Design and Development
The Yak-121 prototype was to form the basis of the Yak-27 family of supersonic interceptor and tactical reconnaissance aircraft intended to replace the Yak-25 and its variants. The Yak-27 and Yak-27K interceptors, with gun and K-8 missile armament respectively, reached or exceeded their requirements but were overtaken in performance by the Sukhoi Su-9, and so production was not authorised. A high-altitude interceptor version, the Yak-27V, was converted from the Yak-121 prototype fitted with a 1,300 kgf (2,866 lbf) Dushkin S-155 rocket booster in the rear fuselage, and afterburning RD-9AKYe turbojets, although performance was very good, reaching 23,000 m (75,400 ft) during trials, development was halted due to support and maintenance issues with the Dushkin S-155 rocket engine.
The dedicated high altitude photo-reconnaissance development of the Yak-27 interceptor was named Yak-27R (NATO designation 'Mangrove'). The radome and radar were replaced with a glazed nose for an observer/navigator, the starboard Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon was retained but the port gun was deleted and two cameras added. It had a longer wing with a span of 11.82 m (38 ft 9 in), with two Tumansky RD-9AF turbojet engines and had a top speed of about 1,285 km/h (798 mph) at high altitude, with a service ceiling of 16,500 m (54,000 ft) and a range of 2,380 km (1,480 mi) with two wing tanks. About 180 aircraft were produced in Plant No.292 in Saratov.
Read more about this topic: Yakovlev Yak-27
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