Vetrov-Kazakov VeK-7

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Vetrov-Kazakov VeK-7
VeK-7 2.png
A VeK-7 of the 84th Aviation Squadron, 209th Guards Aviation Fighter Regiment.
General information
TypeFighter-bomber, Interceptor, fighter
ManufacturerVeK Design Bureau
StatusRetired
History
Manufactured1942-1947
Introduction date12 January 1943
Retired25 June 1950

The Vetrov-Kazakov VeK-7 was a single-engine single-seat fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber aircraft of the Stasnovan Revolutionary Air Force during the Second Great War. It was designed by the Vetrov-Kazakov Aircraft Design Bureau and built in large numbers to replace the earlier MiG-3s in the high altitude interceptor role. However as the war progressed and more variants were built, the VeK-7 found itself serving multiple roles, including ground attack.

Design and development

As soon as the MiG-3 entered service in the Stasnovan Revolutionary Air Force, plans immedeately began to develop a successor. The rival Vetrov-Kazakov Design Bureau already had a concept for a high-altitude fighter-interceptor in the works from 1935, which was created as a response to the Bf 109. A few prototypes were built but rejected by the VVS. However, the multiple teething of the MiG-3 brought the VeK prototype into the forefront once again. The final nail in the coffin was the TBD Incident, when three VVS MiG-3s crashed after entering flat spins during an interception mission against Elesarian recon aircraft. The Commissariat of Defence and the VVS both approved the improved design offered by VeK, and work began on a production version of the aircraft.

The prototype, named I-24, was similar to the MiG-3 is some aspects, such as the wing shape, but overall the aircraft was larger and heavier. The I-17 was originally powered by a Krasna AD-20 liquid-cooled V12 engine producing 1,400 hp, and had a top speed of 642/h at high altitude, just 2 km/h over the MiG-3. The engine was deemed insufficient during testing, and the Krasna OKB was tasked to create a more powerful engine. The start of the Second Great War with the Axis invasion of the Internationale states hampered the process of new aircraft designs in the USRS, as much funding was diverted to other branches and the production of already existing designs.

However, as the MiG-3s were proved insufficient in taking on Axis aircraft such as Elesarian Bf 109s and Granzerian Vertegas at high altitude, funding was again re-alocated to the I-24 project. The new powerplant, the 1,500 hp Krasna AD-42A, was ready by early 1942, and gave the aircraft a top speed of 672 km/h at 7,800 metres. The larger engine required the aircraft to be lengthened to fit it, and some aspects of the airframe were reworked for overall better balance. The new prototype, named I-27, flew on February 12t 1942, with satisfying results, and after some further modification, the design was approved for mass production as the VeK-7.

The VeK-7 was armed with three 20mm ShVAK cannons, one engine mounted and two in the upper engine cowling (each with 250 rounds per gun). This armament was uncharacterstically heavy for Stasnovan aircraft, but fit the VeK-7s role as a high altitude interceptor that would be required to engage heavy bombers. Stasnovan pilots generally liked the armament and the tight grouping on the nose, but complaints were made about the recoil generated by the cannons. Another problem was the large muzzle flash that would obscure the pilot's view, especially during night-time fighting. Pilots thusly used to fire only in short and disciplined bursts, so as to not loose speed or their target.

Operational history

Variants

Users

Specifications (VeK-7)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 9.85 m (32 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.80 m (38 feet 8 in)
  • Height: 3.30 m (10 ft 9⅞ in)
  • Wing area: 17.44 m² (188 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 2,899 kg (5,965 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 3,855 kg (7,415 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Krasna AD-42A liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,120 kW (1,500 hp)

Performance

Armament
VeK-7/7K:

  • 3 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon, one engine-mounted (250 rpg), two in upper engine cowling (250 rpg)
  • Optional 2 x 12.7 mm Berezhin UBK gun pods under the wings (350 rpg)

VeK-7M:

  • 2 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon in upper engine cowling (250 rpg)
  • 1 × 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23, engine-mounted (90 rpg)
  • Optional 2 x 12.7 mm Berezhin UBK MG pods (350 rpg) or 2 x 20 mm Berezin B-20 cannon pods (150 rpg) under the wings
  • Provisions for 4 x FAB-100 (100 kg) bombs, 2 x FAB-250 (250 kg) bombs, or 8 x RS-82 or RBS-82 rockets under the wings

VeK-7U:

  • 2 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon in upper engine cowling (250 rpg)
  • 1 × 37 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-37 (later Nudelman N-37), engine-mounted (27 rpg)
  • Optional 2 x 12.7 mm Berezhin UBK MG pods (350 rpg) or 2 x 20 mm Berezin B-20 cannon pods (150 rpg) under the wings
  • Provisions for 4 x FAB-100 (100 kg) bombs, 2 x FAB-250 (250 kg) bombs, or 8 x RS-82 or RBS-82 rockets under the wings

See also