Rare footage of soviet VTOL aircraft

The Yak-38 Forger

Originally known as the Yak-36MP in the West, the Yak-38 was the first production vertical takeoff/landing aircraft built by the Soviet Union. Similar to the British Harrier, the Yak-38 was built to operate from the Soviet medium-sized Kiev class aircraft carriers. It was due to be replaced by the advanced Yak-141 until government funding for that project was cancelled. A total of about 230 aircraft were built.

Yak-141 Freestyle

Developed to replace the Yak-38 for Soviet aircraft carrier use, the Yak-41 (later redesignated Yak-141) was the world’s first supersonic vertical/short-takeoff and landing aircraft. Though a very advanced and capable design, Yakovlev has been frustrated by shrinking funding from the Russian government and has sought international partners to continue development of the design. Yakovlev engineers have also been consulted by Lockheed in designing its V/STOL version of the Joint Strike Fighter.