The forgotten Soviet VTOL jets

Video Description

The Soviet VTOL Jets You’ve Never Heard Of – Yak-36, Yak-38, Yak-41 While the British Harrier often dominates the conversation around VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) fighter jets, the Soviet Union pursued its own ambitious path in vertical flight. This documentary explores the little-known story of the Yakovlev Design Bureau's VTOL program—from its tentative beginnings in the early 1960s with the Yak-36, to the operational deployment of the Yak-38 Forger, and finally to the supersonic promise of the Yak-41, a jet that nearly reshaped naval airpower. We trace the technical and strategic evolution of these aircraft, shaped by Cold War urgency, naval doctrine, and political constraints. The Yak-38 became the Soviet Navy’s first operational VTOL fighter, deployed aboard Kiev-class aviation cruisers, but it was plagued by underperformance and operational limitations—especially in hot climates like the Indian Ocean and Afghanistan. Despite its shortcomings, it marked the USSR’s first attempt at organic carrier-based fixed-wing aviation. Then came the Yak-41, a supersonic, radar-equipped VTOL fighter that set world records in 1991 and promised to leapfrog past the limitations of earlier designs. It underwent successful carrier trials and looked ready for deployment—until the collapse of the Soviet Union halted the program entirely. In a surprising twist, Lockheed later partnered with Yakovlev, drawing insights from the Yak-41 during early development of what would eventually become the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This is the untold history of Soviet VTOL aircraft—machines born of ingenuity and necessity, overshadowed by their Western counterparts but rich with lessons in aerospace innovation, Cold War politics, and military experimentation. CONTENTS 00:00 Intro 00:58 Background 02:57 Development 05:26 Yak-38M 09:30 Yak-39 11:17 Yak-41 13:58 Conclusion Find a more detailed essay on our Substack at https://militaryaviationvideos.substack.com/p/the-forgotten-soviet-vtol-jets Support the Channel Join our Members & Merch shop for ad-free early access, exclusive military-themed discounts, and more perks: https://peacemaker.fashion Check out our popular playlist of air campaigns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PzbGXDV4Wo&list=PLeN4gdAZJa3QRqLqhraC2PJkAoZ1Ged_h _____________ Disclaimer _____________ Some original footage and recreated scenes (using simulators like DCS and War Thunder) may not be 100% accurate to the events depicted. They have been used for illustrative and dramatic purposes where archival footage was unavailable or restricted by copyright. We aim to remain as historically accurate as possible given the available resources. Copyright Notice: This video may contain copyrighted material used under the "fair dealing" provisions (ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A, ss 42/103B) of the Australian Copyright Act for purposes of research, study, criticism, review, and news reporting. All copyrights remain with their respective owners. Our videos are created for educational and historical documentation purposes. About Us: We create documentaries, interviews, and video essays focused on Australian and international military aviation history. Our channel explores the stories of military aircraft, fighter pilots, air battles, and the evolution of air power from WWI to today. Subscribe for new aviation history videos every week.