Yakovlev Yak-27K-8 "Flashlight-C" - Missile-Armed Supersonic Heavy Interceptor

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

 

Hello!

 

I came across this plane many times before, but never thoroughly looked at it as during those times, supersonic planes were still not a thing. Today I had another look at it and thought this plane would be very nice to have because of how interesting it is! At least in my opinion; it's a heavy interceptor armed with 30mms and missiles we don't have in the game yet, while being of heavy fighter origin and supersonic at the same time. 

 

It's a development of the original Yak-25M "Flashlight-A" with many design changes. It would serve as a good supersonic starter for the Yak line.

 

Quick overview:

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

The Yakovlev Yak-27K-8 "Flashlight-C" was a development of the predecessor, the Yak-121. The new design featured more powerful engines reinforced with afterburners, twin 30mm NR-30 autocannons instead of the 37mm N-37D cannons, K-8 and K-75 missiles and more. 

 

A total of 74 test flights were conducted for the Yak-27K, 37 of them being with missiles, resulting in sufficient data available.

 

The Yak-27K-8 specifically did not enter service, since the Sukhoi Su-9 and Su-11 offered more promises as interceptors. The only Yak-27 to enter service was the Yak-27R "Mangrove", the reconnaissance and bomber variant, with around 180 built.

 

 

 

 

History, design and development:

 

 

Spoiler

 

The appearance of the Yak-27 interceptor coincided with the creation of the first domestic homing missiles. On the basis of a government decree of March 30 and the order of the State Customs Committee of April 4, 1955, under the K-8 missile, created in a team led by M.R. Bisnovat, designed the interceptor aircraft, designated Yak-27K , and for testing and testing of the Yak-27K-8 complex re-equipped four (including three serial) Yak-27. The missiles were located on launchers placed between the fuselage and the gondolas of the engines of the fighter.

The prototype was built at the OKB-115 plant as the second prototype of the Yak-121 and was structurally little different from the first prototype. Radome radome became a bit shorter, stabilizer was made restrained in flight, RD-9F engines were installed. The capacity of the four internal fuel tanks was 3215 liters. The pylons under the K-8 missiles, as well as on the experienced Yak-25K No.0119, had reverse carrying out.

The prototype Yak-27K was built in August 1956. The first stage of its production tests took place in September-November 1956. On October 6 of the same year, GA Tinyakova was appointed the leading test pilot for the Yak-27K. 

 

Factory tests of K-8 missiles (without launches) began in the Zhukovsky suburban area on two flying laboratories Yak-25M. Then, after the death of Tinyakov, they were continued on a prototype Yak-27K-8 test pilot VM Volkov. These flights showed that armament required refinement, a protracted spring of 1957. The next stage of the flight tests of rocket armament began in May 1957. In the summer, they were connected to the second serial fighter Yak-27 (factory No.0201)

 

The G8’s flight tests began in Vladimirovka (now Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan Region), where the 6th State Research Institute of the Air Force was located in January 1958. The first flight of the Yak-27K in Vladimirovka on January 17, 1958 ended in disaster. After separation from the front wheel runway, the aircraft tended to further increase the angle of attack. Pilots of the Yak-27K, commander of the aviation combat regiment A.M. Khitrov and test pilot LII V.N. Zavadsky could not cope with the machine, because the stabilizer was at an angle of minus 0.25 instead of the fixed plus 1.5╟. The result is a progressive increase in the angle of attack leading to a loss of speed and stalling.

 

After this incident, the tests of the Yak-27K were assigned to the pilots of the Institute of Air Force In particular, G. T. Beregovoi, S. A. Mikoyan and P. F. Kabrelev flew it, as well as the Burlakov and Inkov radar operators. From industry, K-8 pilots were engaged in pilots MPKirzhayev, ML.Petushkov and VAShevchenko.

On April 12, 1958, factory testing of three production aircraft, refined into the Yak-27K interceptor version (factory No.0503, 0104 and 0204) with the Sokol-2K radar and RD-9CH radar engines, later renamed the Orel, began. development in OKB-33 MAP under the leadership of G.M. Kunyavsky.

