The Tupolev Tu-143Reys (Flight or Trip, Russian: Рейс; also Reis, Rejs) was a Sovietunmannedreconnaissance aircraft in service with the Soviet Army and a number of its Warsaw Pact and Middle East allies during the late 1970s and 1980s. It contained a reconnaissance pod that was retrieved after flight, and from which imagery was retrieved.[1]
The Tu-143 was introduced in 1976 and strongly resembled the Tu-141, but was substantially scaled-down. It was a short-range (60–70 kilometer) tactical reconnaissance system and had low-level flight capability. The Tu-143 was truck-launched with JATO boosting, recovered by parachute, and powered by a TR3-117 turbojet with 5.8 kN (590 kgf, 1300 lbf) thrust. The initial version carried film cameras, but later versions carried a TV or radiation detection payload, with data relayed to a ground station over a datalink. Some 950 units were produced in the 1970s and 1980s.
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine appeared to use them to spot Russian air defences and as an ersatz cruise missile. [2] On 29 June 2022, one Tu-143 carrying explosives was shot down in Kursk Oblast. [3]
M-143 variantEdit
A target drone version, the M-143, was introduced in the mid-1980s.
Tu-243 variantEdit
The Tu-143 was followed into service in the late 1990s by the similar but improved "Tu-243 Reys-D", with a 25 cm (10 inch) fuselage stretch, to provide greater fuel capacity and about twice the range; it had an uprated TR3-117 engine with 6.28 kN (640 kgf, 1,410 lbf) thrust; and improved low-altitude guidance.[4]
Tu-300 variantEdit
Since 1995, Tupolev began promoting the further refined "Tu-300 Korshun", which resembles its predecessors but is fitted with a nose antenna dome and nose fairings for modern sensors and electronic systems. It also features a centerline pylon for a sensor pod or munitions. Financial issues forced a halt to development at the end of the 1990s, but work was resumed in 2007.
This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.
^The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Political, Social, and Military History: A Political, Social, and Military History, ABC-CLIO, 12 May 2008, by Spencer C. Tucker, Priscilla Mary Roberts, page 1055
^"Cheering Its Own Misery – Why Did Ukraine 'Celebrate' Downing Of Its Own Tupolev Tu-143 Drone By Russia?". April 18, 2022.
^"Cruise Missile or Suicide Drone – Russia Shoots Down Invading Tu-143 Inside Its Airspace With Buk Missile". July 1, 2022.
^. www.arms-expo.ru. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^. Arms-expo.ru. Archived from the original on 2011-10-25. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
^. Aripi Argintii (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tupolev Tu-143.
Czech Tu-143/VR-3 Rejs in museum with transport vehicle and launcher
August 26, 2023
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The Tupolev Tu 143 Reys Flight or Trip Russian Rejs also Reis Rejs was a Soviet unmanned reconnaissance aircraft in service with the Soviet Army and a number of its Warsaw Pact and Middle East allies during the late 1970s and 1980s It contained a reconnaissance pod that was retrieved after flight and from which imagery was retrieved 1 Tu 143Tu 143 Reys Role unmanned reconnaissance aircraftManufacturer TupolevFirst flight 1970 Tu 243 1987 Introduction 1976 Army i e Ground Forces SSV 1982 Air Force VVS Tu 243 1999 Status ActivePrimary user Soviet UnionRussiaUkraineProduced 1973 1989 Tu 243 1994 Number built 950Developed from Tupolev Tu 141 Contents 1 History 1 1 Development 1 2 Operation history 1 3 M 143 variant 1 4 Tu 243 variant 1 5 Tu 300 variant 2 Operators 2 1 Current operators 2 2 Former operators 3 Specifications 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditDevelopment Edit Tu 143 with launcherThe Tu 143 was introduced in 1976 and strongly resembled the Tu 141 but was substantially scaled down It was a short range 60 70 kilometer tactical reconnaissance system and had low level flight capability The Tu 143 was truck launched with JATO boosting recovered by parachute and powered by a TR3 117 turbojet with 5 8 kN 590 kgf 1300 lbf thrust The initial version carried film cameras but later versions carried a TV or radiation detection payload with data relayed to a ground station over a datalink Some 950 units were produced in the 1970s and 1980s Operation history Edit The Tu 143 was used by Syria in reconnaissance missions over Israel and Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War as well as by Soviet forces in Afghanistan during the Soviet Afghan War During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukraine appeared to use them to spot Russian air defences and as an ersatz cruise missile 2 On 29 June 2022 one Tu 143 carrying explosives was shot down in Kursk Oblast 3 M 143 variant Edit A target drone version the M 143 was introduced in the mid 1980s Tu 243 variant Edit The Tu 143 was followed into service in the late 1990s by the similar but improved Tu 243 Reys D with a 25 cm 10 inch fuselage stretch to provide greater fuel capacity and about twice the range it had an uprated TR3 117 engine with 6 28 kN 640 kgf 1 410 lbf thrust and improved low altitude guidance 4 Tu 300 variant Edit Since 1995 Tupolev began promoting the further refined Tu 300 Korshun which resembles its predecessors but is fitted with a nose antenna dome and nose fairings for modern sensors and electronic systems It also features a centerline pylon for a sensor pod or munitions Financial issues forced a halt to development at the end of the 1990s but work was resumed in 2007 Operators EditCurrent operators Edit North Korea Korean People s Air Force Russia in service as of 2016 as targets 5 6 Syria Ukraine BelarusFormer operators Edit Bulgaria retired Czech Republic VR 3 Rejs retired in 1995 Czechoslovakia VR 3 was in service from 1985 passed to Czech Republic and Slovakia Iraq Romania VR 3 in service from 1987 until the early 2000s 7 Slovakia VR 3 Rejs retired Soviet Union Passed to Russia and Ukraine on dissolution of the USSRSpecifications EditTupolev TU 143 Reys wingspan 2 24 m 7 ft 4 in length 8 06 m 26 ft 5 in height 1 54 m 5 ft 1 in launch weight 1 230 kg 2 710 lb maximum speed 950 km h 515 kn 590 mph engine Klimov turbojet TR3 117 service ceiling 5 000 m 16 400 ft range 200 km 110 nmi 125 mi References EditThis article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel which exists in the Public Domain The Encyclopedia of the Arab Israeli Conflict A Political Social and Military History A Political Social and Military History ABC CLIO 12 May 2008 by Spencer C Tucker Priscilla Mary Roberts page 1055 Cheering Its Own Misery Why Did Ukraine Celebrate Downing Of Its Own Tupolev Tu 143 Drone By Russia April 18 2022 Cruise Missile or Suicide Drone Russia Shoots Down Invading Tu 143 Inside Its Airspace With Buk Missile July 1 2022 VR 3 Rejs kompleks vozdushnoj razvedki s bespilotnym letatelnym apparatom Tu 143 ORUZhIE ROSSII Federalnyj elektronnyj spravochnik vooruzheniya i voennoj tehniki www arms expo ru Archived from the original on 24 October 2009 Retrieved 12 January 2022 Vozdushnye misheni vtoraya zhizn zenitnyh raket ORUZhIE ROSSII Informacionnoe agentstvo Arms expo ru Archived from the original on 2011 10 25 Retrieved 2013 09 03 The Military Balance 2016 p 190 VR 3 TU 143 Aripi Argintii in Romanian Archived from the original on 11 July 2017 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tupolev Tu 143 Czech Tu 143 VR 3 Rejs in museum with transport vehicle and launcher Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tupolev Tu 143 amp oldid 1171693452 Tu 243 variant, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
