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Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-2A: Almost Perfect...
History:
Following the end of WWII, it was clear that the jet engine was the way forward for aviation technology. While the earliest jet aircraft still had some teething issues, their advantages were obvious, and all the major powers began ramping up production and development of new aircraft, bringing the world into the jet age. The USSR was no slouch in this race, with several design bureaus putting forward aircraft which would become legendary in the coming years. Perhaps the most prolific of these was that of Mikoyan-Gurevich, also known as OKB-155. Having already established themselves as a leading aircraft design bureau during WWII, it was only natural that Mikoyan should adapt to the jet age. Their first design, the MiG-9, was… not a success, to put it lightly. It suffered from numerous issues which relegated it to parades and airshows. Nevertheless, it proved they could do it, and they carried on, producing the wildly successful MiG-15 and MiG-17 soon after. These jets defined the early Soviet jet age, seeing combat all over the world. These were followed by the MiG-19, the first Soviet production fighter to break Mach 1. This was accomplished in part thanks to research carried out by the Central Aero- and Hydro-dynamics Research Institute named after Nikolay Ye. Zhukovskiy, or TsAGI. Wind tunnel testing had shown that swept wings were the future, and that a sweep angle of 55° was the optimal angle for supersonic fighter design. The MiG-19 was a true milestone in the evolution of Soviet aircraft, but Mikoyan refused to rest, preparing a successor even before the MiG-19 was out the door.
This time, the aim was to reach Mach 2 and create a fighter capable of matching or beating the F-104 and Dassault Mirage. Work began in 1954 with the Ye-1, a lightweight, swept-wing tactical fighter using a non-reheated turbojet engine. This was more of an initial design study than anything else, and the engine was found to be far too weak. The next prototype, the Ye-2, showed more promise. This used a single example of the reheating turbojet used in the twin-engine MiG-19 and featured numerous improvements to its physical design, providing the Mikoyan OKB with extremely valuable data. But it was still not where it needed to be. Thusly, the next revision, known as the Ye-2A, was developed. This model finally had the intended RD-11 afterburning turbojet engine along with numerous aerodynamic improvements and more secondary weapon options. Significant potential was shown by the Ye-2A prototype, and much testing was done to see what could be made of it. A few derivatives came along, such as the Ye-50A high altitude interceptor, but unfortunately it was not to be. While low-rate production under the designation MiG-23 was indeed initiated in 1957, only five were ever fully completed. A simultaneous project under the designation Ye-4 and later Ye-5 which used delta wings rather than swept wings would turn out to be a more successful design, eventually earning the contract and going into production as the MiG-21. While not making it into production, the Ye-2A provided significant and important research data regarding the construction of Mach 2 fighters, paving the road to where we are today. Those produced under the MiG-23 designation would continue to see use as testbeds for new aviation technology, including ejection seats and canopy jettison systems.
Description:
The Ye-2A bears a striking resemblance to the production MiG-21, having a long and pencil-like fuselage with a single internal engine and a nose intake. The primary difference between the two is the Ye-2A’s use of a pair of standard swept wings as opposed to delta wings. This gives it a likeness closer to the MiG-19, but with the MiG-21’s fuselage. Several noticeable modifications have also been made between the earlier Ye-2 and the Ye-2A. The most important of these is the installation of the intended Mikulin RD-11 engine which finally could produce the power required to get the Ye-2A where it needed to go. Delivering 3,800 kgf dry and 5,100 kgf on afterburners, it was able to push the Ye-2A to a maximum 1,900 km/h (1,180.6 mph). It had a service ceiling of 18,000 m (59,055 ft) and could climb to 10,000 m (32,810 ft) in 7.3 minutes. The Ye-2A’s unstick speed and landing speed are 305 km/h (189.5 mph) and 280 km/h (174 mph), respectively.
