Yak-30D

Yak-30D

Yak-23

Yak-38M

Yak-30D

Yak-23

Yak-38M

USSR

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.0	8.7	8.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:135 000

Purchase:380 000

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Description

The Yak-30 is a Rank V Soviet jet fighter with a battle rating of 8.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows". The Yak-30 is the current top-rank Yak fighter aircraft in the USSR tech tree.

Lacking external ordinance, the Yak-30 is purely a fighter/bomber interceptor and excels in such a role.

Many people tend to ignore the Yak-30 for its easier-to-grind contemporary, the La-15. Those who persist, however, are awarded with a faster and more durable airframe (unlike that of the La-15); however, this comparison isn't entirely fair either. The La-15 is generally much more agile at lower speeds and also carries significantly more cannon ammunition. As such, the preference between the Yak-30 and La-15 will vary depending on play style. Those that want a dependable and speedy fighter should choose the Yak-30; those that want an agile and ammo-friendly fighter should choose the La-15.

Unlike previous Yak jets (such as the Yak-23/17/15) the Yak-30 is a conventional swept-wing jet fighter that performs much more akin to the famed Mig-15/17 than its more maneuverable, straight-winged forebears. At 8.0 BR the Yak-30 is an excellent aircraft that can compete with the best other nations have to offer.

For an 8.0 vehicle the Yak-30 is incredibly fast, capable of over 1000 kph in level flight. Unfortunately, acceleration over 850 kph isn't particularly good and significant energy is lost in any sort of maneuver at those speeds.

Please note that the Yak-30 starts to compresses significantly at high speeds and cannot effectively make high-speed deflection shots unless the target in question is flying idly and is not spatially aware.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - Sea level)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
1,031	1,003	15,500	20.9	22.3	43.5	41.9	475
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - Sea level)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
?	?	15,500	??.?	??.?	?.?	?.?	475

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
1081	350	520	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 660	< 540	< 640	> ???

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
0 m	1530 kgf	No WEP

Survivability and armour

• No armour plating
• 64 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
• Critical components located centrally along the fuselage of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Yak-30 is armed with:

• 3 x 23 mm NR-23 cannon, chin-mounted (75 RPG = 225 total)

The two right mounted cannons can be fired independently of the left mounted one, allowing for potential conservation of ammunition.

Usage in the battles

If facing 7.0 to 8.0, Boom & Zoom is the tactic that should be employed with the Yak-30; it is key to keep your speed above 750 km/h at all times to give yourself a chance of running away if the engagement you are partaking in turns into the enemies favour. Although the Yak-30 at the specified speed is able to turn with most of its targets, don't depend on turning with your enemy as you may be caught off guard and unable to react if another enemy player enters the engagement. If you encounter an enemy who is on par or faster than your Yak-30, refer to the paragraph below.

If facing 8.0 to 9.0, Energy fighting or (if the engagement calls for it) turn fighting may be employed for the Yak-30; It is absolutely vital to know your enemies strengths and weaknesses. Your best tactic to use is deception; never let the enemy guess where you're going to go next. Keep the Yak-30 in its state of compression for as long as possible; At such high speeds, the Yak-30 is still manoeuvrable enough to out turn most of the jets it will face, causing a chasing enemy to overshoot or in rare cases, rip their wings off. A good tactic for engaging faster jets is to let them get onto your tail before baiting them into a turn. continue the turn until the enemy has lost a reasonably large chunk of energy before zooming away; The Yak-30's acceleration at low to medium speeds is still exceptional and will aid you with opening a gap between the enemy and you for setting up an actual dogfight.

Specific enemies worth noting

G.91s, Me 163s and Me 262 C-2bs are all effective matches for the Yak-30. the G.91s are the most comparable fighter to the yak30, like a MiG-15's F-86 Sabre or a Spitfire's BF-109; facing off against one relies on the skill of the pilot and other external factors such as prior damage or altitude. A Yak-30's strength against a G-91 is its ability to compress and airframe strength (It is possible to make a chasing G-91 rip its wings executing the same manoeuvre as you at certain speeds. If you end up in a one on one engagement with a G-91, make sure to read your opponent and guess what their next move is going to be. Be patient and wait for your enemy to make a mistake.

Counter-tactics

Defensive flying is a strong point of the Yak-30 due to its relatively high turn rate at all speeds. It's roll rate although not being good at high speeds, can still be used in conjunction with other control surfaces to throw the enemy off and gain neutral ground. Careful throttle/flap control can always be used to great effect against any higher-energy opponent; however- the Yak-30 is no Yak-23- the Yak-30 will not and cannot accelerate and climb to disengage. Effective teamwork and squads can help eliminate most disadvantages a Yak-30 pilot may experience against any opposing fighter. The Yak-30 does not like damage; a single burst of a .50cal weapon is able to cripple the Yak-30's ability to manoeuvre and therefore is an easy target. Although being fast for an 8.0, It's top speed is it's downfall for 9.0 matches and most 9.0 jets will be able to catch the Yak-30.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Compressor		Offensive 23 mm
II	New Boosters		Airframe
III	Wing Repair		New 23 mm Cannons
IV		Engine	Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Extremely fast for an 8.0 vehicle
• Good guns when they work
• Good energy retention
• Decent manoeuvrability
• Good zoom-climb rate
• Very difficult to rip, durable airframe

Cons:

• Control surfaces compress significantly at higher speeds
• Low ammo count
• "Sparkleguns" that are notoriously ineffective at times
• Average acceleration
• Faces 9.0s constantly which outclass it in every way

History

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Media

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Read 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.

Sources

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