Yakovlev Yak-38

1971

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Yakovlev Yak-38

The first combat aircraft of Soviet design conceived specifically for shipboard operation to achieve series production, the Yak-38 single-seat carrier-borne air defence and strike fighter was evolved from the Yak-36M. Flown in prototype form in 1971, the Yak-36M was developed under the design leadership of S Mordovin for the primary tasks of fleet air defence against shadowing maritime surveillance aircraft, reconnaissance and anti-ship strike. Power plant combined a Yu Gusev-developed Tumansky R-27V thrust-vectoring turbojet with two Rybinsk (Koliesov) RD-36-35 vertical-lift turbojets designed by a team led by A Dynkin. Hydraulic drives synchronised by a transverse shaft rotated the thrust-vectoring nozzles aft of the wing, their output in vertical take-off and landing operations being balanced during hover and transition by the paired lift engines mounted in tandem immediately aft of the cockpit and inclined forward 13° from the vertical.

Shipboard trials with the Yak-36M began aboard the Moskva half-deck anti-submarine cruiser in 1972, and, in the following year, the decision was taken to build a pre-series of Yak-36M fighters for service evaluation, the first two of these landing aboard the carrier-cruiser Kiev in 1975. An evaluation squadron comprising 12 single-seat Yak-36Ms and two two-seat Yak-36Us embarked aboard the Kiev in the summer of 1976, the aircraft being confined to vertical take-off with conversion following at 5-6m above the deck. During 1976, production was initiated of a much improved version of the basic design as the Yak-38. Externally similar to the Yak-36M, apart from substantial strakes either side of the intake for the lift engines, the Yak-38 possessed a full weapons system and an automatic control system permitting a short roll leading into vertical take-off as distinct from an orthodox short take-off benefiting from wing-induced lift.

The Yak-38 entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1978, and, during 1980, was evaluated under operational conditions in Afghanistan. Progressive development resulted in the Yak-38M, which, with 1000kg more engine thrust, a steerable nosewheel and provision for paired 600-litre underwing auxiliary tanks, entered production in succession to the Yak-38. The Yak-38M had a 6940kg R-27V-300 thrust-vectoring turbojet and two vertical-lift RD-38 turbojets each rated at 3250kg. Two wing stations immediately inboard of vertically-folding panels provided for two gun pods each containing a twin-barrel 23mm GSh-23 cannon, rocket packs or bombs weighing up to 500kg each, two R-60 IR-homing AAMs or short-range ASMs. The tuitional version, the Yak-38UM, had vertically-staggered tandem seats, a plug being inserted in the aft fuselage to compensate for a lengthened nose. Each of the four Soviet Navy Kiev-class carrier cruisers received a 14-aircraft squadron of Yak-38s or -38Ms (each including two two-seaters), and production was completed by 1987 with a total of 231 Yak-38s (all versions) built.

FACTS AND FIGURES

© The 'Forger' had a system to automaticaliy eject the pilot if the engine stopped while the thrust was angled below the horizontal. On one occasion this occurred in full view of a British carrier, who rescued the pilot.

© A hinged door opened behind the cockpit to feed air to the lift jets, which exhausted out of a hatch at the bottom.

© The 'Forger' was very basically equipped, with only a simple weapons sight and no radar or radar warning systems.

© Although intended only for vertical take-offs and landings, the 'Forger' had double-slotted flaps and a braking parachute.

Yakovlev Yak-38

Specification 
 MODELYak-38M
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight11700 kg25794 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan7.32 m24 ft 0 in
  Length15.5 m51 ft 10 in
  Height4.37 m14 ft 4 in
  Wing area18.50 m2199.13 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed1010 km/h628 mph

3-View 
Yakovlev Yak-38A three-view drawing (1640 x 1103)

Comments
Klaatu83, e-mail, 27.07.2012 16:13

The Yak-38 was intended to be the Soviet Union's answer to the Harrier, but it really wasn't. The Harrier took off, flew and landed, all with a single engine. The Yak-38 required three engines, two of which were shut down except during take-off and landing. The rest of the time the two extra engines were merely dead weight and wasted space, reducing the aircraft's capacity to carry fuel, electronics and weapons. As a result, the Yak-38 could do what the Harrier could do, but not as efficiently.

reply

anonymous, 19.02.2012 22:38

what is the average price?

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anonymous, 19.02.2012 22:35

what is the average price?

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Davin, e-mail, 11.08.2021 anonymous

The price of a yak38 in 1998 was 18.8 million dollars

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Kevin Morrow, e-mail, 15.05.2011 12:04

Looks like a hairrier without the jump engines.

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Todd, e-mail, 07.12.2010 07:18

Mr HTIAN the Yakovlev Yak-38's only spent a month in Afghanistan in an operation called Romb-1 and preformed poorly do to the Heat and altitude they were operating in. The number of Yak-38's was no more than 4 and they were regulated to early morning flying and that was it. There are no other known combat operations of the Yak-38 and they are no longer in service as of 1995. Were supposed to be replaced by Yak-141 but that failed to get financing. 30 years of studying Soviet Aircraft.

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Mr HTAIN WIN, e-mail, 01.06.2010 17:45

I would like to know its experimental fighting and history in modern war. And I want to know its weight

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Kiril, e-mail, 05.04.2010 01:58

I am able to offer demilitarized Yak-38s for sale to civil buyers. Contact me for more information.
E-mail: chochkov@aero-x.eu

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Taufan, e-mail, 21.12.2008 07:18

What happen to the example?

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