Yukimo Yuk-25

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Yuk-25
File:Yuk-25 side view.png
Yuk-25
Role Interceptor
Reconnaissance aircraft
National origin  DSRA
 Anikatia
Manufacturer Yukimo
First flight 19 November 1970
Introduction 12 May 1976
Primary user  Anikatia
Produced 1970–1996
Number built 131
Unit cost
Yuk-25: UR$58 million (flyaway cost, 2001)

The Yukimo Yuk-25 (CDI reporting name: ???) was a twin-engine, two-seat, all-weather Interceptor aircraft developed by Yukimo that serves with Anikatian Air Force. The Yuk-25 is powered by two Bulgakov K52B-R102 turbojet engines in a unique staggered stacked installation in the fuselage only seen on the Greenwich Lightning and Volvo J 33. Later developments provided greater range and speed along with reconnaissance and ground-attack capability.

History

In the late 1960s, the Anikatian People's Air Force began assessing replacements for its locally-built Myotlev and Lukov MyL-3, as the the Air Force now provided a greater funding and power under the socialist government wanted another more specialised interceptor than the Aymovski Ay-04 which was then the most powerful and fastest interceptor in operation within Anikatia. A review of all previous designs was undertaken, The design bureau had studied several possible layouts for the new aircraft when designing the Aymovski Ay-04. The unused Yukimo design lost out to the aircraft that would become the Ay-04 over issues with its carrier based suitability. However the Air Force remained interested in the unique design which had a stepped arrangement with two engines stacked vertically. A mock up model was made, and wind tunnel tests proved more than satisfactory.

Design

The Yuk-25 is a two seat delta wing, all-weather fighter, with a unique and distinctive stacked twin engine arrangement, a shoulder-mounted wing, and a low-mounted tailplane. The vertically stacked, longitudinally staggered engines was the solution to minimise frontal area, providing undisturbed engine airflow across a wide speed range, and packaging two engines to provide sufficient thrust. This configuration allowed for the thrust of two engines, far lower drag equivalent than a traditionally mounted side-by-side setup, the reduction in drag is around 10-15% over more conventional twin engine installations. The wings and airframe were made stronger enough to permit supersonic flight at low altitudes. The aircraft had a fairly conventional structure and materials, being mainly composed of an high strength aluminium alloy, nickel steel alloy, and titanium with some use of heat resistant seals and steel edging. If desired, an engine could be shut down in flight and the remaining engine run in a more efficient power regime for increased range or endurance; although this was rarely done operationally due to the risk of loss of hydraulic power in the event of engine failure.


Cockpit

The aircraft is a two-seater with the rear seat occupant controlling the radar. Although cockpit controls are duplicated across cockpits, it is normal for the aircraft to be flown only from the front seat. The pilot flies the aircraft by means of a conventional centre stick and left hand throttles while rudder pedals provide yaw control. Both cockpits are fitted a Wallis-Thornton WTK-14D zero-zero ejection seat which has had impressive performance in emergency escapes. The cockpit has conventional dials, with a head-up display (HUD) and a Svalov-1DE helmet mounted display. The rear cockpit has only two small vision ports on the sides of the canopy. The Weapon Systems Operator (WSO) in the rear cockpit improves aircraft effectiveness since the WSO is entirely dedicated to radar operations and weapons deployment. This decreases the workload of the pilot and increases efficiency. Later variants have incorporate more contemporary features with the latest models having a semi "glass cockpits" with some modern liquid-crystal (LCD) multi-function displays (MFDs).

Avionics

Initially, the interceptor version was equipped with the AKI/RAL AKL-3MR-F603 radar, a larger and more powerful development of the system carried by the Aymovski Ay-04. It is a look-down/shoot-down coherent Pulse-Doppler radar and Arsanukayev Type 1071 central digital computer. Certain variants had a tracking range against a air targets was only about around 200 km, it could track up to 30 targets at one time, 8 of which can be simultaneously engaged by missiles. The aircraft also features electronic countermeasures (ECM) and RAL-02-1P Rakovski radar warning (RWR) systems, chaff/flare dispensers, fighter-to-fighter data link, and a precise inertial navigation system.

The later variants were outfitted with innovative newer more advanced passive electronically scanned array radars (PESA) and there have been plans to modernise and update aircraft with new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. Applied Kinetics and Rakovski Aeronautics have developed an AESA radar upgrade kits for the Yuk-25. These later variants have a larger antenna and greater detection range and the ability to attack multiple targets — air and ground — simultaneously.

