Yakovlev Yak-28


The Yakovlev Yak-28 is a swept wing, turbojet-powered combat aircraft used by the Soviet Union. Produced initially as a tactical medium bomber, it was also manufactured in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, interceptor, and trainer versions, known by the NATO reporting names Brewer, Brewer-E, Firebar, and Maestro respectively. Based on the Yak-129 prototype first flown on 5 March 1958, it began to enter service in 1964.

Design and development

The Yak-28 was first seen by the West at the Tushino air show in 1961. Western analysts initially believed it to be a fighter rather than an attack aircraft—and a continuation of the Yak-25M—and it was designated "Flashlight". After its actual role was realized, the Yak-28 bomber series was redesignated "Brewer".
The Yak-28 had a large mid-mounted wing, swept at 45 degrees. The tailplane set halfway up the vertical fin. Slats were fitted on the leading edges and slotted flaps were mounted on the trailing edges of the wings. The two Tumansky R-11 turbojet engines, initially with 57 kN thrust each, were mounted in pods, similarly to the previous Yak-25. The wing-mounted engines and bicycle-type main landing gear were widely spaced, allowing most of the fuselage to be used for fuel and equipment. It was primarily subsonic, although Mach 1 could be exceeded at high altitude.
Total production of all Yak-28s was 1,180.

Operational history

The aircraft is perhaps best known for the heroic actions of Captain Boris Kapustin and Lieutenant Yuri Yanov after the Yak-28 they were piloting suffered a catastrophic engine malfunction on 6 April 1966. They were ordered to divert to attempt a landing in Soviet zone of Germany, but lost control of the aircraft and strayed into the airspace of West Berlin. The crew managed to avoid a housing estate but crashed into Lake without ejecting. Their bodies, along with the wreckage, were raised from the lake by Royal Navy divers and salvage specialists, who also retrieved important top secret material from the plane. This included the engines, which were taken to RAF Gatow to be inspected by RAF and American engineers. The bodies of the two pilots were returned to the USSR with full military honors from both Soviet and British armed service members, and they were both posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner. The first engine was recovered on 18 April 1966 and the second a week later; both engines were returned to the Soviets on 2 May 1966.
The Yak-28P was withdrawn in the early 1980s, but trainer and other versions remained in service until after the fall of the Soviet Union, flying until at least 1992. The reconnaissance and ECM aircraft were eventually replaced by variants of the Sukhoi Su-24.

Variants

Prototype

Yak-129
Yak-28UVP prototype
Yak-28SR prototype first use of SR.
Yak-28PM prototype
Yak-28URP prototype
Yak-28-64 prototype
Yak-28VV proposition
Yak-28LSh proposition
'''Yak-28A'''

Mass production type

Yak-28B
Yak-28L
Yak-28I
Yak-28U
Yak-28R
Yak-28SR second use of SR.
Yak-28TARK
Yak-28RR
Yak-28RL
Yak-28PP
'''Yak-28P'''

Operators

  • Russian Air Force
  • Soviet Air Force
  • Soviet Air Defence Forces
  • Military of Turkmenistan
  • Ukrainian Air Force operated 35 aircraft.
  • *118th Independent Aviation Regt EW Chortkiv, Su-24MP ) listed in early 1994

    Specifications (Yak-28P)