View source for Yakovlev Yak-141

{{Short description|Soviet vertical takeoff fighter prototype}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= Yak-141
 |image= File:Yakovlev Yak-141 at 1992 Farnborough Airshow (2).jpg
 |caption= Yakovlev Yak-141 at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow
 |alt=
 |type= [[VTOL]] [[fighter aircraft]]
 |national_origin= Soviet Union
 |manufacturer= [[Yakovlev]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight= 9 March 1987
 |introduction=
 |retired=
 |status= Cancelled in August 1991
 |primary_user= [[Soviet Navy]]
 |produced=
 |number_built= 4<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tmuseum.ru/posmotrite-na-sajte/galereya-eksponatov/aviatsiya/yak-141/ |title=Контактная информация |last=idea.lt |website=tmuseum.ru |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=23 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423034137/http://www.tmuseum.ru/posmotrite-na-sajte/galereya-eksponatov/aviatsiya/yak-141/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.razlib.ru/transport_i_aviacija/ayerohobbi_1992_02/p6.php |title=Як-141: критический момент биографии / АэроХобби 1992 02 |website=razlib.ru |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navylib.su/ships/1143/04.htm |title=А.С. Павлов. Длинная рука Адмирала Горшкова. Палубный самолет для "Четверки" |website=navylib.su |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://army-news.ru/2016/03/axillesova-pyata-chast-i/ |title=Ахиллесова пята. Часть I – Армейский вестник |website=army-news.ru |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.su/aviation/airplanes-after1945/yak141/ |title=Морская авиация. Самолет Як-141 |website=navy.su |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/yak_141.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150420215902/http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/yak_141.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 April 2015 |title=Yak-141 - VTOL multi-role fighter |last=ARG |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/aircraft/types/type-details/yakovlev-yak-41-freestyle.htm |title=Yakovlev Yak-41 'Freestyle' – Aeroflight |publisher=Aeroflight.co.uk |date=2016-06-26 |access-date=2022-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianplanes.net/planelist/yakovlev/yak-41/141 |title=✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация |website=russianplanes.net |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref>
 |variants=
}}

The '''Yakovlev Yak-141''' ({{langx|ru|Яковлев Як-141}}; [[NATO reporting name]] "'''Freestyle'''"), also known as the '''Yak-41''', is a Soviet [[supersonic]] [[VTOL|vertical takeoff/landing]] (VTOL) [[fighter aircraft]] designed by [[Yakovlev]]. Intended as a replacement for the [[Yak-38]], it was designed as a supersonic fleet defence fighter capable of STOVL/VTOL operating from Soviet carriers. Four prototypes were built before the project's cancellation.<ref name=Gunston>{{cite book |first1= William 'Bill' |last1= Gunston |author1-link= Bill Gunston |first2= Yefim |last2= Gordon |title= Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924 |place= London, UK |publisher= Putnam Aeronautical Books |year= 1997 |isbn= 978-1-55750-978-9}}</ref>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

==Design and development==
Known internally as "Product 48", the Yak-41 was intended to replace the Yak-38 in service with the Soviet Navy. It went through significant design evolution. Configurations studied by Yakovlev included a twin-engine configuration, which was rejected due to asymmetric thrust issues in the event of an engine failure during landing, and a single-engined configuration, with lift jets to allow for vertical takeoff and landing, was selected.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

[[File:Scheme of Yak-141 powerplant.png|thumb|Arrangement of Yak-141 powerplant]]
The engines were controlled digitally; manuverability during the hover was provided by reaction control jets, using excess airflow from the engines, located at the wingtips and under the nose.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} The pressurised cockpit was fitted with an automatic [[ejection seat]]; the automatic functionality would be armed when the engine duct was rotated past 30° when at an airspeed of less than {{convert|300|km/h|kn mph}}. The prototypes had a cockpit arrangement similar to that of the Yak-38M; the production aircraft were planned to be fitted with an entirely new digital system including a [[helmet-mounted sight]].<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} The aircraft's landing gear was of the tricycle type; the nosewheel retracted to the rear, the main wheels retracting forwards.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