Powerplant

The Yuk-25 is powered by a two massive Bulgakov K52B-R102 turbofan engines, the exact version of this propulsion system depending on the variant. The were generally developed around 152 kN (15,499 kgf, 34,170 lbf) each, which allowed a supersonic maximum speeds at low altitude and high-altitude speeds is above Mach 2.72 – the thrust-to-drag ratio is sufficient for speeds in excess of Mach 3, but such speeds pose unacceptable hazards to engine and airframe life in routine use.

Operational history

Anikatia

The Yuk-25 saw it's first operational use during the Nazali War. Though it was never officially acknowledged that Yuk-25s were involved, it was spotted by URE intelligence both in the interceptor and unarmed reconnaissance roles. They took part in a number of limited engagement during the late phases of the war. They often were used as mini-AWACs guiding Ay-04s against URE Lawley F-8 Stingray, Lawley Mullinix F-9 Skyray, and many other Emmerian fighters allowing them to score victories. The exact combat record is not known with many differing claims from DSRA, URE, Free Pardes and KosCo sources. However it was in their reconnaissance roles where they proved most useful in providing intelligence on URE ground forces allowing the rebels to ambush the anti-communist forces on many occasions.

The participation of Anikatian aircrews in the Nazali War was widely suspected by the United Republic and it's allied forces, but it was always consistently denied by the Democratic Socialist Republic of Anikatia. Since the end of the Cold War, however, Anikatian pilots who participated in the conflict have begun to reveal their role. Anikatian aircraft were adorned with Nazalite markings and pilots wore either Nazalite uniforms or civilian clothes to disguise their origins. For radio communication, they were given cards with common Arabic words for various flying terms spelled out phonetically in Anikatian characters. Anikatian pilots were prevented from flying over areas in which they might be captured, which would indicate that the Democratic Socialist Republic of Anikatia was officially a combatant in the war.

The DSRA never acknowledged that its pilots ever flew over Nazali during the Cold War. Emmerians who intercepted radio traffic during combat confirmed hearing Anikatian-speaking voices, but only the Nazalite combatants took responsibility for the flying. The Anikatian fighters operated close to their home bases in the Ovadliese Union, limited by the range of their aircraft, and were guided to the air battlefield by good ground control, which directed them to the most advantageous position. Due to the huge logistically challenge of supplying and operating from within Ovadliese Union most DSRA units were based near coastal areas avoiding the largely wild rain forests inland closer to the Nazali border.

Temuair

Variants

Yuk-25PF ("???")
Initial production version with Bulgakov K52B-R102 engines, 12 aircraft built.
Yuk-25PFM ("???")
Basic production version with improvements, upgraded avionics including new AESA radar system, in-flight refueling, and new afterburning Arsanukayev AVT-R-16-200M engines.
Yuk-25RB ("???")
Single-seat reconnaissance-bomber derivative of Yuk-25PFM, fitted with improved reconnaissance systems and automatic bombing systems.
Yuk-25UBT ("???")
Training version, armed and equipped with all operational systems but not fully combat ready.

Operators

 Anikatia

Former operators

Template:Country data Democratic Socialist Republic of Anikatia

Specifications (Yuk-25PF)

3-view drawing of Yuk-25

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Length: 21.56 m (70.73 ft) ()
  • Wingspan: 12.50 m (41.01 ft) ()
  • Height: 5.67 m (18.60 ft) ()
  • Empty weight: 22,800 kg (50,265 lb) ()
  • Loaded weight: 36,720 kg (80,952 lb) ()
  • Max. takeoff weight: 43,700 kg (96,342 lb) ()
  • Powerplant: 2 × Bulgakov K52B-R102 turbojet, 152 kN (15,499 kgf, 34,170 lbf) ()88 kN (8,981 kgf, 19,800 lbf) each

Performance

Armament

  • 1 x 20 mm Esk-20k cannons with 160 rounds.
  • 8 hardpoints (2 wet): 2× under-fuselage each with additional two missile launch rails, 4x eight under-wing for up to 7,600 kg of weapons and fuel tanks, including:

70-100 Km range beyond visual range active missiles Imaging infrared short range missiles Air-to-surface missiles Air to sea missiles Anti radiation missiles Laser guided weapons Runway penetration bombs General purpose bombs Training bombs Countermeasures (Flares, Chaff) Up to 2 external drop tanks (2× under-wing 1,100 litres,for extended range/loitering time) Avionics

  • AKI/RAL AKL-3MR-F603 all-weather multimode Pulse-Doppler Radar system
  • Tagirbekov General Industries Tgk-4G sophisticated multi-channel Infrared search and track (ISRT) sighting system
  • Rykovatia Weapon Systems Rtk-5QMP Datalink communications system
  • RAL-02-1P Rakovski RWR

See also

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