Notes: Designed shortly after World War 2, the Beagle was built in huge numbers by Russia and China, with over 6000 built. They are a very basic sort of combat aircraft with a minimum of avionics, and today’s fighter-bombers easily outperform it. The bomb bay may hold 2 tons of the total weapons load; the two wingtip hardpoints may only be used for special 335-liter drop tanks designed especially for it. The Beagle is not capable of aerial refueling. The tail gunner does not have an ejection seat.

Twilight 2000 Notes: By the Twilight War, only about 500 of this number remained in active service, primarily with Middle Eastern and African nations, and air forces such as those of Vietnam and Cuba.

Notes: This is the tactical strike variant of the MiG-23 interceptor. The MiG-27 has a three-position swing-wing; in the forward position, handling characteristics are as shown (this is the normal position for strike configuration), but maximum speed is Tr Mov 450 and Com Mov 620. If wings are in mid-sweep, maximum speed is Tr Mov 605 and Com Mov 830, but minimum speed is 160, Agl is -2/-1, and Turn is -20/-10. If wings are in full sweep, maximum speeds are as shown, but minimum speed is 200, Agl is -3/-2, and Turn is -30/-20. It takes one phase to change sweep by one setting; during this phase, the plane may only fly level or be in a shallow dive and no weapons may be fired or launched. There is a more advanced version of this aircraft, the Flogger-J; this aircraft has added avionics and night vision. This aircraft is used by Russia, India, and Iran.

Notes: This elderly ground-attack aircraft first flew in the 1950s. It remains in service with many Third-World countries that were former Soviet client states. Its highly swept wings do not lend themselves to maneuverability, and its underpowered engine does not give it high speed or good cargo capability. The aircraft has an ejection seat, but is not capable of in-flight refueling.

Notes: The Su-17 Fitter is basically an SU-7 Fitter equipped with variable geometry wings and a more powerful engine. The Fitter-D is capable of nuclear delivery, and has a higher weapons load. The swing wing has two positions, fore and aft, for low or high speeds. The wing sweep may be changed only when the aircraft spends 4 phases or more in straight-line or minimal turn rate flight. Unless the wings are swept, the maximum combat speed is 585; but if the wings are swept, minimum speed is 150 and all agility ratings are -1 and turn rates are -20/-10. The aircraft has an ejection seat, but is not capable of in-flight refueling.

The Su-22 Fitter-F is an improved, export version of the Su-17. The same swing-wing restrictions of the Su-17 apply to the Su-22. The Fitter-F has greater internal fuel coupled with a more efficient engine, thus having greatly-improved range. It also has improved avionics.

Notes: This is the one of the Russian's primary strike aircraft. It is also in use by several former Russian republics, Iran, Libya, and Syria. It is a medium bomber in the same class as the US F-111. The Fencer is capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The aircraft has ejection seats and is capable of in-flight refueling. The Fencer has a variable geometry wing with auto sweep features.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Many tragic mistakes resulted from this aircraft’s resemblance to the F-111; so much so that many aircraft of these types were mistakenly shot down by both sides.

Notes: This is the Russian counterpart of the A-10, being a dedicated ground attack aircraft. In addition to Russia, the Frogfoot is operated by Afghanistan, Angola, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Peru. This aircraft was first used in combat in Afghanistan, and was greatly feared by Allied armor crews during the Twilight War. The pilot has an ejection seat, and the aircraft is capable on in-flight refueling.

The Su-39 (also known as the Frogfoot-B) is a development of the Frogfoot using lessons learned from the War in Afghanistan. Russia had about two-dozen of this development of the Su-25 at the start of the Twilight War. It is a two-seat trainer with the rear seat removed and replaced with additional fuel and avionics, and a radar set is carried in a pod beneath the fuselage. The cannon has been increased to 6 barrels for a greater fire rate, and ammunition supply has been increased. Armor in the fuselage has been increased. IR suppression has been achieved through cooling intakes in the upper fuselage and a new center body that masks hot turbines.

Notes: This widened, two seat version of the SU-30MK was meant to replace the SU-24 Fencer in Russian service, but it was introduced just prior to the war and few were built. It is an advanced weapons-delivery platform, with the improvements of the SU-30MK, and terrain following radar. The SU-34 also has a rear radar/radio/designator pod, and may fire missiles and weapon rearward at enemy aircraft and positions. This rear radar has a limited search arc and strength, but is mainly for defensive purposes. The bulbous profile of the Flanker-F has less streamlining and less speed than the SU-30MK. The crew has ejection seats and the aircraft is capable of in-flight refueling. The two wingtip hardpoints may only be used for AAM or electronics pods.

Notes: There were at least 22 variants of this medium bomber built. In particular, the variants designed to carry specific large cruise missiles, such as the Tu-16K series, were no longer in use, because the primitive cruise missiles were replaced by later weapons that could be carried in conventional bomb bays. These models were either scrapped or modified into other versions. Other versions were made for conventional bombing, long-range search and rescue, long-range reconnaissance, electronic warfare, refueling, and UAV launching. Not all of these are detailed here; the Tu-16A is the standard bomber, the Tu-16RM-2 is for long-range reconnaissance, and the Tu-16Ye is an electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, the Tu-16P is an electronic warfare aircraft (Wild Weasel). Besides Russia, the Badger is used by Iraq and China.

Notes: This supersonic medium bomber was designed as a counter to the US B-58 Hustler, just coming into service at the time (1959). Few were in use by Russia during the Twilight War, most of them having replaced by the Backfire, but hundreds were in use by other countries, most notably by Iraq, and Libya, as well as a few by Syria. The variants depicted here are the Blinder-A bomber and the Blinder-C maritime armed reconnaissance aircraft; the Blinder-B is a variant specially-modified to carry the huge Kitchen cruise missile, the Blinder-D is a trainer, and the Blinder-E is a dedicated long-range reconnaissance aircraft.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Most Russian examples used during the Twilight War were reconnaissance models or tankers. Due to their poor maneuverability, they were easy pickings for enemy fighters and SAMs.

Notes: Mistakenly referred to by NATO sources as the Tu-26 for many years, the correct designation is Tu-22M, because the Backfire is in fact a highly-modified Tu-22 Blinder. The differences include the variable-geometry wings, engines of much higher power that are relocated to the fuselage, avionics that are vastly improved, and improved weapon delivery systems. There were several variants, including the standard bomber, cruise/antiship missile carrier, and long range reconnaissance variant. The bomb bay may hold up to 14.5 tons in the Tu-22M1 and Tu-22M2, and 18 tons in the Tu-22M3.

Notes: This Russian heavy bomber is similar in appearance to the US B-1B Lancer, but is much larger and is a less-efficient design, requiring more fuel. Though designed in the late 1970s, the first flight did not take place until 1981. They were generally equipped with the best avionics the Russians could offer at the time.

Twilight 2000 Notes: In the Twilight War, they were used as low-level penetration bombers ion long-range missions in a similar manner to the B-1B (they were even seen over the Continental US on some occasions).

Notes: This Russian aircraft is used as an advanced operational trainer and light attack aircraft. It was designed to replace the L-29/L-39/L-59 series of aircraft in Russian and Czech service, and also had some orders from Italy. The controls are fly-by-wire and very responsive, and the Yak-130 is maneuverable enough to be used as an aerobatic stunt plane. The Yak-130 can use both Eastern and Western weapons.

Twilight 2000 Notes: As it was not introduced into service until early 1995, it is a rather rare aircraft. In Italian service, the Yak-130 is often armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders and Maverick missiles.