The Yakovlev Yak-41 (NATO reporting name Freestyle) was a supersonic VTOL fighter aircraft from the Soviet Union that was abandoned before entering production.

The program was initiated in 1975 as the Yak-141, a development of the Yak-38. The first conventional flight of the Yak-41 was accomplished on March 9 1987 and the first hovering flight on December 29 1989. The Yak-41M designation was adopted around 1991 to reflect a shift to a multi-role configuration.

The VTOL ability is reached by a lift and lift/cruise engine who configuration, similarly to the F-35. Two lift jets are mounted behind the cockpit. In the horizontal flight, these are switched off. The main engine is installed in the rear fuselage area, with a swiveling nozzle and an afterburner. For hovering flight the exhaust gas jet is vectored downward around 90°. Use of the afterburner is necessary for vertical takeoff, which imposes serious limitations on the types of runway surfaces that can be employed.

The Yak-41M was capable of speeds up to Mach 1.7, and was claimed to have had a maneuverability comparable to the MiG-29.

In August 1991 the program was stopped because of the shrinking military budget of the Soviet Union. The bureau has attempted to find interest in reviving the program, including the proposal for an advanced version known as Yak-43 , but has yet to find interest.

Specifications (Yak-141)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 18.30 m (60 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 13.97 m (45 ft 10 in)
• Height: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 31.7 m² (341 ft²)
• Empty: 11,650 kg (25,680 lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 19,500 kg (43,000 lb)
• Powerplant:
  • 1x MNPK Soyuz R-79 V-300, 108 kN (24,300 lbf) thrust
  • 2x RKBM RD-41 42 kN (9,300 lbf) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.7
• Range: 1,400 km (870 miles)
• Service ceiling: 15,500 m (50,850 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Thrust/Weight:

Armament

• 1x 30 mm GSh-301 cannon with 120 rounds
• four underwing and one fuselage hardpoints for 2,600 kg (5,500 lb) of external stores

Related content

Related development: Yak-36 - Yak-38

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: Yak-38 - Yak-39 - Yak-40 - Yak-41 - Yak-42 - Yak-43 - Yak-44