 

In addition to the three vehicles mentioned, in 1957 the K-8 was equipped with the first Y-27 No.0201 serial cannon armament system. At the same time it installed a modified wing. Control tests of this fighter in order to test the operation of the engines, assess the stability and controllability, as well as determine its speed characteristics were carried out in December by test pilot FL Abramov, having completed 3 flights with a total duration of 1414 minutes. Until the end of May 1958, the Yak-27 No.0201 participated in the development and testing of the K-8 system, which took place at the 6th test site of the Ministry of Defense in Akhtubinsk (military unit 15650). Along with him, two Yak-25K interceptors and an experienced Yak-27K were involved in these works. On this machine, 41 flights were performed with a total duration of 24 hours and 42 minutes, on the Yak-27 No.0201 - 3 more flights.

According to the test results, the Yak-27K reached a maximum speed of 1270 km/h, which exceeded the calculated one, the ceiling was 16,300 m (apparently without rockets), the duration of the flight with rockets was 1 hour 27 minutes. The maximum range at the same time was 1260 km.

There were 7 launches of missiles, one of them - on the parachute target PM-1, and two - on target aircraft Il-28M. Shooting at aircraft was made at altitudes of 9000-10000 m from a distance of 5-6 km (target detection range - 33-35 km). Both Ela managed to shoot down.

 

It follows from the memoirs of S.A. Mikoyan that he and the operator Burlakov shot down the first radio-controlled target of the Il-28M with the K-8 missile equipped with a thermal homing head on February 20, 1958. However, it follows from the GKAT documents that The first targets of the Il-28M were shot down on May 23 and 29, 1958.

In accordance with a government decree in 1958, the head of Saratov was instructed to make 19 interceptors out of last year's backlog, which were intended for testing guided missiles, equipment and engines, testing interception systems and accumulating LRD operating experience.

 

For the Air Force, it was planned to transfer four Yak-27s with cannon armament and two Yak-27Ks with K-8 missiles. For the aviation industry - eight examples of the Yak-27K with K-8 missiles and five Yak-27V with rocket engine. Overall plant No. 292 built in 1957 10 interceptors Yak-27 of various modifications, including three Yak-27K and the following year - five Yak-27V. Eight of them were with a modified wing, different ailerons displaced to the root rib and the toes of its end parts deflected downwards.

 

The Yak-27K received a fairly good assessment of the pilots, but in 1958, the air defense aircraft adopted a new Su-9-51 intercept system with the prospect of replacing the K-51 system with the K-8 system. In terms of its characteristics, this aircraft was significantly superior to the Yak-27K, and thus canceled its career.

The Yak-27K remained among the experimental machines, but contributed to the testing and fine-tuning of the K-8 missiles. As an interceptor, the Yak-27K had insufficient speed and short duration of flight. At that time, faster and more complementary interceptors such as the Su-11 and Tu-128 were already being developed.

 

 

 

 

Specifications

 

 

Spoiler

 

Yakovlev Yak-27K-8 "Flashlight-C"

 

 

General Characteristics

 

First flight: September, 1956

Number built: 2 (one Yak-27K, one Yak-27K-8)

Role: Heavy supersonic interceptor

Status: Prototype, canceled

Crew: 2

Length: 17.33 m (56.87 ft)

Wingspan: 10.96 m (35.96 ft)

Wing area: 28.94 m² (311.5 ft²)

Height: 4.2 m (13.78 ft)

Empty weight: 7,005 kg (15,443 lbs)

Loaded weight: 10,680 kg (23,545 lbs)

Max. takeoff weight: N/A

Powerplant: 2 x Tumansky RD-9AF afterburning turbojets:

• without afterburner: 2,750 kgf (26.96 kN, 6,026.7 lbf) (each), 5,500 kgf (53.92 kN, 12,053.4 lbf) (total)
• with afterburner: 3,800 kgf (37.26 kN, 8,377.56 lbf) (each), 7,600 kgf (74.53 kN, 16,755 lbf) (total)

 

Performance

 

Maximum speed:

• At sea level: 1,110 km/h (689.7 mph, 599 kts) (full power)
• At altitude (10,660 m / 35,00 ft): 1,270 km/h (789 mph, 685.7 kts) (full power)

Rate of climb: 97 m/s (318.24 ft/s) (full power)

Service ceiling: 16,300 m (53,477.7 ft)

Flight duration: 1h30

Range: 1,260 km (783 mi, 680 nmi)

Wing loading:

• Empty weight: 242.052522 kg/m² (49.58 lb/ft²)
• Loaded weight: 369.039392 kg/m² (75.59 lb/ft²)
• Max. takeoff weight: N/A

