History

            Design of the Yak-41 prototype (designated Yak-141) began inn 1975 (just four years after the first Yak-38 Forger had flown.) and the first prototype flew in March 1987, followed by a second in April 1989. These flights were made 25 years ahead of the timeframe in which western manufacturers had set for development of such and aircraft. In April 1991 on of the prototypes set a several records for a VTOL type (see below) and was displayed at the Paris air show shortly afterwards.  One prototype was lost due to pilot error in 1991 and development was cancelled in 1992 due to a lack of funding (and not due to any problems with the aircraft). A more enhanced version, the Yak-41M was designated and it appears to be for Air Force service and not the Navy. The airframe of this aircraft has been extensively modified and given stealth features, a more powerful engine, more fuel and payload. The program is considered dead because Russia no longer has carriers that require VTOL aircraft. However in 1994 Jane's defense weekly reported that the Indian government was interested in a joint development contract with Yakovlev. (if you know any more about this please sent it to me through the discussion page)

Design Features

            The Yak-41 features the same multi-engine lift / thrust combination as the Yak 38, however it features one main thrust engine. This engine can use the afterburner at any nozzle angle (0-95 degrees). It is interesting to note that the afterburner must be used for vertical take-offs (it melted the runway at the Paris air show). It has twin widely separated tail booms, with the inner surface covered by a titanium heat shield and two rectangular wedge shaped intakes either side of the fuselage. Recirculation of jet efflux is restricted by  a large door that hinges down forward of the vectored main nozzle, and smaller doors between this and the lift jets.

            The Yak-41's avionics systems features fully manual or automatic flight control from take-off to landing, day or night in all weather. Utilises the same fire control radar as the MiG-29 with optional laser/TV designator and helmet mounted sight. The integral flight control system also sets the power and deflection of the nozzles in order to optimise making vertical/short take-offs and landings.

            The Yak-41 features triplex full-authority digital fly-by-wire control of aerodynamic surfaces and 'puffer jets' with inputs from inertial and area navigation systems via nav computer and air computer systems. It has provisions for satellite navigation system. The tail planes are of the all-moving type and has leading edge flaps on the wings.

            The structure makes use of aluminum/lithium, with it making up 26% or the aircrafts weight. It is used in flaps, slats, leading and trailing edges and tail surfaces. The wings fold upwards at mid-span for stowage. Wing LEXs are on each side of the intakes, just forward of the wing root.  The landing gear is the retractable tricycle type with a single wheel on each unit. The nose wheel retracts rearward and the main gear retracts forward into the intakes. A brake chute is housed on centerline above the jet nozzle. 

Yak-141 Records (1991)

Armament / Range Data

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Last Revised 20th November 2000.