Yakovlev Yak-38

Yak-38
A Soviet Navy Yak-38 landing aboard Novorossiysk
Role	VTOL Fighter aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	Soviet Union
Manufacturer	Yakovlev
First flight	15 January 1971
Introduction	11 August 1976
Retired	1991
Status	Retired
Primary user	Soviet Naval Aviation
Produced	1975–1981
Number built	231, including Yak-38U – 34 Yak-38M – 52

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).