| Yak-38 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A Soviet Navy Yak-38 landing aboard Novorossiysk | |
| General information | |
| Type | VTOL Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Yakovlev |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Soviet Naval Aviation |
| Number built | 231, including Yak-38U – 34 Yak-38M – 52 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1975–1981 |
| Introduction date | 11 August 1976 |
| First flight | 15 January 1971 |
| Retired | 1991 |
The Yakovlev Yak-38 (Russian: 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. It was developed specifically for, and served almost exclusively on, the Kiev-class aircraft carriers (heavy aviation cruiser in Russian classification).