[PAR35]

The Tu-95 aircraft, which Nato codenames the 'Bear,' is an obsolescent model. Powered by four turbo-prop engines, the Bear is packed with antiquated technology dating from its first flight 53 years ago. The long-range aircraft was originally designed to compete with the American B-29 Superfortress -- the Second World War bomber responsible for dropping the atomic bomb in 1945.

Well, since they got that wrong...

The TU-4 was the matchup for (and a copy of) the B-29. The Bear is a contemporary of the B-52.

[jaydubya2]

"Fastest Propeller Aircraft, Tu-95 'Bear' The Tu-95 'Bear' is the fastest propeller aircraft. It was the Russian equivalent to the American B-52 Stratofortress during the Cold War. The Tu-95 was an extremely loud aircraft due to its massive contra-rotating propellers. Submarine crews actually reported hearing diving Tu-95's because of their distinctive sound."