Yak-25RRV special recco and Yak-25PA balloon interceptor, A.S.Yakovlev
I
n late 70's small number of Yak-25RV were equipped with underwing filtering
devices for radioactive contamination monitoring. In 1971 some of those aircraft received 'Volna-S'
containers with electromagnetic pulse sensors. This variant had a heating system for containers, using hot air from engine compressors. Trials proved
that aircraft performance was not degraded.
Also in 1971 special high-altitude armed aircraft was under development (Yak-25PA, Perekhvatchik
Aerostatov, Balloon Interceptor). Even larger wing was suggested (58m2), allowing Yak-25PA to destroy spy balloons at
altitudes up to 19,400m. But the power of R-11B-300 engine was insufficient for this goal,
and project was abandoned.