Yak-9K

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VTOL | Rank 5 USA
AV-8A Harrier Pack
This page is about the Soviet fighter Yak-9K. For other versions, see Yak-9 (Family).
Yak-9K
yak-9k.png
GarageImage Yak-9K.jpg
Yak-9K
AB RB SB
3.7 4.0 4.3
Class:
Research:13 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:76 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Yakovlev Yak-9K was a modified subvariant of the Yak-9T, which was the second variant of the Yakovlev-9 fighter aircraft family. The Yak-9K was an attempt to increase firepower over the standard Yak-9T by arming it with a 45 mm NS-45 cannon with 29 rounds and a characteristic muzzle brake to deal with the severe recoil. However, firing the gun at speeds less than 350 km/h still resulted in a significant recoil that led to loss of control of the aircraft and flung the pilot back and forth in the cockpit. Accurate firing was only possible at faster speeds and in bursts of two to three rounds. The cannon's high recoil produced several oil and coolant leaks. Overall, he large gun significantly reduced flight performance, particularly at high altitudes, to the point where Yak-9Ks were only assigned to heavy fighter duties and were required to be escorted by Yak-3s in case of failure. The Yak-9K saw limited use due to the unreliability of the 45 mm cannon and airframe structural instability issues caused by the recoil; it also saw limited production as German bombers gradually decreased in number later in World War II.

The Yak-9K was introduced in Update 1.33. Despite the noticeable increase in firepower as a result of the increased cannon calibre, this also results in massive recoil when firing, making the airframe structurally and aerodynamically unstable. Players can get a taste of this unusual plane's heightened firepower, with a single hit from the cannon enough to cripple any opponents in the sky. During ground realistic warfare mode, it can also take on an anti-tank duty. However, since the ammunition available is incredibly limited (29 rounds), it is critical to make every shot count.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 4 000 m593 km/h
Turn time18 s
Max altitude10 000 m
EngineKlimov VK-105PF
TypeInline
Cooling systemWater
Take-off weight3 t

The configuration of the Yak-9K's engine is for excellent low altitude performance and manoeuvrability, though, without necessary turbo or superchargers, the aircraft's performance at high altitude suffers. The Immelmann speed of the Yak-9K is superior to the majority of comparable fighters at the same battle rating making it a capable dogfighter.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 4,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 576 562 10000 18.8 19.5 13.7 13.5 366
Upgraded 609 593 17.2 18.0 18.5 16.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
683 320 N/A N/A 280 ~12 ~9
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 380 < 420 < 490 > 340

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear320 km/h

A Yak-9K offers good pilot protection, it is unlikely that a pilot snipe should occur. Due to strengthened structure and centralising of the critical components, it is a real possibility for a skilled pilot to clip an enemies plane with a wingtip and remain unscathed, either slicing the enemy's wing or disabling a propeller. Though the Yak-9K does have self sealing fuel tanks located in the wing, that does not preclude them from catching on fire.

  • 64 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front
  • 64 mm Bulletproof glass pilot's headrest
  • 8 mm Steel plate in the pilot's seat

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 016 → 1 296 Sl icon.png
RB2 237 → 2 854 Sl icon.png
SB3 424 → 4 369 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications25 100 Rp icon.png
45 800 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training22 000 Sl icon.png
Experts76 000 Sl icon.png
Aces500 Ge icon.png
Research Aces320 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
60 / 150 / 310 % Sl icon.png
142 / 142 / 142 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
1 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
2 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
2 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
1 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
ub_belt_pack
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
ub_new_gun
Research:
1 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
ns45_belt_pack
Research:
2 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
ns45_new_gun
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 300 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 145 mm NS-45 cannon
Ammunition29 rounds
Fire rate258 shots/min
Ammunition200 rounds
Fire rate996 shots/min

The Yak-9K is armed with:

  • 1 x 45 mm NS-45 cannon, nose-mounted (29 rpg)
  • 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, nose-mounted (200 rpg)

Usage in battles

Engaging fighters & bombers

Most enemy fighters will be between 3,000 and 3,800 m, with bombers being around 4,000 to 5,000 m. It's important to use your height advantage, drop down from your height and and get behind the enemy. Once behind the fighter or bomber, do not engage until you are close enough to see their tails in your crosshair. Aim forward and fire only a single shot or a short burst which is no longer than two seconds. If you miss and they turn, pending how sharp the turn is follow them. If it's a very sharp turn do not turn with them, instead open the throttle and climb back up to gain a height advantage. Then either try it again or find a new bandit to knock out.