[[File:Yakovlev Yak-141 3D model.jpg|thumb|Illustration of Yakovlev Yak-141]]
The wing was mounted high on the fuselage, and was foldable to allow for compact storage on board [[aircraft carriers]]. The main engine was a [[Tumansky R-79V-300]], while the lift jets were a pair of [[Rybinsk (RKBM) RD-41]]s, installed at an angle of 85° in the forwards fuselage behind the cockpit.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

Four prototypes were built; the first was a static-test article, the second a nonflying testbed, while the third and fourth prototypes would be used for flight testing<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

==Operational history==
The first flight took place on in 9 March 1987 at [[Zhukovsky International Airport|Zhukovsky]]; the aircraft first undertook hovering flight on 29 December 1989, with the first full transition from vertical to horizontal flight taking place on 13 June 1990. Trials on the mockup aircraft carrier deck at [[Saky]] began in April 1991. Results of the testing were considered satisfactory, with the aircraft's combat maneuverability regarded as excellent.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} Twelve world records were set during flight testing; as the aircraft's designation of Yak-41 was considered classified, the records were declared as having been set by the "Yak-141".<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

[[File:Yakovlev Yak-141 at 1992 Farnborough Airshow.jpg|thumb|Yak-141 at 1992 Farnborough Airshow]]
The first landing aboard the Russian aircraft carrier {{ship|Soviet aircraft carrier|Admiral Gorshkov||2}} took place on 26 September 1991, using the second (first flying) prototype; the other flying prototype landed aboard an hour later. Eight flights from the ship were completed before 5 October, when following a hard landing a fuel tank ruptured, the aircraft catching fire and the pilot ejecting. The aircraft was later repaired for display.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} Later in October 1991 the program was suspended due to a lack of funds.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}}

With the fall of the Soviet Union, [[Lockheed Aircraft]] entered a partnership with Yakovlev in 1991 for further development of the aircraft, now officially redesignated Yak-141; the partnership would not be announced by Yakovlev until 6 September 1992 and not confirmed by Lockheed until June 1994.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} The remaining intact protoype was displayed at the [[Farnborough Airshow]] in 1992.<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} It was announced that the joint venture would result in the construction of three additional prototypes and an additional static test aircraft, one a two-seat trainer version, and all with an increase in their gross weight,<ref name=Gunston/>{{page needed|date=June 2014}} however no additional aircraft were ever built.

==Variants==
;Yak-41
:The two flying prototypes and ground test article.
;Yak-41M
:Proposed production aircraft with large LERXs (leading-edge root extensions) and other improvements, particularly in the avionic suite.
[[File:Yakovlev Yak-43.png|thumb|right|the proposed Yak-43]]
;Yak-43 (Izdeliye 201)
:A proposed development of the Yak-41M 'Freehand' equipped with [[Kuznetsov (aircraft engines)|Kuznetsov]] [[NK-321]] engines.
;Yak-141
:Designation originally applied to a single Yak-41 for disinformation and propaganda purposes when registering records with the FAI ([[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]])<ref name="gordjump">{{cite book |last= Gordon |first= Yefim |others= Dmitriy Komissarov (translator) |title= Yakovlev Yak-36, Yak-38, & Yak-41: The Soviet 'Jump Jets' |year= 2008 |publisher= Midland Publishing |location= Hinckley, England |isbn= 978-1-85780-287-0}}</ref>{{rp |120–121}}<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Fédération Aéronautique Internationale |date=10 July 1998 |title=Class H / Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aeroplanes |url=http://www.fai.org:81/VTOL/H.html |access-date=2010-02-17 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207063526/http://www.fai.org:81/VTOL/H.html |archive-date=7 December 2010 }}</ref> and later for promotional purposes by Yakovlev.<ref name="Yakovlev Yak-141 page"/>

==Operators==
;{{USSR}}
* [[Soviet Navy]]
** [[Soviet Naval Aviation]]
==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:Yakolev Yak-141 (Yak-41M) 75 white (really 77 white) (8457074510).jpg|thumb|Underwing stores fitted to the Yak-141 (msn 48-3) on display at Technical Museum, Arkhangelskoye, Moscow. Russia. 14-8-2012]]
[[File:Yakovlev Yak-141 @ Central Air Force Museum.jpg|thumb|A Yakovlev Yak-141 at the Russian Air Museum in Monino]]

