Yakovlev Yak-38 Forger
Summary
| Category | Combat aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| First flight | 27 September 1970 |
| Year of introduction | 1976 |
| Number produced | 231 units |
| Average unit price | $12 million |
Description
The Yakovlev Yak-38 is a development of the Yak-36, an experimental aircraft. And in many ways, the Yak-38 was also an experimental aircraft. Technologically inferior to the British Harrier, the Forger did not have a radar (except for a small telemetry system) and had limited military capabilities. The Yak was first observed aboard the aircraft carrier Kiev in the summer of 1976, during a trip between Nikolaev and Murmansk. It could only land vertically, severely limiting its possibilities. The dozen aircraft deployed on each Soviet aircraft carrier were supposed to fulfill missions of attack, air defense, and reconnaissance. In reality, it would have been very difficult for it to face real carrier-based fighters, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
With its strange appearance, featuring two small mid-wing partially folding wings, the Forger had a twin-engine configuration, with a thrust vectoring engine and two lift jets at the front. Its electronic equipment was very limited and mainly consisted of an IFF Odd Rods system, a guidance system for landing (mounted under the radar nose), and a radio equipment. Three main versions of the Forger have been identified: the Yak-38, the more powerful and better armed Yak-38M (about 50 units produced), and the two-seater training aircraft Yak-38 Forger-B (tandem cockpit, lowered nose; 38 units). Approximately 230 units of the Yak-38 were produced by Soviet production lines. The aircraft was retired from service fairly quickly, while its designated successor, the Yak-141, could not withstand the fall of the Soviet Union.
Technical specifications
| Version: Yak-38 Forger-A | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Operational range | 1000 km (621 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 1210 km/h (752 mph) |
| Wing area | 18.5 m² (199.1 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 7.3 m (24.0 ft) |
| Height | 4.4 m (14.3 ft) |
| Length | 15.5 m (50.9 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 11300 m (37073 ft) |
| Empty weight | 7020 kg (15476 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 11200 kg (24692 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × turbojets Rybinsk RD-36-35 FRV delivering 3050 kgp Moteurs delivering sustentation; 1 × turbojet Tumansky R-27V-300 delivering 6100 kgp Moteur à tuyère vectorielle |
| Ejection seat | Zvezda K-36DM |
Current operating countries
No country is operating the Yak-38 Forger in 2024.
All operators
Ex-USSR
Armament
Missiles payload:
- Air-to-Air Short-Range Vympel R-3 (AA-2 Atoll)
- Air-to-Surface Zvezda Kh-23 (AS-7 Kerry)
Bombs payload:
- Low-Drag FAB-250
- Low-Drag JSC NPO Basalt FAB-500
- Nuclear KB-11 RN-40
- Nuclear RN-41
Photo of Yak-38 Forger
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