View source for Yakovlev Yak-26

{{Short description|Soviet Air Force jet aircraft prototype}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Yak-26
  |image =File:Yakovlev_Yak-26-3,_Yak-27P_and_Yak-27V_side-view_silhouettes_(cropped).png
  |type = [[bomber aircraft|Bomber]]
  |manufacturer = [[Yakovlev]]
  |designer =
  |first_flight =
  |number_built = 10
  |developed_from = [[Yakovlev Yak-25]]
  |primary_user = [[Soviet Air Forces]]
}}

The '''Yakovlev Yak-26''', OKB designation '''Yak-123''', was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] tactical supersonic [[bomber aircraft]] flown at the [[Tushino air show]] on 24 June [[1956 in aviation|1956]]. The model did not enter service.

==Design and development==
The Yak-123-1 prototype was developed from the subsonic [[Yakovlev Yak-25|Yak-25]], and in parallel with the [[Yakovlev Yak-27|Yak-27]] aircraft family, with the main goal of operating at supersonic speed. Although the Yak-123 kept the Yak-25's layout, it had a more streamlined and longer fuselage with a glazed nose for a navigator-bombardier, replacing the Yak-25's [[radome]]. The engines were upgraded to the much more powerful RD-9AK afterburning turbojets and the wings modified. The [[Nudelman N-37]] cannon was replaced with two [[Nudelman NR-23|NR-23]] 23&nbsp;mm guns. The next prototype, designated Yak-26-3, had a tail [[barbette]] with two more such guns, but it was removed altogether after testing. An internal weapons bay was added for {{cvt|1000|kg}} of bombs, including the nuclear [[RDS-4|RDS-4 ''Tatyana'']].  Additional bombs could be carried on underwing pylons. Engines were upgraded to RD-9F.

Although these designs showed potential for a supersonic bomber, they did not feature a radar, limiting their usefulness, and suffered from insufficient stability at high velocities, being prone to [[control reversal|aileron reversal]]s. This led to a refinement of the design, resulting in the preproduction-series Yak-26.<ref name=vs>Goebel, Greg. [http://www.airvectors.net/avyak25.html "The Yakovlev Yak-25 & Yak-28."] AirVectors.</ref>

Although flown at the [[Tushino air show]] on 24 June 1956, only ten were produced, and the type did not enter service.

==Operators==
;{{USSR}}
*[[Soviet Air Force]]

==Specifications (Yak-26)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|length m=17.16
|length note=
|span m=10.96
|span note=
|height m= 
|height note=
|wing area sqm=29
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=11200
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name= [[Tumansky RD-9]]F
|eng1 type=[[turbojet]] engines
|eng1 kn=19.6
|eng1 note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=1200
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=2200
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=16000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=386
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|thrust/weight=0.36
|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||m|0}}
*'''Take-off run to {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt||m|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||m|0}}
*'''Landing run from {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt||m|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
|armament=
* 4 x 23 mm [[Nudelman NR-23]] cannon with 1,200 rounds
* Bombs in internal bay
* Underwing [[hardpoint]]s
* Tail barbette (limited to Yak-26-3 prototype)
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{Aircontent|
|related=
*[[Yakovlev Yak-25]] 
*[[Yakovlev Yak-27]]
*[[Yakovlev Yak-28]]
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|sequence=
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->

}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Yakovlev Yak-26}}
* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/bomber/yak26.html Yak-26 at Ugolok Neba] (in Russian)
* [http://legion.wplus.net/guide/air/b/yak26.shtml Yak-26 from Legion.wplus.net]

{{Yakovlev aircraft}}

[[Category:1950s Soviet bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Twinjets]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1956]]
[[Category:Yakovlev aircraft|Yak-26]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable bicycle landing gear]]