* Yak-41M (s/n 48-2, call sign "75") is on display at the [[Central Air Force Museum]] at [[Monino]]. The aircraft is displayed in its 1992 livery with olive/grey camouflage markings.
* Yak-41M (s/n 48-3, call sign "77") is on display at the Yakovlev OKB Museum. The aircraft is displayed in its 1992 livery with olive/grey camouflage markings and "141" painted in white in place of the former call sign.<ref name=Gunston/>

==Specifications (Yak-141)==
[[File:Варианты подвески вооружения Як-141.png|thumb|Yakovlev Yak-141 armament scheme]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Yak-141<ref name="Yakovlev Yak-141 page">{{cite web |title=Yak-141 |publisher= Yakovlev Design Bureau |url=http://www.yak.ru/ENG/FIRM/HISTMOD/yak-141.php |access-date=20 May 2009}}</ref> Gunston,<ref name=Gunston/>{{rp|191–193}} Winchester, Yak-141 'Freestyle',<ref name=Winchester>Winchester, Jim. "Yak-141 'Freestyle'". ''Concept Aircraft'' (Aviation Factfile). London: Amber Books, 2005. {{ISBN |978-1-59223-480-6}}</ref> Combat Aircraft since 1945<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Stewart |title=Combat Aircraft since 1945 |location=London |publisher=Aerospace Publications |year= 2000 |isbn=978-1-875671-50-2 |page= 145}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--   General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length m=18.36
|length note=
|span m=10.105
|span note=
|height m=5
|height note=
|wing area sqm=31.7
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=11650
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=19500
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--   Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name={{ill|Tumansky R-79V-300|ru|Р79В-300}}
|eng1 type=afterburning vectoring-nozzle [[turbofan]]
|eng1 kn=108
|eng1 note=
|eng1 kn-ab=152

|eng2 number=2
|eng2 name={{ill|Rybinsk (RKBM) RD-41|ru|РД-41}}
|eng2 type=[[turbojet]]s
|eng2 kn=41.7
|eng2 note=canted rearwards from vertical
<!--   Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=1800
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=2100
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=3000
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=15500
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=250
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
<!--   Armament
-->
|guns= 1 × 30 mm [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1|GSh-30-1]] [[cannon]] with 120 rounds
|hardpoints= 4 underwing and 1 fuselage hardpoints
|hardpoint missiles=[[R-73 (missile)|R-73 Archer]], [[R-60 (missile)|R-60 Aphid]], [[R-77]] Adder and [[R-27 (air-to-air missile)|R-27 Alamo]] for air-to-air roles,<ref name="gordjump"/>{{rp|131}} [[Kh-25|Kh-25MT]] and [[Kh-35]] for air-to-surface roles
|hardpoint capacity= 2,600&nbsp;kg (5,733 lb) of external stores<ref name="gordjump"/>{{rp|131}}
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
|related=
* [[Yakovlev Yak-38]]
* [[Yakovlev Yak-201]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier]]
* [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II]]
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Yakovlev Yak-141}}
* [http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat_cid_224.html Walkaround Yak-41 from Monino Museum (Russia)]
* [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/aircraft/types/yakovlev-yak-41-freestyle.htm Yak-141] at AeroFlight <!-- archive: http://web.archive.org/web/20141226124330/http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/aircraft/types/yakovlev-yak-41-freestyle.htm -->
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20150420215902/http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/yak_141.htm Yakovlev Yak-141 VTOL multi-role fighter]}}<!-- archive: http://web.archive.org/web/20140330191139/http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/yak_141.htm -->

{{Yakovlev aircraft}}
{{USAF/DoD reporting names}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Abandoned military aircraft projects of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:1980s Soviet fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-boom aircraft]]
[[Category:Yakovlev aircraft|Yak-141]]
[[Category:Lift jet]]
[[Category:Aircraft with auxiliary jet engines]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1987]]
[[Category:Fourth-generation jet fighters]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]