The first engine was recovered on 18 April 1966 and the second a week later; both engines were returned to the Soviets on 2 May 1966. The Yak-28P was withdrawn in the early 1980s, but trainer and other versions remained in service until after the fall of the Soviet Union, flying until at least 1992. The reconnaissance and ECM aircraft were eventually replaced by variants of the Sukhoi Su-24. Variants Yak-129 Prototype of Yak-28. Yak-28 (Izdeliye B) Tactical bomber. Initial production version; built in small numbers without radar. Yak-28B (Izdeliye 28B; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-A") Production of Yak-28 with weapon-aiming radar fitted, and various improvements such as fittings for JATO bottles. Production number unknown. Yak-28L (Izdeliye 28L; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-B") Tactical bomber with ground-controlled targeting system using triangulation from ground-based transmitter sites. A total of 111 built. Yak-28I (Izdeliye 28I; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-C") Tactical bomber with the internal targeting system "Initsiativa-2" 360-degree ground-mapping radar. A total of 223 built. Yak-28UVP prototype (ukorochennyy vzlyot i posahdka – short takeoff and landing) A single Yak-28 converted for testing short takeoff and landing techniques with JATO bottles and braking parachutes. Yak-28U (Izdeliye 28U) (uchebnyy – training) (NATO reporting name – "Maestro") It was a dual control trainer with a second cockpit in the nose for student pilots; made as a prototype in 1962. A total of 183 were built. Yak-28R (Izdeliye 28R; NATO reporting name: "Brewer-D") A dedicated tactical reconnaissance version of the Yak-28I, with increased headroom under the pilot´s canopy, increased nose glazing with a sloping rear bulkhead, Initsiativa-2 radar, and five interchangeable pallets containing various mission equipment fittings. Prototype in 1963. A total of 183 built. Yak-28SR prototype (samolyot raspylitel – spraying/dusting aircraft) first use of SR. Chemical warfare aircraft for dispensing dust or liquid agents from underwing tank/applicators. Though recommended for production none were delivered to the VVS. Yak-28SR (Izdeliye 28SR) second use of SR. Tactical reconnaissance aircraft fitted with an active radio/radar jammer (either SPS-141 or SPS-143). Production was on a very small scale. Yak-28TARK (televiszionnyy aviatsionnyy razveddyvatel'nyy kompleks) Television reconnaissance system to send real-time images to a ground base. Backup provided by a 190 mm focal length still camera. Yak-28RR (Izdeliye 28RR) Radiation intelligence aircraft with RR8311-100 air sampling pods, for gathering samples of nuclear tests. The pods were specially designed for the Yak-28RR but became standard fit for all subsequent radiation intelligence gathering aircraft. Modification