Yakovlev Yak-25
Encyclopedia
The Yakovlev Yak-25 (NATO designation Flashlight-A/Mandrake) was a swept wing
, turbojet-powered interceptor aircraft
and reconnaissance aircraft
built by Yakovlev
and used by the Soviet Union
.
aircraft was issued by Joseph Stalin
on 6 August 1951. The aircraft was to use the new Mikulin AM-5 turbojet. The first prototype, the Yak-120, flew on 19 June 1952.
The new design mounted the turbojets in pods in the wings, with bicycle landing gear
, leaving the fuselage
volume free for the two crewmen and a substantial fuel load, giving an unrefueled range (with external tank) of about 2,560 km (1,600 mi). The large, blunt nose contained the radome
for the air-interception radar
. Armament was two 37 mm NL-37L cannon
with 50 rounds per gun.
Despite some significant problems the type was cleared for production in 1953
and the first were produced in 1954. Early production models, designated Yak-25, were delivered the following year, although they were not yet to operational capacity because of problems with the 'Sokol' radar. As a result early aircraft used a modified version of the RP-1D 'Izumrud' (NATO 'High Fix') ranging radar instead. When the 'Sokol' (RP-6) was finally available, the newly equipped aircraft were designated Yak-25M, with deliveries starting in January 1955
. The Yak-25M received a number of other improvements, including recoil dampers for the cannon, upgraded AM-5A engines (with the same thrust), and a slight increase in fuel capacity.
In 1955 and 1956 several Yak-25Ms were refitted as testbeds for air-to-air missile
armament.
A reconnaissance derivative of the Yak-25, the Yak-25RV (Razvedchick Vysotnyj, "high-altitude reconnaissance"), was developed in 1959
(NATO codename 'Mandrake'). It had a completely new, long-span straight wing of 23.4 meters (more than twice that of the Yak-25M interceptor) with a total area of 55 square meters. Camera and sensor packs were added in the fuselage. Some versions may have retained one cannon.
Despite its low wing loading
, the 'Mandrake's' altitude performance was marginal at best, with considerable engine problems at high altitudes, excessive vibration, and primitive equipment that imposed high workloads for the crews. The Soviet Air Force
nevertheless kept the Yak-25RV in service until 1974
. A few were used in the late 1970s for monitoring of radioactive contamination, with specialized sensors; these were designated Yak-25RRV. Efforts in 1971
to develop the 'Mandrake' as a high-altitude interceptor (Yak-25PA) proved unsuccessful.
The derivative Yak-26 was developed as a bomber
, but only nine were built.
In 1961
a series of lightened 'Mandrakes' were produced as high-altitude target drones
. The Yak-25RV-I was used as a manned target for unarmed (no live fire) interception practice, the Yak-25RV-II as a remote-piloted drone.
483 were built at Saratov
plant, including 406 in Yak-25M variant, and 10 in Yak-25R reconnaissance variant. Additionally, 155 Yak-25RV reconnaissance high-altitude planes were built.
in July 1955
, and received the NATO designation Flashlight-A. They started to equip air defence units from 1955. They were considered easy to fly and popular among the crews. Quite common were engine breakdowns, mostly due to the low engine position when on the ground, which demanded clean airfields, but thanks to twin-engine arrangement, few such failures were fatal.
Their withdrawal started in 1963
. The last Yak-25 interceptors were retired by 1967
; the 'Mandrake' reconnaissance
version soldiered on in various roles through the late 1970s. Like many other PVO
interceptors of the Cold War
era, the Yak-25M was not exported to the Warsaw Pact
or other nations.
There was also another aircraft named Yak-25 - a light fighter
prototype of 1947
. After it lost a competition with the MiG-15 and Lavochkin La-15
, the first Yak-25 program was abandoned and the designation Yak-25 was re-used for a new interceptor. See Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)
for the description of that aircraft.
