Why Tu-95 Still Has A Tail Gun?

Explore the intriguing reason behind the TU-95 bomber's tail gun retention, a unique, enduring feature in modern aviation warfare.

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[buckystarfinger]

The tail Gunner's have a very strong union. They can't get rid of them.

[gtbferrari]

So someone can tell the pilot when they see parts flying off

[HootOwl]

It gives a Comrade a job. Also Targetting Guidance Radars are expensive plutocratic toys. The Tail Gunner Comrade knows if he misses he will be shot by the State for Treason.

[ironmask]

Weapon design comes down to balancing quality vs quantity. Russia has decided it wants neither.

[timwingham]

Having spoken to a few pilots and navs who served on RAF QRA Lighntings and Phantoms, the thinking about defensive guns on the Bear (and Badger) was that the presence of bomber gun defence meant it negated the idea of intercepting fighters engaging with guns themselves. Of course, if it actually came to a shooting war fighters would destroy a large bomber with a missile, (these days from beyond visual range), but...the presence of defensive guns means it has to be a missile engagement to have the upper hand.

[grahamsawyer]

obvious! because it looks totally badass

[jugganaut]

The Tu95M is automated. It’s effectively a compact Airborne CiWs. That radome above the operator is capable of tracking incoming missiles and attempting to intercept them. Whilst it deploys chaffe and flares.

[Knot_Sean]

There are some radars that are powerful enough to detect a bird flying at supersonic speeds, AKA, missiles, The 2x gsh-23-2 cannons could also definitely take out incoming munitions if a proper radar or MAWS was installed.

[spuwho]

The tail gun here is not much different than a sea going ship containing a Phalanx style defense pod. When a inbound missile is detected and the countermeasures are not effective, the "final" counter is to simply shoot it.

[furiacaboclafuriacabocla]

The Russian Bear is equiped with best state of art sensor and weapons and never fly alone.

[Solnoric]

Basically, they haven't changed the defenses because they can't afford to?

[XFenrirxX]

Why tail gun when you can make your own version of AC-130?

[neilfoster]

FYI, it's "Tee you 95" not "Too 95".

[kpadmirer]

B-52s in the Viet Nam war shot down at least two MiGs with their tail guns.

[multigodslayer]

Their equipment is so outdated its borderline North Korean levels.

[kennethquinnies]

They havent changed it because of bureaucratic laziness.

[nunyabussiness]

It's a bomber. Bombers have tail guns. How else are you going to know it's a bomber?? Simple as