IIyushin II-28 

By Nikolay Yakubovich

The Ilyushin Il-28 (NATO reporting name 'Beagle') was the Soviet Union's first jet bomber to enter large-scale production. Licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5, as well as in the Czech Republic, total production in the USSR alone was 6,316 aircraft. The aircraft drew on captured wartime technology, as well as benefitting from the sale to the USSR of Rolls-Royce Nene jet en-gines, reproduced for soviet use as the RD-45.

The Il-28 was widely export-ed, serving in the air arms of some 20 nations ranging from the Warsaw Pact to various Middle-Eastern and African air forces. The aircraft also saw limited use in Vietnam and with the Afghan forces in Afghanistan, while Finland had four examples delivered between 1961 and 1966 for target-towing duties, which remained in service until the 1980s. This latest Warpaint includes all the usual expertise and research that has made the series the benchmark for aviation reference material.

With full history, development, walkaround, and colour artwork and plans, author Nikolay Yakubovich documents fully this milestone in Soviet aviation history.