Yak-25B
Yak-25M
Yak-25MG
Yak-25RV NATO reporting name
"Mandrake"
Yak-25RR
Yak-25RRV
Yak-25RV-I
Yak-25RV-II
Yak-13
Yak-25K
Yak-25K-7L
Yak-25K-75
Yak-25K-8 (Yak-25S K-8)
Yak-25L (letayuschchaya laboritoriya - flying laboratory)
Yak-25MR (morskoy razvedchik -maritime reconnaissance aircraft)
Yak-25MSh
Yak-25PA (perekhvahtchik aerostahtov - balloon interceptor)
Yak-25R
Yak-26
Yak-120M
Yak-120MF
Yak-122
Yak-123
Yak-125B
Yak-SM-6
Swept wing
A swept wing is a wing planform favored for high subsonic jet speeds first investigated by Germany during the Second World War. Since the introduction of the MiG-15 and North American F-86 which demonstrated a decisive superiority over the slower first generation of straight-wing jet fighters...
, turbojet-powered interceptor aircraft
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
and reconnaissance aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
built by Yakovlev
Yakovlev
The Yak Aircraft Corporation is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer...
and used by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Design and development
The Yak-25 originated from a need for long-range interceptors to protect the USSR's northern and eastern territory. The specification for a two-seat, twin-engine jet fighter and a related reconnaissanceReconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
aircraft was issued by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
on 6 August 1951. The aircraft was to use the new Mikulin AM-5 turbojet. The first prototype, the Yak-120, flew on 19 June 1952.
The new design mounted the turbojets in pods in the wings, with bicycle landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
, leaving the fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
volume free for the two crewmen and a substantial fuel load, giving an unrefueled range (with external tank) of about 2,560 km (1,600 mi). The large, blunt nose contained the radome
Radome
A radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a microwave or radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna. In other words, the radome is transparent to radar or radio waves...
for the air-interception radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
. Armament was two 37 mm NL-37L cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
with 50 rounds per gun.
Despite some significant problems the type was cleared for production in 1953
1953 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1953:- Events :*The first year in which the world's airlines carried more than 50 million people*Argentina initiates a study of the feasibility of converting either a cargo ship or a heavy cruiser into an aircraft carrier in an Argentine shipyard....
and the first were produced in 1954. Early production models, designated Yak-25, were delivered the following year, although they were not yet to operational capacity because of problems with the 'Sokol' radar. As a result early aircraft used a modified version of the RP-1D 'Izumrud' (NATO 'High Fix') ranging radar instead. When the 'Sokol' (RP-6) was finally available, the newly equipped aircraft were designated Yak-25M, with deliveries starting in January 1955
1955 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1955:- Events :* The United Kingdoms first atomic bomber unit, the Royal Air Forces No. 138 Squadron, becomes operational, flying Vickers Valiants.-January:...
. The Yak-25M received a number of other improvements, including recoil dampers for the cannon, upgraded AM-5A engines (with the same thrust), and a slight increase in fuel capacity.
In 1955 and 1956 several Yak-25Ms were refitted as testbeds for air-to-air missile
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
armament.
A reconnaissance derivative of the Yak-25, the Yak-25RV (Razvedchick Vysotnyj, "high-altitude reconnaissance"), was developed in 1959
1959 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1959:- Events :* The Canadian Golden Hawks aerobatic team is formed.* The United States Department of the Navy merges its Bureau of Aeronautics and Bureau of Ordnance to form a new Bureau of Naval Weapons....
(NATO codename 'Mandrake'). It had a completely new, long-span straight wing of 23.4 meters (more than twice that of the Yak-25M interceptor) with a total area of 55 square meters. Camera and sensor packs were added in the fuselage. Some versions may have retained one cannon.
Despite its low wing loading
Wing loading
In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. The faster an aircraft flies, the more lift is produced by each unit area of wing, so a smaller wing can carry the same weight in level flight, operating at a higher wing loading. Correspondingly,...
, the 'Mandrake's' altitude performance was marginal at best, with considerable engine problems at high altitudes, excessive vibration, and primitive equipment that imposed high workloads for the crews. The Soviet Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
nevertheless kept the Yak-25RV in service until 1974
1974 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1974:-January:* January 26 – The Turkish Airlines Fokker F28-1000 Fellowship Van stalls shortly after after takeoff from Izmir Cumaovası Airport in Izmir, Turkey, crashes, and catches fire, killing 66 of the 73 people on board.* January 30...
