Seafang-45>> Tu-142MK (Bear-F Mod.2) ('Red 23') over Pacific / 09Feb1984 / G. Jacobs Collection.jpg
muxel> There is no MAD on the vertical tail fin. This is probably Tu-95RTs.
Thank you for raising the question - should have examined the details closer.
One might say we are
both wrong.
- It is not a "MK" - but a Tu-142M (izdeiye VPM), though I cannot tell if it is a Kubyshev
or Taganrog-built (TMZD) aircraft.
- Early production Tu-142's (izdeliye VP) did not have the MMS-106 MAD 'stinger' atop the tail. The aircraft did have the Berkut-95radar / STS, for management of RGB-1 / -2 / -3 sonobuoys and AT-1 / -2 ASW torpedoes and APR-1 Yastreb and APR-2 Orlan (Sea Eagle) ASW missiles.
- Then-Soviet Pacific Fleet units had a number of these early production Tu-142 (VP) aircraft.
- Tu-142 c/n 4201 was the prototype for this MMS-106 MAD installation. The MMS-106 was a secondary attack information system, comprising the magnetic anomaly sensor, an orientation module, a measurement channel with supporting systems (including two electronic filters).
The aircraft was the second production Tu-142 [still with the 12-wheel main bogies] and AV-60P propellers.
- TU-142 (VP/late series) included only six aircraft (c/n's 4231-4241-series). This small production batch became known as
Bear-F Mod.1 in NATO designation system.
- Photo is a Tu-142M with the revised airframe. Taganrog built two in 1974; seven in 1975; seven in 1976; and, six in 1977. These became known as Tu-142M (VPM) / Bear-F Mod. 2 to NATO.
- Two aircraft off the assembly line became the prototypes for the Tu-142MK version.
When first installed on these aircraft, the MMS-106
Ladoga 'stinger' was horizontal (straight) on the prototypes, as on f/n 4243. Testing, including with the new
Korshun-K STS was done at Zhukovskiy.
- Later, the MMS-106 'stinger' was repositioned to a more upward angle (apparently creating less interference with the onboard aircraft own magnetic output).
Photo has been adjusted for better detail.