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—); after its actual role was realized, the Yak-28 bomber series was given the NATO reporting name "Brewer".

The Yak-28 had a large mid-mounted wing, swept at 45 degrees. The tailplane is set halfway up the vertical fin (with cutouts to allow rudder movement). 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 (12,795 lbf) thrust each, were mounted in pods, similarly to the previous Yak-25. The wing-mounted engines and bicycle-type main landing gear (supplemented by outrigger wheels in fairings near the wingtips) 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 actions of Captain Boris Kapustin and Lieutenant Yuri Yanov after their Yak-28 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 West Berlin airspace. 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 (flown in from Portsmouth) 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 NATO engineers. The bodies of the two pilots were returned to the USSR with full military honours 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

:Prototype of Yak-28.

Yak-28UVP prototype (ukorochennyy vzlyot i posahdka – short takeoff and landing)

:thumb|Yakovlev Yak-28UA single Yak-28 converted for testing short takeoff and landing techniques with JATO bottles and braking parachutes.

Yak-28L (Izdeliye 28L; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-B")

:Tactical bomber with ground-controlled targeting system using triangulation from ground-based transmitter sites. A total of 111 built.

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Powerplant

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Performance

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Armament

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  • Air-to-air Missiles:
  • 2 × R-98M (AA-3 'Anab'), usually one R-98TM infrared and one R-98RM semi-active radar homing
  • 2 × K-13A (AA-2 'Atoll') short-range missiles (occasionally fitted)

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See also

Notes

Bibliography

  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1976. .
  • [http://www.suchoj.com/andere/Jak-28/home.shtml ]
  • Aero-concept