What aircraft is this, when was it produced, used operationally, and what was its role?
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$\begingroup$ If you just look at the main landing gear arrangement, you may start suspecting it's a Tupolev :) $\endgroup$– ZeusDec 5, 2016 at 3:16
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1 Answer
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It is a Tu-128.
In particular it seems to be the "UT" (training) variant:
Image source
Full-scale production of the aircraft began in 1966, with 188 Tu-128s built to 1970, that total apparently including the prototype. Ten "Tu-128UT" trainers were built as well, with a new cockpit for a flight instructor fitted into a swollen nose.
Other info on wikipedia
The Tupolev Tu-28 (NATO reporting name Fiddler) was a long-range interceptor aircraft introduced by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. The official designation was Tu-128, but this designation was less commonly used in the West.
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The Tu-128's only publicly reported combat operation was the destruction of NATO reconnaissance balloons. The aircraft remained in service until 1990.
answered Nov 30, 2016 at 9:25