Yak-9U

Yak-9U

Yak-3

Yak-3P

Yak-9U

Yak-3

Yak-3P

USSR

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.7	4.7	5.0

Class:

Fighter

Research:17 000

Purchase:105 000

Description

The Yak-9U is a Rank IV Soviet fighter with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB), 4.3 (RB), and 5.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.37.

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-7B. 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 aluminum 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.

The Yak-9U is a redesign of the Yak-9. The Yak-9U entered in service in 1943, less than an year before the Yak-3 (even if the Yak-3 in before the Yak-9U in the Tech Tree) and has the same armament (2 x Berezin UB (12.7 mm) 12.7mm with 170 rounds per gun and 1 x ShVAK (20 mm) with 120 shells). The Yak-9U is faster and more resistant, but also heavier.

The Yak-9U is an up-engined Yak-9 equipped with the M-107A engine. It sports competitive speed, far above average turning and roll abilities, good acceleration, a high dive limit (by USSR standards), and keeps nice and crisp controls from speeds as low as 250 km/h to 750 km/h. At 4.3 BR, it is arguably the most underestimated vehicle rank-for-rank in the game and is often skipped by players who view it as just another Yak-9.

Unlike previous Yak-9s equipped with the VK-105PF engine, the Yak-9U gets a significant upgrade in the form of its M-107A engine (which also happens to be the engine utilized by the premium Yak-3 (VK-107) and the later Yak-9P/UT). As such, the Yak-9U is one of the fastest planes at sea level at 4.3 and retains excellent performance up to ~6 km where it can effectively engage higher-speed and faster climbing American and German planes, respectively. This, combined with the excellent handling and turn-fighting qualities allow the Yak-9U to effectively dictate any engagement- a pilot can turn-fight Bf 109s and P-47s with ease while having the capability to outrun slower yet more maneuverable vehicles such as the Spitfire.

At sea level, the Yak-9U can catch most, if not all, planes at 4.3 BR, including the P-47 and P-51D. Beware, however, as the Yak airframe isn't particularly durable in a dive and will rip at speeds above 750 kph IAS (indicated airspeed). Thankfully, forcing an opponent down low effectively seals their fate as you and your team perform optimally at low altitude.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
651	632	10,500	20.3	20.6	12.5	14.9	380
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
673	?	10,500	19.1	??.?	17.3	?.?	380

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
720	420	310	~19	~14

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 380	< 420	< 490	> 270

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,000 m	1,600 hp	1,680 hp

Survivability and armour

• 64 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front and rear.
• 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Yak-9U is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, nose-mounted (120 rpg)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, nose-mounted (170 rpg = 340 total)

Usage in the battles

Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs
III	Wings Repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm
IV	100 Octane Fuel Usage	Engine Injection	Cover	New 20 mm Cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• One of the fastest Russian prop-planes
• MEC negates overheating, set radiator to 100%/75% at low/high altitudes respectively
• Excellent cockpit visibility (for SB battles)
• Excellent handling and maneuverability at most speed bands
• Good rate of turn
• Good rate of climb
• Performs identically to the 5.0/5.7 (RB) Yak-9P and Yak-9UT while being at 4.3 BR
• Nose-mounted weaponry

Cons:

• Relatively low ammo count
• Does not excel in any specific occupation
• Average dive performance
• Rips easily in a dive
• Overheating is a very real issue, do not abuse the throttle
• Often skipped in the tech tree by players, heavily underrated

History

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Media

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Read also

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

Sources

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