The
Yakovlev Yak-27 was a high-altitude derivative of the
Yak-25 (
NATO reporting name 'Flashlight'), developed in
1958 as the
Yak-122 prototype.
Design and development
Dedicated high altitude photo-
reconnaissance development of the
Yak-25 fighter was named
Yak-27R (NATO designation 'Mangrove'). It had replaced the
radar and
radome of the fighter with a glazed nose for an observer/navigator but retained the starboard
Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon. Port gun was deleted and two recce cameras were added. It had a longer wing with a span of 11.82 m (38 ft 9 in), with two
Tumansky RD-9AF turbojet engines and had a top speed of about 1,285 km/h (798 mph) at high altitude, with a service ceiling of 16,500 m (54,000 ft) and a range of 2,380 km (1,480 mi) with two wing tanks. About 180 were produced.
Interceptor variant equipped with a supplemental rocket engine (named Yak-27V) was designed. During flight tests reached 23,000 m (75,400 ft) but did not enter service.
Operational history
Yak-27R entered service in
1960 and was retired in late
1970s.
Variants
Yak-27R
- Main production version of Yak-27, about 180 built.Yak-27
- Interceptor version of Yak-27, armed with two 30 mm cannons, did not enter service.Yak-27K
- Interceptor version of Yak-27, armed with two K-8 missiles, did not enter service.Yak-27V
- High-altitude interceptor version of Yak-27, with auxiliary rocket engine, prototype only.Yak-26
- Bomber version of Yak-27, did not enter service.
Operators
Specifications (Yak-27R)
See also
