View source for Yakovlev Yak-38

{{Short description|VTOL strike fighter aircraft; only operational VTOL strike aircraft of the Soviet Navy}}
<!--This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout.-->
{{More citations needed|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= Yak-38
 |image= File:Yak-38 (14598742).jpg 
 |caption= A [[Soviet Naval Aviation|Soviet Navy]] Yak-38 landing aboard [[Soviet aircraft carrier Novorossiysk|''Novorossiysk'']]
 |type = [[VTOL]] [[Fighter aircraft]]
 |national_origin = [[Soviet Union]]
 |manufacturer = [[Yakovlev]]
 |first_flight = 15 January 1971
 |introduction = 11 August 1976
 |retired = 1991
 |status = Retired
 |primary_user = [[Soviet Naval Aviation]]
 |more_users =
 |produced = 1975–1981
 |number_built = 231, including <br /> Yak-38U – 34 <br /> Yak-38M – 52
 |developed_from =
 |variants =
}}

The '''Yakovlev Yak-38''' ({{langx|ru|Яковлев Як-38}}; [[NATO reporting name]]: "'''Forger'''") was [[Soviet Naval Aviation]]'s only operational [[VTOL]] strike fighter aircraft in addition to being its first operational carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soviet Jet VTOL: Yak-36, Yak-38, & Yak-41 |url=https://www.airvectors.net/avredvt.html |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=www.airvectors.net}}</ref> It was developed specifically for, and served almost exclusively on, the {{sclass|Kiev|aircraft carrier}}s (heavy [[aircraft cruiser|aviation cruiser]] in Russian classification).

==Design and development==
{{unreferenced|section|date= June 2023}}
[[File:Yak-38 Lift Engines NT.PNG|thumb|left|A diagram showing the lift forces on a Yak-38 in VTOL mode]]
[[File:Yak-38 04.jpg|thumb|A close up view of the air intakes for the smaller VTOL engines]]

Designed by the [[Yakovlev|A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau]], the first drawings showed a [[supersonic]] aircraft strongly resembling the [[Hawker P.1154]] in study in the [[United Kingdom]], but with two R27-300 engines. Supersonic performance would have implied many difficulties of development, and it was decided to initially develop a relatively simple aircraft limited to [[Mach Number|Mach]] 0.95. Although the Yak-38 and Yak-38M were developed from the land-based [[Yakovlev Yak-36]], the aircraft had almost nothing in common.

The prototype VM-01 was finished on 14 April 1970. Though outwardly similar to the British [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier]], it followed a completely different configuration. Together with a vectorable [[thrust]] engine in the rear used during flight, two smaller, and less powerful, engines were housed in the front portion of the [[fuselage]] and used only during takeoff and landing.<ref group="note">The Harrier has only one engine, the cold and hot thrust being vectored through nozzles fore and aft respectively.</ref>

The Yak-38 had an automatic [[ejection seat]]. If one of the takeoff engines failed or the aircraft rolled past 60 degrees the pilot was automatically ejected from the aircraft.

==Operational history==
[[File:Yakovlev Yak-38M at MAKS-1993 airshow.jpg|thumb|A Yak-38M at the [[MAKS (air show)|MAKS]] airshow in 1993]]
[[File:Lifted wing Yak-38 (modified).jpg|thumb|[[Folded wing]] of a Yak-38]]

The majority of Yak-36M initial production deliveries were to the 279 ''OKShAP'' (''Otdelny Korabelny Shturmovoy Aviatsionny Polk'', Independent Shipboard Attack Air Regiment), initially based at Saki, the AV-MF's training centre in [[Crimea]].

