Tu-2000 Credit: © Mark Wade. 20,721 bytes. 574 x 175 pixels.

In reaction to US X-30 project, government decrees of 27 January and 19 July 1986 ordered development of a Soviet equivalent. The Ministry of Defence issued technical specifications on 1 September for an MVKS, a single-stage reusable aerospaceplane system. The MKVS was to provide effective and economic delivery to near-earth orbit; develop the technology for effective transatmospheric flight; provide super high-speed intercontinental transport, and fulfil military objectives in and from space. It is known that the Tupolev, Yakovlev, and Energia design bureaux submitted designs.

Tupolev seems to have received the development go-ahead. The Tu-2000A was to be an experimental design to test the many advanced technologies required. It would have been 55 to 60 m long, have a 14 m wingspan, and a takeoff mass of 70 to 90 tonnes. It would have only been capable of Mach 6. Before work was stopped in 1992, some development work was completed: a wing torque box of nickel alloy had been built, as well as fuselage elements, cryogenic fuel tanks, and composite fuel lines. The Tu-2000A would have used a variable cycle turboramjet engine using methane or hydrogen fuel.

The Tu-2000A was to have been followed by two production designs, as Tupolev felt no single design could meet all of the military requirements. The Tu-2000B would have been a 10,000 km range bomber with a crew of two. 350 tonnes at takeoff, 200 tonnes empty, it would have been 100 m long, with a wing of 40.7 m span and 1250 square metres area. Six liquid hydrogen powered engines would take the bomber to Mach 6 cruise speed at 30,000 m altitude.

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Tu-2000 Spaceplane Credit: Mark Lindroos. 19,969 bytes. 247 x 276 pixels.

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Liftoff Thrust: 90,000 kgf. Total Mass: 90,000 kg. Core Diameter: 13.0 m. Total Length: 72.0 m.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Tu-2000 Gross Mass: 90,000 kg. Empty Mass: 40,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 90,000 kgf. Isp: 1,550 sec. Burn time: 860 sec. Isp(sl): 1,550 sec. Diameter: 13.0 m. Span: 14.0 m. Length: 60.0 m. Propellants: Air/Slush LH2 No Engines: 1. Scramjet

• In reaction to US X-30 project, government decrees of 27 January and 19 July 1986 ordered development of a Soviet equivalent. The Ministry of Defence issued technical specifications on 1 September for

• Government decree orders design of a Soviet aerospaceplane Spacecraft: Tu-2000, Yakovlev MVKS, VKS.

  In reaction to US X-30 project government decree ordered development of a Soviet equivalent.

• Tupolev starts developement of aerospace plane

  In reaction to US X-30 project, Tupolev OKB asked to start work on counterpart. By 1992 mockup completed, but solving of propulsion and inlet problems intractable without access to supercomputers.

• Government decree orders development of a Soviet aerospaceplane Spacecraft: Tu-2000, Yakovlev MVKS, VKS.

  The decree of 27 January 1986 was reaffirmed.

• MVKS specification issued Spacecraft: Tu-2000, Yakovlev MVKS, VKS.

  The Ministry of Defence issued technical specifications on 1 September for an MVKS, a single-stage reusable aerospaceplane system. The MKVS was to provide effective and economic delivery to near-earth orbit; develop the technology for effective transatmospheric flight; provide super high-speed intercontinental transport, and fulfil military objectives in and from space.

• 83 - Pesavento, Peter, Spaceflight, "Russian Space Shuttle Projects 1957-1994", 1995, Volume 37, page 226.
• 301 - Butowski, Piotr, Air Forces Monthly Special, X-Planes, "Black Reds", February 1998, p. 35.