Thrust/weight (without afterburner):

• Empty weight: 0.78
• Loaded weight: 0.51
• Max. takeoff weight: N/A

Thrust/weight (with afterburner):

• Empty weight: 0.92
• Loaded weight: 0.71
• Max. takeoff weight: N/A

 

Armament

 

Guns: N/A

Missiles: 

• 2 x Kaliningrad R-8MR semi-active radar-homing air-to-air missiles

 

 

 

 

Sources/References:

 

 

Spoiler

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-27

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/yak-27.htm
Soviet Cold War Fighters - Alexander Mladenov

Soviet Air Defence 1945-1991 by Yefim, Gordon, Komissarov, Dmitriy

Aircraft of The Soviets. 1917-1970

A. Yakovlev Combat Jets. Russian Power. - Roman Astakhov

The history of aircraft structures in the USSR 1951-1965

 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by EpicBlitzkrieg87

[Princess_Pinch 5,625]

Open for discussion. 

[Josephs_Piano 7,044]

The bottom image - with the glazed nose - AFAIK that's the 27R - unarmed recce version.

[Milocat 4,848]

+1 to this, would be an awesome fun supersonic jet.  

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

11 hours ago, Josephs_Piano said:

The bottom image - with the glazed nose - AFAIK that's the 27R - unarmed recce version.

 

Changed it, thanks. And no it actually had a 23mm NR-23 but with only 50 rounds of ammo so that's why I went over with the Yak-27K-8. 

[VWGolf4_20v_AGU 132]

+1

[mrparty1 950]

oops. I accidentally voted for 11.0 but I meant to put 10.0

 

Either way, it's a +1 for me

[Nicolaser 2,024]

That's a no for me : prototype, I would rather see a yak 25 M 

 

Also semi active radar homing are a bit overkill right now we should look at passive radar homing first

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

48 minutes ago, Nicolaser said:

That's a no for me : prototype, I would rather see a yak 25 M 

 

The Yak-25M is a top tier 5 candidate, this is the plane that would follow up and it's based on a production vehicle. 

 

If you want the Yaks to stop at transonics that looks stale in my imagination.

 

50 minutes ago, Nicolaser said:

Also semi active radar homing are a bit overkill right now we should look at passive radar homing first

 

 

 

[Nicolaser 2,024]

On 03/07/2019 at 11:17, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

The Yak-25M is a top tier 5 candidate, this is the plane that would follow up and it's based on a production vehicle. 

 

If you want the Yaks to stop at transonics that looks stale in my imagination.

well there's the yak 28 which could work for supersonic yakt but anyway yakovlev never built many supersonic and pretty much stopped developement of fighter after the yak 38 and 141

On 03/07/2019 at 11:17, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

 

 

 

it's not the problem of 1 shot to kill (especially when we know that mistral and surely other recent AAM work really badly) it's about missing mechanics (currently radar aren't working enough to shoot radar homing missile)

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

4 hours ago, Nicolaser said:

well there's the yak 28 which could work for supersonic yakt but anyway yakovlev never built many supersonic and pretty much stopped developement of fighter after the yak 38 and 141

it's not the problem of 1 shot to kill (especially when we know that mistral and surely other recent AAM work really badly) it's about missing mechanics (currently radar aren't working enough to shoot radar homing missile)

 

The Yak-28 can absolutely not start the supersonic line for the Yaks as it was too fast to be called an early supersonic jet to start off the Yak supersonic line

 

And radar-guided missiles will still have a tendency to miss their targets a lot, let alone the process you're going to need to keep them trying to track the target 

[Nicolaser 2,024]

20 hours ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

The Yak-28 can absolutely not start the supersonic line for the Yaks as it was too fast to be called an early supersonic jet to start off the Yak supersonic line

Ok first Stop speaking about supersonics yak fighter, it doesn't exists except yak 141 (prototype) and some variant of the yak 28  it's simple yakovlev never product in series a supersonic fighter so yes the yak line will end after the yak 25 or the 28 we have enough paper plane and prototype in the game we don't need to add more when there's some counterpart which have been serial produced 

 

For the radar homing: again, no problem with them but  maps are too small and radar aren't working properly for now

Edited July 5, 2019 by Nicolaser

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

2 hours ago, Nicolaser said:

Ok first Stop speaking about supersonics yak fighter, it doesn't exists except yak 141 (prototype) and some variant of the yak 28  it's simple yakovlev never product in series a supersonic fighter so yes the yak line will end after the yak 25 or the 28 we have enough paper plane and prototype in the game we don't need to add more when there's some counterpart which have been serial produced 

 

For the radar homing: again, no problem with them but  maps are too small and radar aren't working properly for now

 

What, so prototypes can't be added? Who set this rule? You? 