In July 1979, ''Minsk'' arrived in the [[Sea of Japan]], where the vessel was home-ported at Strelok Bay, the Yak-38 component of its air wing thereafter being provided by the 311 ''OKShAP'' subordinate to the [[Pacific Ocean Fleet (Russia)|Pacific Fleet]].{{Clarify|is 311 or ''Minsk'' subordinated?|date=May 2011}}

In September 1982, {{Ship|Soviet aircraft carrier|Novorossiysk||2}} – the third ''Kiev''-class carrier – was commissioned. By now the V/STOL technique had been well practiced, and the resulting increase in the Yak-38's overall performance and capability was exploited during the passage of ''Novorossiysk'' from Severomorsk to join the Pacific Fleet. A pair of armed Yak-38s operating from ''Minsk'' intercepted aircraft from the U.S. carrier {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|2}} over the [[Arabian Sea]] on 16 December 1982. This event marked the first time Soviet VTOL aircraft intercepted American aircraft while armed with missiles.<ref name=NYTimes>Weinraub, Bernard. [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/19/world/f-14-s-from-carrier-nimitz-chased-2-libyan-jets-us-officials-say.html "F-14's From Carrier Nimitz Chased 2 Libyan Jets, U.S. Officials Say."] ''New York Times,'' 19 February 1983. Retrieved: 3 August 2017.</ref>

In a maritime context, the Yak-38 was not limited to the decks of ''Kiev''. In September 1983, AV-MF pilots operated from the civilian [[Ro-Ro]] vessel ''Agostinho Neto'', and NII-VVS (Air Force Scientific Test Institute) pilots conducted further tests from another Ro-Ro vessel, ''Nikolai Cherkasov''. In both cases, use was made of a heat-resistant landing platform; further land-based trials tested the practicality of dispersed landing platforms, in a similar concept to the British [[Royal Air Force]]'s Harrier operations in [[West Germany]].<ref name=ACIG1>Newdick, Thomas. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050217202728/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_488.shtml "The Soviet Navy 'Forger': Yak-36M, Yak-38, Yak-38U and Yak-38M."]}} Air Combat Information Group, 27 November 2004. Retrieved: 16 July 2008.</ref>

==Variants==
[[File:Yak-38 Forger Gear Down.jpg|thumb|A Soviet Yak-38 Forger with its landing gear down]]
[[File:Yakovlev Yak-38U in 1987.JPEG|thumb|Yak-38U]]
;Yak-36M "Forger":
The initial pre-production version, differing slightly from the Yak-38. It weighed  {{convert|6650|kg|lb|abbr=on}} compared to the Yak-38's {{convert|7370|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and the engines were slightly less powerful.

;Yak-38 "Forger-A":
The Yak-38 was the first production model, it first flew on 15 January 1971, and entered service with the Soviet Naval Aviation on 11 August 1976. A total of 143 Yak-38s were produced.

;Yak-38M "Forger-A":
The Yak-38M was an upgraded version of the Yak-38, the main difference being the new Tumansky R-28V-300 and [[Rybinsk RD-38]] engines. The maximum takeoff weight in VTOL was increased from {{convert|10300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} to {{convert|11300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and was {{convert|12000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in short takeoff mode. The air intakes were slightly widened and the underwing pylons reinforced to carry a {{convert|2000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} weapons load. The Yak-38M entered service with the [[Soviet Naval Aviation]] after June 1985; 50 Yak-38M were produced.

;Yak-38U "Forger-B":
Two-seat training version of the Soviet Naval Aviation. This version differed from the basic aircraft in having an enlarged fuselage to accommodate a two-seat cockpit. The Yak-38U entered service on 15 November 1978. Thirty-eight Yak-38U were produced, the final aircraft was delivered in 1981.

===Unbuilt projects===
;Yak-39:
Multi-role VTOL fighter/attack aircraft project dating from 1983, employing one R-28V-300 and two RD-48 engines, PRNK-39 avionics suite; S-41D multi-mode radar, larger wing, increased fuel capacity and expanded weapons options based around Shkval or Kaira PGM designation systems.<ref name=ACIG1/>

==Operators==
;{{USSR}}
* [[Soviet Navy]]
** [[Soviet Naval Aviation]]
;{{flag|Ukraine|1991}}
* [[Ukrainian Navy]]
** [[Ukrainian Naval Aviation]] (former operator, was only used in limited numbers as land-based fighters after the collapse of the Soviet Union, no longer in service.)