. A few were used in the late 1970s for monitoring of radioactive contamination, with specialized sensors; these were designated Yak-25RRV. Efforts in 1971
1971 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1971:- Events :* The Peruvian Army reestablishes Peruvian Army Aviation.-January:* January 6 - The United States Marine Corps takes delivery of its first AV-8 Harriers...
to develop the 'Mandrake' as a high-altitude interceptor (Yak-25PA) proved unsuccessful.
The derivative Yak-26 was developed as a bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
, but only nine were built.
In 1961
1961 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1961:-January:* January 3 – Aero Flight 311, a Douglas DC-3C, crashes near Kvevlax, Finland, killing all 25 people on board. An investigation finds that the captain and first officer both were exhausted for lack of sleep and drunk at the time of...
a series of lightened 'Mandrakes' were produced as high-altitude target drones
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
. The Yak-25RV-I was used as a manned target for unarmed (no live fire) interception practice, the Yak-25RV-II as a remote-piloted drone.
483 were built at Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
plant, including 406 in Yak-25M variant, and 10 in Yak-25R reconnaissance variant. Additionally, 155 Yak-25RV reconnaissance high-altitude planes were built.
Operational history
Yak-25 was first displayed at TushinoTushino
Tushino is a former village and town to the north of Moscow, which has been part of the city's area since 1960. Between 1939 and 1960, Tushino was classed as a separate town. The Skhodnya River flows across the southern part of Tushino....
in July 1955
1955 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1955:- Events :* The United Kingdoms first atomic bomber unit, the Royal Air Forces No. 138 Squadron, becomes operational, flying Vickers Valiants.-January:...
, and received the NATO designation Flashlight-A. They started to equip air defence units from 1955. They were considered easy to fly and popular among the crews. Quite common were engine breakdowns, mostly due to the low engine position when on the ground, which demanded clean airfields, but thanks to twin-engine arrangement, few such failures were fatal.
Their withdrawal started in 1963
1963 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1963:- Events :* Violating a 1959 requirement that all aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier Minas Gerais - which never has operated aircraft - belong to the Brazilian Air Force, the Brazilian Navy establishes an air group of its own for the...
. The last Yak-25 interceptors were retired by 1967
1967 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1967:- Events :* The Canadian Golden Centennaires aerobatic team is formed and performs all year to celebrate the Canadian centennial year....
; the 'Mandrake' reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
version soldiered on in various roles through the late 1970s. Like many other PVO
Soviet Anti-Air Defense
The Soviet Air Defence Forces was the air defense branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. It continued being a service branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1998. Unlike Western air defense forces, V-PVO was a branch of the military unto itself, separate from the Soviet...
interceptors of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era, the Yak-25M was not exported to the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
or other nations.
There was also another aircraft named Yak-25 - a light fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
prototype of 1947
1947 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1947:-January:* January 11 – The BOAC Douglas C-47A G-AGJX crashes into a hill at Stowting in southeast England, killing eight of the 16 people on board and injuring all eight survivors...
. After it lost a competition with the MiG-15 and Lavochkin La-15
Lavochkin La-15
-See also:-Bibliography:*Gordon,Yefim. Lavochkin's Last Jets. Midland Publishing. Hinkley. 2007. ISBN 1 85780 253 3-Further reading:*Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995. London:Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9....
, the first Yak-25 program was abandoned and the designation Yak-25 was re-used for a new interceptor. See Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)
Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. "Early Soviet Jet Fighters". Hinkley: Midland. 2002. ISBN 1-85780-139-3* Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1...
for the description of that aircraft.
Variants
Yak-25- First production version equipped with the RP-1D "Izumrud" radar. 67 aircraft built.
Yak-25B
- Projected production version of Yak-125 Tactical nuclear bomber prototype.
Yak-25M
- Basic production version with some minor improvements, upgraded AM-5A engines and new RP-6 "Sokol" radar. 406 aircraft built.
