The Yakovlev Yak-28 'Brewer' was designed from the earlier Yak-25 as a supersonic tactical strike aircraft but which also saw extensive service as an all-weather interceptor. It featured shoulder mounted swept wings, a tandem undercarriage with wing mounted outriggers, a weapons bay, and a glazed nose for the navigator or bomb aimer. Eventually, the design proved worthy enough to be adapated as an interceptor and thus the Yak-28 'Firebar' was born which actually ended up being produced in larger numbers than the attack versions. The 'Firebar' was equipped with Oriol-D radar in a solid nose, provision for anti-air missile armament, and the weapons bay was removed in favor of additional fuel tanks. Both versions of the Yak-28 served with Soviet air force and air defense regiments where they were operational well through the 1990s in various secondary roles such as trainers, reconnaissance, and electronic countermeasures (ECM).

First flight of the prototype Yak-129 took place on 5 March 1958. This would eventually be the Yak-28B 'Brewer-A' tactical strike variant which would be followed by various other bomber types: the Yak-28I 'Brewer-B' and the Yak-28L 'Brewer-C' to which most earlier versions were ultimately converted to. A tactical reconnaissance variant was known as the Yak-28R 'Brewer-D' while the Yak-28PP 'Brewer-E' was an ECM platform used for stand-off jamming duties. Interceptor versions began with the Yak-38P 'Firebar' followed by the Yak-28PM which culd carry AA-2 missiles in two additional underwing pylons. Lastly, a two seat (in separate cockpits) trainer variant was known as the Yak-28U 'Maestro'.