page_title: Yakovlev Yak-28
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Yakovlev Yak-28 / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: Plan-view silhouettes of the Yakovlev Yak-28I
context_page_description: The Yakovlev Yak-28 is a swept wing, turbojet-powered combat aircraft used by the Soviet Union. Produced initially as a tactical 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.
context_section_description: Yak-129
  Prototype of Yak-28.
  Yak-28 (Izdeliye B)
  Tactical bomber. Initial production version; built in small numbers without radar.
  Yak-28B (Izdeliye 28B; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-A")
  Production of Yak-28 with weapon-aiming radar fitted, and various improvements such as fittings for JATO bottles. Production number unknown.
  Yak-28L (Izdeliye 28L; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-B")
  Tactical bomber with ground-controlled targeting system using triangulation from ground-based transmitter sites. A total of 111 built.
  Yak-28I (Izdeliye 28I; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-C")
  Tactical bomber with the internal targeting system "Initsiativa-2" 360-degree ground-mapping radar. A total of 223 built.
  Yak-28UVP prototype (ookorochennyy vzlyot i posahdka – short takeoff and landing)
  A single Yak-28 converted for testing short takeoff and landing techniques with JATO bottles and braking parachutes.
  Yak-28U (Izdeliye 28U) (oochebnyy – training) (NATO reporting name – "Maestro")
  It was a dual control trainer with a second cockpit in the nose for student pilots; made as a prototype in 1962. A total of 183 were built.
  Yak-28R (Izdeliye 28R; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-D")
  A dedicated tactical reconnaissance version of the Yak-28I, with increased headroom under the pilot´s canopy, increased nose glazing with a sloping rear bulkhead, Initsiativa-2 radar, and five interchangeable pallets containing various mission equipment fittings. Prototype in 1963. A total of 183 built.
  Yak-28SR prototype (samolyot raspylitel – spraying/dusting aircraft) first use of SR.
  Chemical warfare aircraft for dispensing dust or liquid agents from underwing tank/applicators. Though recommended for production none were delivered to the VVS.
  Yak-28SR (Izdeliye 28SR) second use of SR.
  Tactical reconnaissance aircraft fitted with an active radio/radar jammer (either SPS-141 or SPS-143). Production was on a very small scale.
  Yak-28TARK (televiszionnyy aviatsionnyy razveddyvatel'nyy kompleks)
  Television reconnaissance system to send real-time images to a ground base. Backup provided by a 190 mm focal length still camera.
  Yak-28RR (Izdeliye 28RR)
  Radiation intelligence aircraft with RR8311-100 air sampling pods, for gathering samples of nuclear tests. The pods were specially designed for the Yak-28RR but became standard fit for all subsequent radiation intelligence gathering aircraft. Modification of a number of existing Yak-28R aircraft.
  Yak-28RL
  Radiation Intelligence aircraft conceived by fitting RR8311-100 air sampling pods, with no other specialist equipment. Modification of a number of existing Yak-28L aircraft.
  Yak-28PP (Izeliye 28PP) (NATO reporting name – "Brewer-E")
  Deployed in 1970, it is notable as the first Soviet electronic countermeasures (ECM) aircraft. It was unarmed, 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; it did not include a radome. Produced in the 1970s in unknown numbers.
  Yak-28VV proposition (vertikahl'nyy vzlyot – vertical take-off)
  A vertical takeoff and landing project, with two R-27AF-300 lift/cruise engines and four R39P-300 lift engines in the forward fuselage.
  Yak-28LSh proposition
  Light attack aircraft project competing with the Ilyushin Il-102 and Sukhoi T-8, eliminated at an early stage.
  Yak-28P (Izdeliye 40) (NATO reporting name – "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.
  Yak-28PM prototype
  Upgraded Yak-28P with R11AF3-300 engines, flight testing started in 19
caption: Yakovlev Yak-28I
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