Yakovlev Yak-25

The Yakovlev Yak-25, with the NATO designation Flashlight-A or Mandrake, is a swept-wing turbojet-powered interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft built by Yakovlev and used by the Soviet Union. It originated in a need for a long-range interceptor to protect the northern and eastern territory of the USSR, and Stalin issued the specification for a two-seat twin-engine jet fighter on 6 August 1951. Yakovlev began the Yak-120 design in 1951 with thin mid-set wings swept at 45 degrees and hot-air de-icing for operation in cold regions. The Yak-25s were built at Factory No. 292 in Saratov, with the first aircraft completed in September 1954. Variants include the radar-equipped Yak-25M, of which 406 were built, and the high-altitude Yak-25RV reconnaissance version, of which 155 were built.