What the 1990 naval aviation inventory reveals

The 1990 force had 140 dedicated bombers: 125 Tu-16 Badgers and 15 Tu-22M Backfires. Reconnaissance and electronic warfare together accounted for 110 aircraft, comprising 65 reconnaissance aircraft and 45 electronic-warfare aircraft. That balance reflects the effort required to find targets and help a coordinated strike reach them. The inventory also included 195 attack aircraft, 180 land-based anti-submarine aircraft, 118 land-based anti-submarine helicopters, and 40 aerial-refuelling tankers, alongside the carrier air groups. Su-17s and Su-24s formed the attack force, while Tu-142s, Il-38s, Be-12 flying boats, and Mi-14 helicopters covered land-based anti-submarine work. Reconnaissance included Tu-16 variants and An-12s. Tu-16s supplied most dedicated bombers and also served in reconnaissance and tanker roles. Soviet naval aviation might obtain additional air-force aircraft for a major attack on a carrier group, but their different equipment and assigned functions limited how readily they could join it.