soviet aviation, nuclear weapons, or just "gee whiz" stories, it's in there for you in this book." (Jim Pearsall IPMS USA 2010-02-01)

"Overall, this is an excellent book on Soviet strategic aviation, one which forms a great counterpart to the many books out there on the US Strategic Air Command." (Chris Banyai-Riepl Internet Modeler 2010-09-01)

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