page_title: Boeing B-29 Superfortress variants
section_title: Tupolev Tu-4
hierarchical_section_title: Boeing B-29 Superfortress variants / Tupolev Tu-4
caption_attribution_description: English: Bomer Tu-4 in Monino. Русский: Дальний стратегический бомбардировщик Ту-4 в Монино.
context_page_description: The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was an aircraft produced in many experimental and production models.
context_section_description: In 1945, three B-29s were forced to land in Soviet territory after a bombing raid on Japan because of lack of fuel. Since the Soviet Union was not at war with Japan at the time, the aircraft and crew were interned. Eventually, the B-29 crew members were returned, but the aircraft remained in Russian hands. Seeking a modern long-range bomber, Joseph Stalin ordered the Tupolev OKB to reverse-engineer the Superfortress.
  The resulting aircraft first flew on May 19, 1947 and immediately began series production, totalling 847 Tu-4s. Although largely identical in appearance to American B-29s, the Tu-4 (NATO reporting name: "Bull"), had Soviet-designed defensive guns and had been re-engineered to suit production using material of metric thicknesses, resulting in an aircraft that was slightly heavier and slower than the B-29. The Tu-4 presented a significant leap forward in Soviet strategic bombing. Not only did the Soviet Air Forces have the means to deliver nuclear weapons, but the Tu-4 had sufficient range to reach the United States on a one-way trip. On October 18, 1951, a Tu-4 was used in the first air-drop test of a Soviet atomic bomb.
  The Tu-4 had been phased out of Soviet service by the early 1960s, being replaced by more modern aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-95. Although the Tu-4 had never delivered any explosive payload with offensive intent, it influenced Soviet aircraft technology, particularly airframe construction and onboard systems. Advanced transport and bomber variants of the Tu-4 design such as the Tu-70, Tu-75, Tu-80, and Tu-85, were developed and built, but none of these achieved series production.
  The People's Liberation Army Air Force of China attempted to use the Tu-4 airframe in KJ-1AWACS aircraft.
caption: Tupolev Tu-4 at Monino
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