Yakovlev Yak-27

Yak-27
Yak-27R at the Central Air Force Museum, Monino
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Yakovlev
Introduction	1960
Retired	Late 1970s (Soviet Union)
Primary user	Soviet Air Force
Produced	1958–1962
Number built	Prototypes + 165 serial built
Developed from	Yakovlev Yak-25

The Yakovlev Yak-27 was a family of Soviet supersonic aircraft, (NATO reporting name "Flashlight-C"), developed in 1958 from the Yak-121 prototype, including the Yak-27R, (NATO reporting name "Mangrove"), tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

Design and development

The Yak-121 prototype was to form the basis of the Yak-27 family of supersonic interceptor and tactical reconnaissance aircraft intended to replace the Yak-25 and its variants. The Yak-27 and Yak-27K interceptors, with gun and K-8 missile armament respectively, reached or exceeded their requirements but were overtaken in performance by the Sukhoi Su-9, and so production was not authorised. A high-altitude interceptor version, the Yak-27V, was converted from the Yak-121 prototype fitted with a 1,300 kgf (2,866 lbf) Dushkin S-155 rocket booster in the rear fuselage, and afterburning RD-9AKYe turbojets, although performance was very good, reaching 23,000 m (75,400 ft) during trials, development was halted due to support and maintenance issues with the Dushkin S-155 rocket engine.

The dedicated high altitude photo-reconnaissance development of the Yak-27 interceptor was named Yak-27R (NATO designation 'Mangrove'). The radome and radar were replaced with a glazed nose for an observer/navigator, the starboard Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon was retained but the port gun was deleted and two cameras 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 aircraft were produced in Plant No.292 in Saratov.

Operational history

The Yak-27R entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1960 and was intended to replace the subsonic Ilyushin Il-28 reconnaissance aircraft. However, despite the greater speed and ceiling, it had less range. The YAK-27R also had some operational limitations and supersonic speed was used only by the most experienced pilots. The low position of the engines made them prone to foreign object ingestion from unimproved forward-base runways. With the increasing coverage of anti-aircraft missles over the European theater of operation limiting high altitude operations, the Yak-27R was often less capable than the Il-28. The Yak-27R was withdrawn from operational service in the early 1970s, and was replaced by the Yak-28R and the Mig-25R.

Variants

Yak-27

Supersonic interceptor derived from Yak-121, armed with two 30 mm cannons, did not enter service.

Yak-27F

Conversion of one Yak-27R with downward pointing TV cameras in the rear fuselage.

Yak-27K(Yak-27K-8)

Interceptor version of Yak-27, armed with two K-8 missiles, did not enter service.

Yak-27R

Tactical reconnaissance version of Yak-27, about 180 built.

Yak-27LSh ,( lyzhnoye shasee - ski undercarriage )

conversuion of a Yak-27R, with a single retractable ski under the centre fuselage and enlarge nosewheels.

Yak-27RN

Reconnaissance version of Yak-27 underwent flight testing, nothing further known.

Yak-27V

High-altitude interceptor version of Yak-27, with auxiliary rocket engine, prototype only converted from the Yak-121.

Yak-121

Prototype of Yak-27 family

Operators

Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Force
  • 11th Independent Vitebskiy Reconnaissance Regiment (1966–70, Neu-Welzow, East Germany)
  • 47th Independent Guards Reconnaissance Regiment (received first Yak-27R in May 1959. Last aircraft were retired in mid-1970s and replaced by MiG-25RBs; based at Shatalovo, Moscow Military District)
  • 48th Independent Guards Nizhegorodsky Reconnaissance Regiment (1958–72, Kolomiya, western Ukraine)
  • 98th Independent Guards Vislenskiy Reconnaissance Regiment (? 1961-73, Monchegorsk, Kola Peninsula)
  • 164th Independent Guards Kerchensky Independent Reconnaissance Regiment (1961–73, Brzheg, Poland)
  • 511th Independent Yasskiy Reconnaissance Regiment (1960–65, Buyalyk, near Odessa)
  • 886th Independent Stalingradskiy Reconnaissance Regiment (1966–70, Jēkabpils, Latvia)

Survivors

A Yak-27R is preserved at the Central Air Force Museum at Monino, outside of Moscow, Russia.

Specifications (Yak-27R)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 18.55 m (60 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 11.82 m (38 ft 9 in)
• Height: m (ft)
• Wing area: m² (ft²)
• Empty weight: kg (lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 13,600 kg (30,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Tumansky RD-9F , 37.2 kN (8,360 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,285 km/h (803 mph)
• Range: 2,380 km (1,488 miles)
• Service ceiling: 16,550 m (54,284 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)

Armament

• 1x 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon

See also

Related development

• Yakovlev Yak-25
• Yakovlev Yak-26
• Yakovlev Yak-28
  

References

• Gordon, Yefim (2005). OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinkley: Midland.