Yakovlev Yak-28P "Firebar"

Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1960 · fighter

The Yakovlev Yak-28P was a twin-engined supersonic all-weather interceptor developed from the Yak-28 bomber/reconnaissance family for Soviet PVO air defence duties. It was armed with air-to-air missiles and equipped with a search radar.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Slender area-ruled fuselage with bicycle undercarriage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Slender area-ruled fuselage with bicycle undercarriage
Swept mid-wing with engines in under-wing pods
Long pointed nose housing interception radar

The very slender fuselage, bicycle main undercarriage, mid-swept wing with under-slung engine pods, and long pointed radar nose distinguish it from contemporary Soviet designs.

Specifications

The Yakovlev Yak-28P has a length of 21.95 m (72 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.5 m (41 ft).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed from the Yak-28 tactical bomber, the Yak-28P interceptor variant first flew around 1960 and entered PVO Strany service in 1964. It was designed to intercept high-altitude threats and carried the Firebar radar alongside R-98 missiles. The type served as a stopgap before more capable interceptors became available.

Variants

The Yak-28 family encompassed the Brewer bomber, Maestro trainer, Flashlight-C recon variant and the Firebar interceptor (Yak-28P); the P variant was the sole purpose-built interceptor.

Where you'll see it

The Yak-28P served with the Soviet PVO through the 1960s and 1970s before being replaced by the Su-15 and MiG-25, with the last examples withdrawn in the 1980s.

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