Yakovlev Yak-141

Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1987 · fighter

The Yakovlev Yak-141 (NATO: Freestyle) was a Soviet supersonic vertical/short take-off and landing carrier fighter, the world's first supersonic VTOL combat aircraft. It was designed to operate from Soviet Kiev-class aircraft-carrying cruisers.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	18.36 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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Spot it by:

Soviet supersonic VTOL naval fighter
Twin tail fins, single large vectoring main engine plus lift jets
Designed for Kiev-class carrier operations

Large swept-wing supersonic fighter with twin outward-canted tail fins, a prominent lift-jet inlet behind the cockpit, and a vectoring main engine nozzle.

Specifications

The Yakovlev Yak-141 has a length of 18.36 m (60 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.11 m (33 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1800 km/h (1118 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Development began in the 1970s and the Yak-141 first flew in 1987, achieving supersonic flight and demonstrating full VTOL capability. The programme was cancelled after the Soviet collapse in the early 1990s before entering service. Lockheed purchased technical data from Yakovlev, which influenced the F-35B's propulsion system design.

Variants

Only prototypes were built; no production variants entered service. Two flying prototypes were completed, one of which was damaged in a deck landing accident in 1991.

Where you'll see it

The Yak-141 never entered operational service; it is displayed in the Monino Air Force Museum near Moscow and stands as an example of advanced Soviet VTOL technology.

Related aircraft

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