Yakovlev Yak-26
Yakovlev OKB · Soviet Union · first flew 1956 · bomber
The Yakovlev Yak-26 was a Soviet twin-engine supersonic light bomber developed from the Yak-25 interceptor family, first flown in 1956. It was designed for high-speed tactical bombing and photo-reconnaissance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.16 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet high-speed light jet bomber derived from Yak-25
- Swept wing with paired jet pods under wings
- Glazed nose with bombardier position
A slim twin-jet swept-wing aircraft with two engine nacelles suspended under the swept wing, bicycle-type undercarriage, and a distinctively long glazed nose — based closely on the Yak-25 Flashlight interceptor airframe.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev Yak-26 has a length of 17.16 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.96 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1200 km/h (746 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the Yak-25 all-weather interceptor, the Yak-26 featured a revised fuselage with a glazed nose for bombing and a bomb bay replacing the internal guns. It was intended as a high-speed tactical strike aircraft but faced competition from other Soviet designs and did not enter large-scale production. A reconnaissance variant (Yak-27R) saw more service than the bomber version.
Variants
The Yak-26 bomber was closely related to the Yak-27R reconnaissance aircraft; several sub-variants with different nose configurations were evaluated.
Where you'll see it
Operated in limited numbers by Soviet Frontal Aviation in the late 1950s; replaced by more capable designs and did not achieve large-scale operational deployment.
Related aircraft
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