Russia Developing Vertical Take-off-Landing Fighter Jet Based on Yak Aircraft Platform

Russia has commenced concept studies on an all-new vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) fighter jet based on a Yak platform on which earlier Soviet/Russian VTOL attempts were made.

A source within the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) confirmed the development to defensemirror.com stating that the project is being led by the Yakovlev Corporation of the UAC based in Irkutsk which current produces the YAK-130 combat trainer and Su-30SM2 fighter jet.

UAC has all the design documentation from earlier Russian efforts to develop VTOL aircraft and is waiting for the government’s go-ahead to commence the project, the source added.

Yakovlev (formerly Irkut Corporation) has preserved technical knowledge gained from developing the world’s first VTOL fighter, the Yak-36 in 1964. An updated version, the Yak-38 that landed on the aircraft carrier, Moskva, in 1972 and the Yak-141, the world’s first supersonic VTOL aircraft in 1987.

It is possible that the YAK based VTOL fighter will be designed to operate from the Project 22900 LHD helicopter carriers. The source however did not confirm this.

VTOL aircraft operating from relatively small “helicopter carriers” make more sense for naval force projection unlike large aircraft carriers which cost billions of dollars to build. Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov is under repair since 2018.

Earlier it was speculated that the proposed VTOL aircraft could be based on the Su-57 or its smaller sibling, the single engine Su-75 or “Checkmate.” However, the  the superb aerodynamics of the Yak-130 trainer aircraft could help in low speed flying and manoeuvring to land and take off vertically.

Japan has adapted its Izumo helicopter carrier to operate with the F-35B VTOL fighter jet.