The general dimensions are as follows: Overall length of 13.23 m (43 ft 4 in) (minus pitot), fuselage length of 11.33 m (37 ft 2 in), height when parked of 4.082 m (13 ft 4 in), wingspan of 8.1098 m (26 ft 7 in), horizontal tail span of 3.726 m (12 ft 2 in), and a wing area of 21 m² (226.04 ft²). It only has one crew member, that being the pilot. Internal fuel capacity varied between the first and final prototypes, with the early prototype having an internal capacity of 1,890 l (415.8 Imp. gal) and the later pre-production model having an internal capacity of 1,760 l (387.2 Imp. gal). Both versions could also carry an external 400 l (87.9 Imp. gal) external fuel tank on the single central fuselage pylon. Maximum range on the internal tanks is 2,000 km (1,242 mi). Regarding weight, the Ye-2A’s empty weight is 4,340 kg (9,570 lb) and its maximum takeoff weight is 6,250 kg (13,780 lb). The fuel weighed 1,450 kg (3,120 lb).
In terms of armament, the Ye-2A carries three 30mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 cannons in the nose with 60 rounds per gun each. Two are mounted on the left side, and one on the right. These cannons had been the primary armament for the MiG-19, so it only made sense to carry them over to the next fighter as well. In addition, two options for suspended armament are available, though they are quite minor. On the same single centerline pylon as the external fuel tank, the Ye-2A can instead mount a single 250kg FAB-250 bomb or a single 16-shot UB-16-57 pod for 57mm S-5 rockets. This gives it limited ground attack capacity, though not much and at the cost of the external fuel tank.
Regarding avionics, the Ye-2A is equipped with the RSIU-4V radio set, an ARK-5 aerial direction finder (ADF), an MRP-48P marker beacon receiver, a Bariy-M IFF transponder, and the SPO-1 Sirena-2 RWR. For targeting, it featured the SRD-1M Radal’-M radar rangefinder coupled with the ASP-5N-V3 gun sight. These were powered by a 9 kw GSR-ST-9000A engine-driven generator, along with a 12SAM-28 lead-acid battery as a backup. Hydraulics were powered by two independent systems with one acting on the flight control surfaces. The tailplanes used a BU-44 actuator and the ailerons used a BU-45 actuator. The shock cone in the nose was also hydraulically movable with a travel distance of 182mm (7.17 in).
Specifications:
Spoiler
General Characteristics:
Length: 13.23 m (43 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 8.1098 m (26 ft 7 in)
Height: 4.082 m (13 ft 4 in)
Wing Area: 21 m² (226.04 ft²)
Empty Weight: 4,340 kg (9,570 lb)
Gross Weight: 6,250 kg (13,780 lb)
Powerplant: 1x Mikulin RD-11 afterburning turbojet engine, 3,800 kgf (8377.56 lbf) dry and 5,100 kgf (11243.58 lbf) on afterburners
Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Performance:
Max Speed: 1,900 km/h (1,180.6 mph, Mach 1.53)
Rate of Climb: 22.83 m/s (4494.52 ft/min)
Service Ceiling: 18,000 m (59,055 ft)
Range: 2,000 km (1,242 mi)
Armament:
Guns: 3x 30mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 cannon (nose-mounted, 60 rpg)
Hardpoints: 1 (centerline)
- 1x 250kg FAB-250 bomb or
- 1x 16-round UB-16-57 57mm rocket pod or
- 1x 400 l drop tank
Avionics and Equipment:
Radar Rangefinder: SRD-1M Radal’-M
Gunsight: ASP-5N-V3
RWR: SPO-1 Sirena-2
Gallery:
External Shots
If there is anything I have missed or gotten incorrect, please let me know! I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I hope you will also check out my other suggestions! Thanks, and have a great day.
Sources:
Spoiler
Famous Russian Aircraft: Mikoyan MiG-21 by Yefim Gordon, Keith Dexter, and Dmitriy Komissarov
Mikoyan/Gurevich Ye-2 - experimental
List of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 variants - Wikipedia