Yak-28B

Description

The Yak-28B (NATO Codename: Brewer-A), perhaps the last combat jet developed by Yakovlev to join the VVS, was also the first supersonic frontline bomber of the VVS. The design of the Yak-28 was based on the Yak-26 (Yak-123) to meet a VSS call for a new supersonic bomber with better payload and speed. These jets were produced from 1960 to 1971 in Irkutsk. Although designated as a supersonic frontline bomber, the interceptor variant (Yak-28P, codename Firebar) was the most produced variant of Yak-28 family. The Yak-28B was the tactical bomber variant with Lotos radar and was produced as one of the earliest mass-produced variants of the family.

The Yak-28B was introduced in Update "Red Skies". Although the honour of being the first Soviet supersonic bomber might sound pleasing, the overall payload is only barely better than some of its NATO subsonic attacker counterparts. Due to its size and overall manoeuvrability of a bomber, as well as having only 50 round of 23 mm ammunition for last-ditch options with 64 countermeasures onboard, baiting IR AAMs of its tier is possible thanks to its speed and countermeasures, but do not take the jet as an interceptor as fighters of its era will have no problem gunning down the Brewer with ease.

General info

Flight performance

This bomber is relatively fast, it can break the sound barrier above 4,000 m. It also has a very high acceleration, high energy retention and a very good climb rate. However, it has a very poor turn rate and experiences moderate compression above 1,000 km/h.

Details

Engine performance

Survivability and armour

As a bomber, Yak-28B also featured protections around the cockpit including armor plates for pilots and bulletproof windshield; although the average thickness of these protections are nowhere enough for autocannons, any spare protections will enhance the survivability of the crew to at least shrapnel or .50 caliber guns.

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The Yak-28B is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 23 mm NR-23 cannon, nose-mounted (50 rpg)
  • 1 x 23 mm NR-23 cannon (50 rpg) + 64 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The Yak-28B can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (800 kg total)
• 6 x 250 kg FAB-250M-46 bombs (1,500 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-46 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 1 x 1,500 kg FAB-1500M-46 bomb (1,500 kg total)
• 1 x 3,000 kg FAB-3000M-46 bomb (3,000 kg total)

Usage in battles

The Yak-28B has 2 very powerful engines that give it a immense acceleration. Even at extreme high altitudes the jet bomber is capable of retaining a very high speed above Mach 1, where others will start to lose speed. It has a poor turn rate, but it is paired with a high thrust ratio: allowing you to retain your speed when turning. Your best chances at surviving is to stay high at all times and keep going above Mach 1 (your bombs still drop beyond Mach 1). You are untouchable when going high altitude paired with sound breaking speed, even able to outfly some early air-to-air missiles. Your only weakness being when landing and taking off, being able to get intercepted by enemy jets. It comes with CCIP that gives you the gimmick to allow to bomb from third perspective accurately. Lastly it also has countermeasures that can help you to defend yourself from missiles if they were to get too close to you.

Air battles

At the start of a match, take 20 minutes of fuel, equip Air targets belt and get yourself 6 x 250 kg bombs or 1 x 3,000 kg bomb (6 x 250 kg allows you to precisely eliminate bases while the 3,000 kg bomb gives the most explosive damage and is best used for bombing and quick resupplying). Start ascending on a 30-45° angle to an altitude of 6-12 km to any of the bomb targets (best to go for the furthest one as many bombers and strike aircraft will go for the first one). Once on a high altitude make sure you are certain that your bomb target will not get bombed by any teammates, if they all get bombed: simply remain high altitude on 100% thrust (not WEP) and wait for additional bomb targets to spawn. Once you have released your bombs start heading back to base, when coming close to base fully turn off your engine to bleed speed the most and land and repeat. If you are among the last players left of your team, take max fuel and ascend to the max altitude and remain there on 100% thrust, if someone starts coming close start the afterburners and fly away from the enemy. Though this tactic is seen as a annoying and unfair, also known as "space climbing".

CAS

Equip your Yak-28B with the FAB-3000M-46 and take the minimal fuel. When spawned in start ascending to 3-4 km where your jet won't break due to going too fast, Try to spot a enemy target or receive information from your teammates on where there are targets. Once you have decided and dropped your bomb, return back to base and repeat.

