The Tu-144 is a Soviet supersonic passenger aircraft that first flew in 1968. It was designed to compete with the Concorde, which was developed in the West. The Tu-144 could reach speeds of over Mach 2 and was capable of carrying around 140 passengers. Despite its advanced technology, the Tu-144 faced several challenges, including safety concerns and high operational costs. It was used commercially for a short period in the 1970s before being retired. The aircraft remains a significant part of aviation history as one of the first supersonic airliners.