==Specifications (Yakovlev Yak-38M)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Combat Aircraft since 1945''<ref>Wilson 2000, p.&nbsp;145.</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length m=16.37
|length note=
|span m=7.32
|span note=
|width m=<!-- if applicable -->
|width note=
|height m=4.25
|height note=
|wing area sqm=18.5
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<!--'''root:'''; '''tip:''' <ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |accessdate=16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight kg=7385
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=11300
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Tumansky R-28 V-300]] 
|eng1 type=Vectored-thrust turbofan engine
|eng1 kn=66.7
|eng1 note=for lift and cruise thrust
|power original=
|thrust original=

|eng2 number=2
|eng2 name=[[Rybinsk RD-36-35|Rybinsk (RKBM) RD-38]]
|eng2 type=turbojet engines
|eng2 kn=31.9
|eng2 note= lift-jets
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=1050
|max speed note=<ref>[http://www.yak.ru/ENG/FIRM/HISTMOD/yak-38.php "Vertical take-off/landing aircraft: Yak-38."] Yakovlev Design Bureau, 16 July 2008.</ref>
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=1300
|range note=<ref>[http://www.yak.ru/ENG/FIRM/HISTMOD/yak-38.php "Vertical take-off/landing aircraft: Yak-38."] Yakovlev Design Bureau, 16 July 2008.</ref>
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=11000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=75
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= [[GSh-23L]] 23&nbsp;mm gun pod (GP-9). Carried in one or two pairs of [[GSh-23L|UPK-23-250]] pods fixed under the external pylons of wings.{{efn|There was also a centre-mounted ventral, integrated gunpod developed, designated as the VSPU-36. This also contained a GSh-23L gun, but its ammunition supply consisted of 160 rounds instead of the 250 as on the UPK-23-250 wing pods.}}
|bombs= 
|rockets= 
|missiles= 
|hardpoints=4
|hardpoint capacity={{convert|2000|kg|abbr=on}}
|hardpoint rockets= various types of rockets (up to 240 mm)
|hardpoint missiles= 2 anti-ship or air-to-surface [[Kh-23]] (AS-7 Kerry){{efn|The Kh-23 required a "Delta-V" guidance pod on one of the inboard pylons}}. [[Molniya R-60|R-60]] or R-60M (AA-8 Aphid) air-to-air missiles could be carried under the external pylons.
|hardpoint other= external tanks.
|hardpoint bombs= two [[FAB-500]] or four FAB-250 general-purpose bombs under pylons, two incendiary ZB-500, or two nuclear RN-28 bombs.

|avionics=
}}
<!--
==Notable popular culture==
Read [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] before adding any "Yak-38 in fiction" items. Random cruft, including all Ace Combat appearances and anime speculation will be removed. -->

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
* [[Yakovlev Yak-36]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Dassault Balzac V]]
* [[Harrier jump jet|Harrier]] series
* [[VFW VAK 191B]]
* [[Yakovlev Yak-141]]
}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Wilson, Stewart. ''Combat Aircraft since 1945''. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications, 2000. {{ISBN|1-875671-50-1}}.
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201229.html "Yak-36 Forger—interim V/Stol."] ''Flight International'', 2 May 1981.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/yak-38.htm Yak-38 photo gallery]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050217202728/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_488.shtml Yak-38 Information]}}
* [http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat_cid_170.html Walkaround on 2 Yak-38 in Monino Aviation Museum, Russia]

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

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:1970s Soviet fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:V/STOL aircraft by thrust vectoring]]
[[Category:Lift jet]]
[[Category:Yakovlev aircraft|Yak-038]]
[[Category:Trijets]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1971]]
[[Category:Third-generation jet fighters]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]