The Yakovlev Yak-25, "Flashlight", was the first proper all-weather fighter aircraft to be fitted with adequate search radar. The prototypes first flew in 1952 and it was introduced into service with the Soviet Air Force in 1955. The original design would become known in the West as "Flashlight-A".
The version of the Yakovlev Yak-25 with a single-seat canopy and a glazed nose became Type "B". The Type C was similar but it was fitted with a solid radome in the nose and longer engine unit. Meanwhile Type D had slight wingtip extensions and only one cannon, while the other fighter variants carried two 37mm cannons.
Technical Characteristics
The Yakovlev Yak-25 was a two-engine plane. It had swept-back, mid-wing. The tailplane was also of the swept-back design and it was mounted on a large fin. As all jet fighter aircraft, its fuselage was all-metall. All versions, except Type B, it was fitted with a two-seat cockpit.
The Yak-25 was a very remarkable fighter of the period, with the most interesting point of the design being the zero-track tricycle landing gear. The outrigger units were located at the wingtips. The aircraft was powered by two Klimov VK-5 jet engines, which developed 6,500 lbs of thrust. After a few years, its speed was not fast enough to catch up with the modern American bombers of the day. This led to the development of the Yakovlev Yak-28.
Blue Print drawing of the Yak-25
Photo of the "Flashlight", as it was known in the West, taken in 1955.
