07292 YAKOVLEV YAK-54 SOVIET AIRCRAFT

The Yak-54 was a Soviet prototype light attack aircraft and close support from the post-war period. The prototype flight took place in 1983, but the machine did not enter serial production. The drive was provided by a single M-14P engine. The length of the aircraft was 7.68 meters with a wingspan of 9.5 meters. The Yak-54 aircraft was developed at the Yakovlev design bureau as a light and highly maneuverable aircraft to provide direct support to the Soviet land forces fighting in Afghanistan. The main armament of the new machine was to be two UB-32 launchers for unguided missiles and - perhaps - light weapons. In order to shorten the research and development work as much as possible, it was decided to use the construction of the Yak-52 training and aerobatic aircraft. Ultimately, however, the Yak-54 did not enter mass production, and the role of the attack machine in Afghanistan began to be played by a much heavier and jet machine, and above all already produced - Sukhoi Su-25.