Yak-25MG
- Some Yak-25M aircraft refitted with the 'Gorizont-1' system to allow them to be flown (via autopilot) by ground stations for ground control interception missions.
Yak-25RV NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
"Mandrake"
- High altitude reconnaissance version with new wing and camera and sensor packs in the fuselage. Some may have retained one cannon. 155 aircraft built.
Yak-25RR
- Yak-25RV equipped with specialized sensors for monitoring of radioactive contamination.
Yak-25RRV
- Yak-25RV equipped with specialized SIGINT sensors.
Yak-25RV-I
- Manned target version for unarmed (no live fire) interception practice.
Yak-25RV-II
- Remote-piloted drone for armed (live fire) interception practice.
Yak-25 family prototypes and projects
Yak-2AM-11- Reconnaissance and tactical recconaissance projects powered by 2 x Mikulin AM-11(Tumansky R-11), cancelled as production os Tumansky R-11 allocated to MiG-21.
Yak-13
- immediate predecessor of Yak-120, not built(re-use of designation from light tourer of 1946)
Yak-25K
- Yak-25M with removed cannon, equipped Yak-25K-5 weapon system consisting of the "Izumrud" radar and four RS-1UKaliningrad K-5The Kaliningrad K-5 , also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.-History:...
(NATO AA-1 "Alkali") beam-riding missiles on the wings inboard of the engine pods. Small number built.
Yak-25K-7L
- Yak-25M testbed for K-7L missiles. This weapon did not enter service and the aircraft version was abandoned.
Yak-25K-75
- Yak-25M testbed for K-75 missiles. This weapon did not enter service and the aircraft version was abandoned.
Yak-25K-8 (Yak-25S K-8)
- Two Yak-25K converted to Yak-25K-8 weapons system testbeds with two K-8Kaliningrad K-8The Kaliningrad K-8 was a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union for interceptor aircraft use.Developed by OKB-339/NII-339...
(NATO AA-3 'Anab') missiles. Two Yak-25M aircraft(Yak-25S K-8) were modified for carriage trials of the K-8 missile Terminated in favor of the upcoming Yak-28P.
Yak-25L (letayuschchaya laboritoriya - flying laboratory)
- Ejection seat testbed
Yak-25MR (morskoy razvedchik -maritime reconnaissance aircraft)
- Maritime recconaissance aircraft prototype
Yak-25MSh
- Prototype of Radio controlled target drone, no production but many were converted to drones after service, but did not have MSh designation.
Yak-25PA (perekhvahtchik aerostahtov - balloon interceptor)
- High altitude balloon interceptor version of Yak-25RV, prototype only.
Yak-25R
- Reconnaissance version with glazed nose for second crewman (navigator) and two cameras. Aircraft armed with 23mm cannon, 10 pre-production aircraft built.
Yak-26
- Tactical nuclear bomber development, 9 aircraft built.
Yak-120M
- Yak-120 re-engined with Mikulin AM-9A (AM-5 with 0stage added to compressor, can-annular combustion chamberCombustion chamberA combustion chamber is the part of an engine in which fuel is burned.-Internal combustion engine:The hot gases produced by the combustion occupy a far greater volume than the original fuel, thus creating an increase in pressure within the limited volume of the chamber...
and afterburning and improvements to armament and avionics.
Yak-120MF
- Yak-120M converted to RD-9F engine testbed.
Yak-122
- Tactical reconnaissance aircraft prototype evolved from the Yak-25 and the Yak2AM-11 project, powered by two RD-9F turbojets. This aircraft was converted into the Yak-27R tactical reconnaissance prototype.
Yak-123
- prototype for Yak-26 tactical nuclear bomber
Yak-125B
- OKB designation for Yak-25B tactical nuclear strike aircraft prototype, carrying 1 x (spetspodveska - special slung load)
Yak-SM-6
- Two production Yak-25's modified for testing K-6 AAM's, missile cancelled used for other test tasks.
Specifications (Yak-25)
See also
External links
- Yak-25 at Ugolok Neba - description in Russian, photos and drawings