 

As long as the prototype of said plane was tested and flown, it has a chance of being added. The Yak line shouldn't be left out on supersonic jets. 

 

No, radar is working properly right now. Early radar had detection problems near the ground/terrain because of ground cluttering. The higher you, the better your radar works, which is how it was in real life. Read 1.89's patch notes.

 

There won't be a problem with radar-guided missiles, because for one, they will still have low accuracy regardless of their maximum range and two, early radar was subject to turbulence 

[Nicolaser 2,024]

37 minutes ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

, radar is working properly right now. Early radar had detection problems near the ground/terrain because of ground cluttering. The higher you, the better your radar works, which is how it was in real life. Read 1.89's patch notes.

Take a f 86k even at 8000 m you won't detect a target 500 m in front of you

 

39 minutes ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

What, so prototypes can't be added? Who set this rule? You? 

 

As long as the prototype of said plane was tested and flown, it has a chance of being added. The Yak line shouldn't be left out on supersonic jets. 

And why should it be extended since yakovlev has pretty much abandoned fighter development since the war

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

2 hours ago, Nicolaser said:

Take a f 86k even at 8000 m you won't detect a target 500 m in front of you

 

And why should it be extended since yakovlev has pretty much abandoned fighter development since the war

 

The other day I took the F-86K to 3000 - 4000 m and I spotted a Tu-4 on my radar :-)

 

Because some players don't like MiGs, and some progressed through the Yaks first and don't want to make the switch yet.

 

Yakovlev OKB still made jet fighter designs after the par. PLENTY of them. 

 

Here are the Yak jet fighters that we don't have yet..

 

Spoiler

 

Yakovlev Yak-19-I

Yakovlev Yak-19-II

Yakovlev Yak-25 1947

Yakovlev Yak-25-II 1947

Yakovlev Yak-25M

Yakovlev Yak-27K / Yak-27K-8

Yakovlev Yak-28P

Yakovlev Yak-28PM

Yakovlev Yak-36

Yakovlev Yak-38

Yakovlev Yak-50 1949

Yakovlev Yak-140

 

 

Damn..

 

Here's a better question: why should the Yak line NOT have jets and supersonics?

Edited July 5, 2019 by EpicBlitzkrieg87

[Nicolaser 2,024]

On 05/07/2019 at 22:43, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

The other day I took the F-86K to 3000 - 4000 m and I spotted a Tu-4 on my radar :-)

 

Because some players don't like MiGs, and some progressed through the Yaks first and don't want to make the switch yet.

 

Yakovlev OKB still made jet fighter designs after the par. PLENTY of them. 

 

Here are the Yak jet fighters that we don't have yet..

 

  Hide contents

 

Yakovlev Yak-19-I

Yakovlev Yak-19-II

Yakovlev Yak-25 1947

Yakovlev Yak-25-II 1947

Yakovlev Yak-25M

Yakovlev Yak-27K / Yak-27K-8

Yakovlev Yak-28P

Yakovlev Yak-28PM

Yakovlev Yak-36

Yakovlev Yak-38

Yakovlev Yak-50 1949

Yakovlev Yak-140

 

 

Damn..

 

Most of them are prototype stop asking for prototype when they are not needed 

On 05/07/2019 at 22:43, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

Here's a better question: why should the Yak line NOT have jets and supersonics?

Because none of those were mass produced and all supersonics fighter (except few)  made by yakovlev were prototype we don't need more prototype in the game currently 

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

6 hours ago, Nicolaser said:

 

Most of them are prototype stop asking for prototype when they are not needed 

Because none of those were mass produced and all supersonics fighter (except few)  made by yakovlev were prototype we don't need more prototype in the game currently 

 

Again!

 

Who set the the rule of "no prototypes"? You?

 

Prototype vehicles are the same as production vehicles. Built, flown and tested, extensively. The difference is how many were produced. Is that a game changer?

 

Those jets are needed to fill the gaps and spaces in the Yak jet line. 

