Yakovlev Yak-44
Yakovlev · Russia · first flew 1992 · fighter
The Yakovlev Yak-44 was a Soviet carrier-borne airborne early warning aircraft designed to operate from the Ulyanovsk-class supercarrier project. It resembled the American E-2 Hawkeye in concept and configuration.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin turboprop with large rotodome above fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet/Russian carrier-borne AEW aircraft concept
- Twin turboprop with large rotodome above fuselage
- Folding wings for carrier storage
A twin-turboprop high-wing aircraft with a large rotodome above the fuselage and T-tail; its resemblance to the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye reflects the similar mission requirement.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev Yak-44 has a length of 20.39 m (67 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 25.7 m (84 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 740 km/h (460 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in the late 1980s alongside the planned Ulyanovsk nuclear-powered carrier. The Yak-44 was to provide long-range radar surveillance for Soviet carrier battle groups. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to cancellation of both the Ulyanovsk and the Yak-44 before a prototype flew.
Variants
No prototype completed; the design existed only in mockup and design study form.
Where you'll see it
The Yak-44 never entered service.
Related aircraft
- Yakovlev Yak-112
- Yakovlev Yak-54
- Yak-58
- Yakovlev Pchela-1T
- General Dynamics X-62 VISTA
- Hawk 109
- Hawk 129
- Eurofighter Typhoon
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