Honest analysis of the Yak-28s

Western and Russian analysts always ignore or deride these bombers. They seem to have had a very bad reputation. Does anyone here know more about these aircraft? How did they compare to their NATO analogues in the 60s-70s.

One advantage I can think of the Yak-28 series is the sheer versatility of their airframe. Also they're the most beautiful aircraft ever made.

I have a book that mentions the long winged high altitude recon version and it was rather interesting... because it had turbojet engines with a high idle speed they often had to lower landing gear to slow down above 11km altitude because the high thrust in the idle setting caused them to keep climbing.

Sadly there is not a lot of information about older Soviet types like this and many others...

Could any Yak-28s fire AGMs like the Kh-23 and Kh-28 while in service?

From memory most of the bomber Yak twins were actually bombers with both convention but likely more often nuclear bombs.

The interceptors tended to have AA-3 Anab type AAMs, which is directly related to a range of air to ground missiles like the Kh-66 and Kh-25 family of missiles for air to ground use but I don't ever remember seeing a Yak with such weapons fitted... only interceptor models with Anabs.

But it was never really widely covered.... much like the Su-9/11/15 Sukhois were not heavily over exposed either... it was mostly Su-7/17 and MiG-21/23/25 that really seemed to get the most attention in the west.