[How would you like to see Yak-28IM in-game?]
- Yes, as a Tech-Tree Vehicle.
- Yes, as Premium Vehicle.
- Yes, as a Squadron Vehicle.
- Yes, as an Event Vehicle.
- No, I don’t want to see Yak-28IM in the game.
0
voters
YAK-28IM
This is the only image of the Yak-28IM available on the internet, source linked below. This aircraft did exist.
History
View More History
The Yakovlev Yak-28 was a swept-wing, twin-jet combat aircraft developed in the late 1950s that evolved into a versatile family of Soviet bomber, interceptor, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and trainer variants. Based on the Yak-129 prototype first flown in 1958, the Yak-28 entered service in the early 1960s to give the Soviet Air Force a much-needed supersonic tactical bomber capability. Initial bomber versions included the Yak-28B (“Brewer-A”) with an RBP-3 radar bombsight in its belly and an internal bomb bay, and the Yak-28L (“Brewer-B”) which replaced the radar with a Lotos radio datalink bombing system guided by ground stations – a cumbersome setup that proved unreliable, resulting in only about 111 Yak-28L built. The most advanced bomber variant was the Yak-28I (“Brewer-C”), which introduced uprated engines and a new Initsiativa-2 all-weather radar for independent targeting, making it the most capable version (once its radar was debugged) and the most numerous with roughly 223 produced. Beyond the bombers, the Yak-28 platform was adapted to other roles: the Yak-28P “Firebar” was a two-seat long-range interceptor that deleted the bomb bay for extra fuel and carried an Oriol-D interception radar with R-98 air-to-air missiles; the Yak-28R “Brewer-D” was a tactical reconnaissance model fitted with cameras and sensors; the Yak-28U “Maestro” was a dual-control trainer with a second cockpit in an elongated nose; and the Yak-28PP (“Brewer-E”) electronic warfare version entered service in 1970 as the USSR’s first dedicated ECM jammer aircraft, being unarmed and crammed with jamming equipment to protect other strike aircraft.
In operational use, the Yak-28 family had a mixed reputation: pilots appreciated its high speed, but many variants suffered from poor reliability and demanding handling characteristics, especially early on, the aircraft’s powerful twin engines and unforgiving single-engine performance made it tricky to fly without extensive training, and maintenance issues led to a high accident rate in its initial years. The Yak-28L’s reliance on ground control for bombing, for example, was disliked as overly complicated and vulnerable to jamming, and some crews considered the Yak-28 less trustworthy than the older, rugged Ilyushin Il-28 “Beagle” bomber it was meant to replace. Nevertheless, the Yak-28 in its various forms provided the Soviets with a much-improved strike and interception capability through the 1960s and 1970s, serving as a Cold War workhorse across its numerous variants, from nuclear-capable frontline bombers and high-speed interceptors to photo-recon planes and escort jammers, until it was gradually phased out by more modern types like the Sukhoi Su-17 “Fitter” and Su-24 “Fencer” in the late 1970s and 1980s
In 1969 Yak-28IM was conceived as a single experimentally modified Yak-28I, the final modification of the Yak-28 bomber series, to improve the aircraft’s strike capabilities. The key difference between the Yak-28IM and Yak-28I (and all its other predecessors) was its expanded external weapons capability. Unlike earlier models (Including Yak-28I), which primarily carried bombs in an internal bay, the Yak-28IM featured 4x underwing pylons, allowing it to carry rocket pods for S-5 unguided rockets. UB-16-57UM were the chosen rocket pods. They were lighter, more aerodynamic versions of the standard UB-16-57. Yak-28I/IMs were equipped with a GSh-23L twin-barrel 23mm cannon and not the NR-23. These upgrades gave it a limited close air support role alongside its traditional bomber mission.
Specifics
The is schematic confirms that Yak-28IM had at least 2 UB-16-57UM rocket pods mounted exactly like on the model image and Yak-28PP (that came out a year earlier).
The Yak-28B and Yak-28I/IM can be distinguished by their nose shape, underwing fuel tanks, and engine nozzles. The Yak-28B had the RBP-3 radar, whereas the Yak-28I/IM featured the more advanced Initiative-2 radar system, the OPB-116 optical sight, and an upgraded inertial navigation system, allowing for better all-weather strike accuracy. The Yak-28I/IM featured a newer Tumansky R-11AF2-300 turbojets and redesigned engine nozzles with a slightly different shape and length, improving aerodynamics and performance compared to the standard Yak-28B. It was also fitted with underwing fuel tanks, improving its operational range. The Yak-28I/IM also had additional antennas and minor avionics upgrades. In total 223 Yak-28I were produced and serial number 4940503 was chosen for the IM testing. The IM was never accepted into service, because it could not compete with the Su-17 and the Su-24.