Enemies worth noting:

• Harrier (Family): Harriers are very common and can pose you a significant threat, especially the ones that are loaded with the AIM-9G (AV-8A, AV-8C, Harrier GR.3) that has a very long range and a good 18 G overload. Harriers can also very commonly be seen flying very high, so they're very likely to spot you and dive on you. But you have a higher speed and a slightly better climb rate, so when you see a Harrier, make sure you're the farthest away from him and try to keep that distance. But if it fires a missile less than 3 km away from you and you don't happen to have countermeasures, you're very likely to lose your aircraft.

• Lightning F.6 / : another common enemy packed with some dangerous armament (Red Top missiles) and high performance that can easily sneak behind you. But you have an ace up your sleeve: Vertical manoeuvres. Since the Lightning has a high angle of attack, it will bleed a lot of speed when turning, and even more when manoeuvring vertically. So to avoid it, start a vertical manoeuvre and once the Lightning bled enough speed, dive back, and you'll easily leave him behind. Do remember however that having flares is recommended when attempting this kind of manoeuvre.

• F8U-2 / T-2: The same applies to the F8U-2 and the T-2, except the T-2 has less dangerous missiles and slightly more speed.

• F-4C: Possibly your worst enemy. Although quite rare, this plane has access to the AIM-7D Sparrow. You can fool these with Chaff, but you don't have RWR so you can't know when the F-4C has you locked and when the Sparrow is coming. This plane also can outperform you in every possible way so if a F-4C is eager to chase you, get rid of it as fast as possible by requesting support from your team.

• MiG-21 SPS-K: Unlike other MiG-21s, there is a decent chance that the premium SPS-K model will be on the enemy team. The MiG-21 is a powerful interceptor, and can easily climb to altitudes that the Yak-28B might otherwise feel safe at. Armed with R-60 missiles and able to sneak up from behind, this MiG-21 poses a significant threat. Matches can and will end abruptly if an enemy SPS-K player spots you and is able to fire off a missile even up to 3 km behind you.

• F-104A / F-104C / Chinese F-104A: The early F-104 series of jets are one of the only jets capable of keeping up with you no matter how high or fast you're going, they come packed with AIM-9B's and a fast-firing 20 mm Gatling gun. It's best to remain away from them as much as possible, as once they are chasing you there is a high chance they will catch up with you and eliminate you. Only way to truly run away from it is to either have your teammates engage it or fly back to base where the base SPAA will protect you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Immense acceleration and good climb rate
• High top speed and energy retention
• Has access to flares and chaff for self-defense against missiles (64 units in total)
• Above 1,000 km/h, your plane compresses very slightly. This allows you to pull hard in a turn without any significant overload
• Very resistant flaps and gear that acts like an airbrake
• The 3,000 kg bomb is very useful for bombing runs in ground RB (in air RB too, as it can destroy every kind of land targets)
• Can outrun most early air-to-air Missiles at high altitude
• Very strong parachute that can quickly help you come to a full stop when landing

Cons:

• At the deck, this plane can redline and snap its wings even with no WEP (70% thrust allows you to stay outside the redline speed)
• No airbrakes
• Below 1,000 km/h, your plane will start to experience extreme overloads that can easily snap your wings within 4 seconds if you pull too hard
• Fuel starvation happens in negative-G manoeuvres
• Horrible turn rate that makes you vulnerable to even AIM-9Bs if you do not have countermeasures
• Low roll rate
• Absolutely pitiful ammo capacity for NR-23 cannon renders it useless for nearly everything

History

The Yak-28 "Brewer" is a swept-wing turbojet bomber used by the Soviet Air Force in the 1960s. In the late 1950s, the Yakovlev design bureau began work on an improved version of the Yak-26, which underperformed and failed to enter production. The new aircraft was powered by two Tumansky R-11 afterburning turbojet engines producing 57 kn of thrust each, slung in underwing nacelles. Otherwise, the aircraft featured a conventional configuration, with a 45-degree swept wing and a mid-tail-mounted horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft was primarily subsonic at low altitude but capable of 1840 km/h at higher altitude.

The first flight of the new aircraft occurred in March of 1958, and the western world first saw the aircraft at the Tushino Airshow in 1961. Initially, western analysts believed it to be a continuation of the Yak-25 fighter series, and was given the reporting name "Flashlight", but once its actual role was realized, it was redesignated "Brewer". The Yak-28 aircraft was ultimately quite successful in its role and several variants were created, including the Yak-28B tactical bomber, Yak-28P interceptor (armed with air-to-air missiles), the Yak-28R reconnaissance aircraft and the Yak-28U trainer. A total of 1180 Yak-28s of all variants were produced.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Yak-28B from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] Yak-28B: the Bomb Express
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance