Yakolev Yak-28[]
The Yakovlev Yak-28 was a swept wing, turbojet-powered combat aircraft used by the Soviet Union. Produced initially as a bomber, it was also manufactured in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, interceptor, and trainer versions, known by the NATO reporting names Brewer, Firebar, and Maestro respectively. Based on the Yak-129 prototype first flown on 5 March 1958, it began to enter service in 1960.
Yakovlev Yak-28E 'Brewer-E'[]
Deployed in 1970, it is notable as the first Soviet electronic countermeasures (ECM) aircraft. Un-armed, with an extensive electronic warfare (EW) suite in the bomb bay and various aerials and dielectric panels for transmitting the jamming signals. Excess heat generated by the jamming equipment was dissipated by heat exchangers under the centre fuselage; no radome. Produced in 1970s in unknown numbers.
Yakovlev Yak-28P 'Firebar'[]
A dedicated long-range interceptor version, the Yak-28P was developed from 1960 and deployed operationally from 1964. It omitted the internal weapons bay in favor of additional fuselage tanks (its fuel capacity was considerable, limited by weight rather than volume), and added a new 'Oriol-D' interception radar compatible with the R-98 (AA-3 'Anab') air-to-air missile. Late production "upgraded" Yak-28Ps had a longer radome of pure conical shape and enhanced armament. Produced until 1967, with 435 built.
In Firestorm, the plane is notable as the only aircraft to date with a negative trait under official rules. Like the Yak-28-64 prototype in real life, the Yak-28P suffers from serious aileron issues causing a possibly lethal fluttering effect for any pilot who exceeds a moderate threshold.
- Tech Level: 4
- Damage Base: 20
- Min./Max. Airspeed: 3/18
- Maneuver (Loaded): 5 (5)
- Aerobatic (Loaded): -2 (-2)
- Defence (Loaded): 14 (14)
- Climb Rate (Loaded): 0.7 (0.7)
- Shallow/Steep/Power/Vertical Dives: 1/2/3/4
- Operational Ceiling: 10
- Stores External/Pylon/Internal: 0/4/0
- Guns: None
- Cost: 328
- Maintenance Cost: 39
- Trait: Flutter - Must make an airmanship roll if exceeding 13AS due to flutter problems. Fail and you go into a flat spin -2HB with chance to recover next turn.