Now what is unknown is if it truly had 4 external pylons or 2. Most sources indicate that it had 4, one source says 2, however I could find no images to confirm that it had 4. The Yak-28PP (A Yak-28I stripped of radar and a cannon to be fitted with EW equipment) used 2 UB-16-57UM, however they were used with S-5P rockets for decoy purposes. What we have confirmed for sure is that it did have 2 UB-16-57UM rocket pods. On the Yak-28P there was a possibility to mount missiles in the space between the engine and fuselage. So it could’ve also been possible to theoretically mount rocket pods there on the Yak-28IM.
The Yak-28P’s R-3S missile hardpoints, located between the fuselage and engines, were standard Soviet pylons structurally capable of carrying other stores, including UB-series rocket pods. While the interceptor variant didn’t use rocket pods operationally, Yak-28PP (an ECM aircraft) successfully carried UB-16 pods on the wings. Given Soviet standardization and similar practices on aircraft like the MiG-21 and MiG-23, it’s entirely feasible that the same mounts used for R-3S could also carry rocket pods, supporting the idea that the Yak-28IM could mount four UB pods.
Images show Yak-28I. Yak-28I No. 4940503 was chosen for the Yak-28IM experiment. Yak-28IM is a Yak-28I equipped with four underwing pylons to carry rocket pods or other munitions.
Implementation
The Yak-28IM could be implemented similarly to how the IL-28SH is represented in War Thunder. An alternative approach would be to nerf the Yak-28B by removing the ground reticle in third-person view and transferring that feature to the Yak-28IM. Additionally, the Yak-28B’s Battle Rating could be reduced to compensate. This change makes sense considering the Yak-28IM was equipped with an improved fire control system, which would justify its enhanced in-game capabilities.
Given that the Yak-28I had a fairly successful production run, I believe the IM variant deserves a place in the game, whether it features two or four pods. Without these pods, its gameplay is virtually identical to the Yak-28B, offering little distinction.
Yak-28IM Specifications
General Characteristics:
- Crew: 2 (Pilot and Navigator/Bombardier)
- Length: 20.020 m (~65 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 11.780 m (~38 ft 8 in)
- Height: 4.300 m (~14 ft 1 in)
- Wing Area: 35.25 m² (~379 ft²)
- Empty Weight: ~11,500 kg (25,353 lbs)
- Loaded Weight: ~16,160 kg (35,621 lbs)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): ~18,080 kg (~39,860 lbs)
Powerplant:
- Engines: 2 × Tumansky R-11AF2-300 turbojets (uprated)
- Thrust: 13,670 lbf (60.8 kN) each with afterburner
- Total Thrust: 27,340 lbf (121.6 kN)
Performance:
- Maximum Speed (Clean Configuration): 1,850 km/h (1,150 mph, Mach 1.73)
- Maximum Speed (Armed with Rockets and External Tanks): ~1,600 km/h (994 mph, Mach 1.5)
- Cruising Speed: ~900 km/h (559 mph)
- Combat Range: ~2,070 km (1,286 mi) with external tanks
- Service Ceiling: 14,500 m (47,560 ft)
- Rate of Climb: ~35 m/s (6,900 ft/min)
- Maximum Flight Time: ~ 2 Hours 22 Minutes
Armament:
- Fixed Gun: 1 × GSh-23L twin-barrel 23mm cannon, mounted on the right side of the fuselage (for self-defense or ground attack)
- Underwing Hardpoints: 4 external hardpoints
- 2 or 4 × UB-16-57UM rocket pods, each carrying S-5 57mm unguided rockets
- Internal Bomb Bay:
- Capacity for up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lbs) of bombs
Avionics & Equipment:
- Radar: “Initiative-2” radar for improved targeting and all-weather bombing
- Optical Sight: OPB-116
- Autopilot: AP-28K
- Countermeasures: Chaff/flare dispensers
- Navigation: Inertial guidance system for long-range operations
Image shows the schematics of the Yak-28PP that was based on the Yak-28I. This aircraft had no GSh-23L cannon and was missing the bulge on the belly. Image provided to show what a Yak-28 equipped with S-5 rocket pods looked like.
Image shows a drawing of the Yak-28P. This Yak-28P had a pylon between the fuselage and the engine. It also featured a similar engine nozzle design to the Yak-28IM. Image provided for demonstration purposes only.
Sources:
https://www.airvectors.net/avyak25.html
https://pikabu.ru/story/yak28samyiy_sekretnyiy_samolet_yakovleva_6562067?ysclid=m7yn1bs0a0289474578
https://www.airwar.ru/enc/spy/yak28pp.html
https://www.generalequipment.info/S5%20ROCKET.htm
https://aviaros.narod.ru/yak-28.htm
https://www.airwar.ru/enc/bomber/yak28i.html
Amodel 72126 1/72 Yakovlev Yak-28IM Brewer C Kit First Look Note: this is the only source claims the IM had 2 rocket pods instead of 4.