Nicknamed "Crusty" by NATO, the Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engine relic of the Cold War that simply refuses to retire. Entering service in 1967 as the Soviet answer to the French Caravelle, this aircraft is instantly recognizable by its classic glass navigator's nose, T-tail, and rear-mounted Soloviev D-30 engines. While it was once the workhorse of Aeroflot’s civilian fleet, it has long since been retired from commercial service and now flies exclusively for the Russian Ministry of Defense. Today, its primary role is VIP transport for military leadership and, more critically, as the specialized Tu-134UBL trainer. This variant swaps the glass nose for the sharp radar radome of a Tu-22M3 or Tu-160 bomber, allowing pilots to train for strategic nuclear missions on a cheaper platform. The fleet remains active and controversial; in November 2025, a rare Tu-134UBL known as the "Black Pearl" was intercepted by NATO fighters over the Baltic Sea, just a year after another military Tu-134 was reportedly destroyed in an arson attack at the Orenburg-2 airbase deep inside Russia.

Explore the Tu-134 and 54 other aircraft in service with the Russian Ministry of Defense in our Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Edition of Aircraft Recognition Playing Cards deck!