 

How is no mass production a big game changer? Please explain 

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

tbh, I'd prefer it if the Soviets got one of the production Flashlight variants (the Yak-25M in particular) over this thing.

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

53 minutes ago, Z3r0_ said:

tbh, I'd prefer it if the Soviets got one of the production Flashlight variants (the Yak-25M in particular) over this thing.

 

I'll quote myself again  

Quote

The Yak-25M is a top tier 5 candidate, this is the plane that would follow up and it's based on a production vehicle. 

 

It can't be a tier 6 jet and they're not comparable 

Edited July 9, 2019 by EpicBlitzkrieg87

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

4 hours ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

I'll quote myself again  

 

It can't be a tier 6 jet and they're not comparable 

 

There are other production planes that can follow the Yak-25M (albeit they aren't necessarily Yak-25 variants, though the Yak-25MG with improved radar is an option), particularly Sukhoi's interceptors like the Su-9 and Su-15.  If you'd rather stick to Yakovlev aircraft, there's the Yak-28 (primarily a tactical bomber, but an interceptor variant, the Yak-28P, existed as well).

Edited July 10, 2019 by Z3r0_

[Nicolaser 2,024]

On 09/07/2019 at 22:55, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

Again!

 

Who set the the rule of "no prototypes"? You?

 

Prototype vehicles are the same as production vehicles. Built, flown and tested, extensively. The difference is how many were produced. Is that a game changer?

nope prototype are oftenly left aside when they are dangerous to fly (and yet we got the A2D-1, XP-55... in game)

On 09/07/2019 at 22:55, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

Those jets are needed to fill the gaps and spaces in the Yak jet line. 

and who said that every line should have a rank 6 so still a no 

On 09/07/2019 at 22:55, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

How is no mass production a big game changer? Please explain 

 

 

and no to protoypes especially when we saw the weird FM of the yak 30

Edited July 12, 2019 by Nicolaser

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

3 hours ago, Nicolaser said:

nope prototype are oftenly left aside when they are dangerous to fly (and yet we got the A2D-1, XP-55... in game)

and who said that every line should have a rank 6 so still a no 

 

 

and no to protoypes especially when we saw the weird FM of the yak 30

 

Dangerous to fly only in real life, not in the game. The game doesn't model such flaws.

 

And who said every line shouldn't have rank 6? Not everyone wants to fly MiGs at supersonic speeds..

 

What's wrong with the Yak-30's FM? lol. 

[NoodleCup31 8,824]

Wow that thing is sexy 

[Nicolaser 2,024]

2 hours ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

Dangerous to fly only in real life, not in the game. The game doesn't model such flaws.

Yeah giving ufos we surely need more of these

2 hours ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

And who said every line shouldn't have rank 6? Not everyone wants to fly MiGs at supersonic speeds..

 

Well that is gonna be a problem since mig is almost the only producer (along sukhoi) of supersonics plane since world War 2 for Russia 

2 hours ago, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

What's wrong with the Yak-30's FM? lol. 

It strangely look like to a mig 15 FM a bit modified 

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

On 10/07/2019 at 06:31, Z3r0_ said:

There are other production planes that can follow the Yak-25M (albeit they aren't necessarily Yak-25 variants, though the Yak-25MG with improved radar is an option), particularly Sukhoi's interceptors like the Su-9 and Su-15.  If you'd rather stick to Yakovlev aircraft, there's the Yak-28 (primarily a tactical bomber, but an interceptor variant, the Yak-28P, existed as well).

 

The Yak-28P can't start the supersonic line. It traveled at more than 1800 kmh, faster than the T-2 even. 

 

1 hour ago, Nicolaser said:

Yeah giving ufos we surely need more of these

 

Well that is gonna be a problem since mig is almost the only producer (along sukhoi) of supersonics plane since world War 2 for Russia 

It strangely look like to a mig 15 FM a bit modified 

 

UFOs? How?! Explain. Just because they're prototypes?

 

UFOs in this community is a term referred to planes with astonishing performance. 

 

It doesn't matter if mass produced or prototype, as long as it was built, tested and flown, it can be added to the game. 

 

That's because the Yak-30 was one of the planes that competed against the MiG-15 in the competition for a modern USSR high-speed jet fighter. So very very strangely, both planes could exceed 1,000 km/h and fly similarly...

 

The Yak-30's flight model is accurate, not fantasy.

 

So far you have not given me one valid argument why prototypes don't work in the game.