tupolev 95 bear
The aircraft is currently in service in both the Russian Air Force Naval Aviation and Russian Air Force Air Army units, and with the Indian Air Force. [1]
Commonly known by its NATO designation, the “Bear” the aircraft has four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines, each driving contra-rotating propellers. [2]
Prototypes of these aircraft were developed and tested from 1949 through 1951, it was concluded that bombers with piston engines could not provide adequate performance for the intercontinental attack mission. [...] It was the only bomber deployed by any country to use turbo-prop engines, which provided extraordinarily long endurance at speeds only slightly less than comparable turbojet-powered heavy bombers. [3]
It is a classic post-war aircraft design, with jet-type performance provided by four extremely powerful turboprops, each driving massive contra-rotating propellers and mounted on swept flying surfaces. [4]
The Tu-95 BEAR was perhaps the most successful bomber produced by the Soviet aviation, enjoying long service in a variety of roles and configurations. [5]
The Tupolev Tu-95 has been built in many Tu-95 and Tu-142 variants but was originally built as a strategic, intercontinental heavy-payload bomber aircraft. [1]
The Tu-95 ‘Bear’ first flew in 1954 and entered service little more than a year later. [...] Powered by four turboprop engines, driving contra-rotating four-blade propellers 18 ft across, the Bear is one of the world’s noisiest military aircraft. [4]
Tu-142 Bear naval aviation aircraft in service with the Russia Navy.” [1]
Russian Tu-95 and TU-95MS aircraft are now deployed at two air bases A total of nineteen TU-95MS16 and two TU-MS6, operating in the 121st heavy bomber air regiment, which forms part of the 22nd Air Division that is headquarteed in Engels Air Base in the Moscow region. [5]
Prototypes of these aircraft were developed and tested from 1949 through 1951, when it was concluded that bombers with piston engines could not provide adequate performance for the intercontinental attack mission. [...] ‘Bear-Bs’ and ‘Bear-Gs’ are missile carriers, while the latest ‘Bear-H’ is a dedicated long-range cruise missile carriers, armed with 10 AS-15 ‘Kent’ air launched cruise missiles. [4]
The design of the wings drew heavily on the experience gathered by Tupolev and the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TSAGI) during the development of the swept wing TU-16. [...]… KB Tupolev did not support the development of a bomber with turbojet engines, believing that the proposed AM-3 jet engines would not provide for the required range of more than 10,000 km. [3]
Sources:
[1] Tu-95 Bear Strategic Bomber - Air Force Technology
[2] Tupolev Tu-95 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[3] Tu-95 BEAR (TUPOLEV) Video - Heavy.com
[4] Tu-95 BEAR (TUPOLEV)
[5] Tu-95 BEAR (TUPOLEV) - Russian and Soviet Nuclear Forces