Ye-152M Heavy interceptor prototype

Plastic kit for a prototype Soviet YE-152M heavy interceptor

• 1:72 scale
• Dimensions (built) length 273 mm / wingspan 143 mm
• 138 parts
• Photo-etched parts and paint masks included
• some variants of the wingtips
• 2 x K-80 missiles
• 1 camouflage scheme (USSR, during flight tests)
• 1500L external drop tank
• unbuilt/unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Ye-152M was intended to be the prototype of a new air defense interceptor with advanced avionics. It was based on its predecessor –Ye-152-2, which has been deeply modified after the cancelation of the K-9 missile’s testing program.

The Ye-152M was designed for the installation of more powerful R15B-300 engine with an improved variable nozzle. A new upwards-hinged canopy was installed with a clear front with no optically flat wind screen. Along the top of the fuselage was a large spine, which in addition to the tail control rods housed three additional fuel tanks. Another external 1500L drop tank was considered for installation under the fuselage. In order to enhance the stability on supersonic flight regimes, on the forward fuselage were to be canard forewings of 3,5 m span and a sharp-edged trapezoidal section, carrying anti-flutter rods projecting ahead at mid span. The dorsal fin was enlarged, with a long tubular fairing at the leading-edge kink.

An important feature of the Ye-152M was the installation of brand new weapon system, based on the "Uragan-5B-80" radar.

Although the innovations applied in it, the Ye -152M suffered the fate of its predecessors. Many crucial technical problems had arisen during the test program, some of them connected with the engine performance, other –with the wing flatter, caused by the inappropriate missiles installation.

The development of the advanced “"Uragan-5B-80" radar was cancelled in 1961-1962, practically in the beginning of its testing program, due to the unpredicted complexity of its components and their production. In fact, those days the USSR concept of the air defense system had been totally changed, giving priority to the missiles. As a result, the “Heavy MiGs” 150-series became flying laboratories equipped with new systems for air targets interception.