Ground & Naval Battles

In ground and naval battles, the Yak-9K is able to destroy armoured targets with ease. It does not have any secondary armaments such as bombs or rockets. However, its 45 mm cannon is able to destroy heavy tanks. To do this, aim for the roof and dive straight down upon them like an angel that is fighting a demon. In ship combat, the 45 mm cannon is able to penetrate the decks of many heavily armoured ships, but you must aim for roof or sides of the ships. When handling smaller ships such as Patrol boats, do not fly in a straight line. Instead, zip up and down, left to right, then suddenly turn and shoot them. A single well placed shot will destroy their ammo racks and set the ship to visit Davy Jones' locker!

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled
Controllable
Not auto controlled
Controllable
Not auto controlled
Separate Controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • The 45 mm cannon is very good at bomber hunting, although climbing to those altitudes takes some time
  • 45 mm cannon is good against planes, tanks and boats, thus making the plane a great choice for close air support in ground & naval realistic battles
  • 45 mm cannon is able to rip apart any plane with one well-placed shot
  • Good climb rate.
  • Great low-altitude performance
  • Solid manoeuvrability at low altitudes
  • Great top speed

Cons:

  • 45 mm cannon is hard to aim due to inaccuracy, especially apparent when stock
  • Guns jam relatively quickly, trigger discipline is required
  • Secondary weapons have limited ammo, compared to other aircraft

History


Archive of the in-game description

The Yak-9 was a Soviet single-engine fighter of the WWII era. It was the first combat aircraft designed by Alexander Yakovlev's construction bureau. The most mass-produced Soviet fighter of the war, it remained in production from October 1942 to December 1948, with a total of 16,769 built.

The Yak-9 was a further modification of the Yak-1 and Yak-7. In its core design, it was a redesign of the Yak-7. With few external differences, Yak-9 was at the same time much more advanced internally. This is not unexpected, as almost two years of design and combat experience of the Yak series went into the Yak-9. Also, at the time aluminium was in much greater supply than it had been two years previously at the start of the war. Amongst other things, the use of metal allowed the plane's weight to be significantly reduced, meaning that more fuel could be stored and that the aircraft could be equipped with more powerful armament and more specialized equipment.


Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau (Яковлев Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Fighters 
Yak-1  Yak-1 · Yak-1B
Yak-3  Yak-3 · Yak-3 (VK-107) · Yak-3P · Yak-3T · Yak-3U
Yak-7  Yak-7B
Yak-9  Yak-9 · Yak-9B · Yak-9K · Golovachev's Yak-9M · Yak-9P · Yak-9T · Yak-9U · Yak-9UT
Twin-engine fighters  I-29
Jet fighters 
Yak-15  Yak-15P · Yak-15
Yak-17  Yak-17
Yak-23  Yak-23
Yak-30  Yak-30D
Yak-141  Yak-141
Strike aircraft 
Yak-2  Yak-2 KABB
Yak-38  Yak-38 · Yak-38M
Bombers  Yak-4
Jet bombers  Yak-28B
Foreign use  ▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · ◔Yak-9P
Captured  ▀Yak-1B

USSR fighters
I-15  I-15 WR · I-15 M-22 · I-15 M-25 · I-15bis · Krasnolutsky's I-15bis
  I-153 M-62 · Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 · I-153P
I-16  I-16 type 5 · I-16 type 10 · I-16 type 18 · I-16 type 24 · I-16 type 27 · I-16 type 28 · I-180S
I-29  I-29
I-185  I-185 (M-71) · I-185 (M-82)
I-225  I-225
ITP  ITP (M-1)
MiG-3  MiG-3-15 · MiG-3-15 (BK) · MiG-3-34
LaGG  I-301 · LaGG-3-4 · LaGG-3-8 · LaGG-3-11 · LaGG-3-23 · LaGG-3-34 · LaGG-3-35 · LaGG-3-66
La  La-5 · La-5F · La-5FN · La-7 · Dolgushin's La-7 · La-7B-20 · La-9 · La-11
Yak-1/7  Yak-1 · Yak-1B · Yak-7B
Yak-3  Yak-3 · Yak-3P · Yak-3T · Yak-3U · Yak-3 (VK-107)
Yak-9  Yak-9 · Yak-9B · Golovachev's Yak-9M · Yak-9T · Yak-9K · Yak-9U · Yak-9UT · Yak-9P
Other countries  ▂P-40E-1 · ▂P-47D-27 · ▂Hurricane Mk IIB · ▂Fw 190 D-9 · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc
P-39  ▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15
P-63  ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5