Yak-38

Yak-38

Yak-38

USSR

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Purchase:8 910

STORE

Description

The Yak-38 is a premium gift rank VI Soviet naval jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "New Power".

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	_,___	_,___	12500	__._	__._	__._	__._	520
Upgraded	1,207	1,199		37.3	38.6	113.1	94.3

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	✓	✓	X	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1265	500	N/A	650	500	~12	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 650	< 850	< 920	N/A

Survivability and armour

The Yak-38 has no armour. It is a fairly large target with the entire fuselage being taken up with engines and fuel tanks.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Yak-38 is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • Without offensive armament
  • 1 x 23 mm VSPU-36 ventral gun pod containing a GSh-23L cannon (160 rpg)

Suspended armament

The Yak-38 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 4 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 1,000 total)
• 10 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs + 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,500 kg total)
• 64 x S-5KP rockets
• 64 x S-5KP rockets
• 96 x S-5KP rockets
• 40 x S-8M rockets
• 2 x S-24B rockets
• 4 x S-24B rockets
• 32 x S-5KP rockets + 2 x S-24B rockets
• 2 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x R-60 missiles + 2 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (200 kg total)
• 2 x R-60 missiles + 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x R-60 missiles + 32 x S-5KP rockets
• 2 x R-60 missiles + 2 x S-24B rockets
• 2 x Kh-23M missiles + 1 "Delta" guidance pod

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Modules

Tier	Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
I	Compressor	Fuselage repair	Gun pod VSPU-36	FAB-250	UB-16
II	New boosters	Airframe	Gun pod UPK-23-250	FAB-500	UB-32	R-60
III	Wings repair	G-suit	Offensive 23 mm	X-23M	B-8M1
IV	Engine	Cover	New 23 mm cannons		C-24
This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase

Pros and cons

Pros:

• VTOL capability
• Fast acceleration - one of the fastest subsonic jets, can quickly hit Mach 0.98 quickly in level flight!
• Plenty of payload options (20 setups)
• Has access to the very efficient S-24B rockets and Kh-23M AGMs, as well as R-60 AAMs
• CCIP for its guns and rockets mean you can easily target enemy ground units - S-24B rockets are especially effective

Cons:

• Subsonic
• Cannot use trust vectoring in cruise flight or combat, unlike the Harriers - nozzles and lift engines automatically disengage at cruise speed
• No airbrakes, can be difficult to bleed enough speed for a regular landing. Vertical landings require careful consideration of your velocity bleed.
• Somewhat fragile gear means careless landings can cause the plane to smash into the strip or carrier deck
• Very high RPM combined with low RPG count means you have to be very careful when using the gun(s)

History

Devblog

Although Soviet engineers were experimenting with VTOL fixed wing aircraft design since the early 1960's, it wasn't until December 1967 before a formal order to develop a light VTOL strike aircraft as well as a corresponding trainer version was issued. As a result, engineers at the Yakovlev design bureau began work on the new aircraft in the late 1960's, basing their design on experience gained from developing the preceding Yak-36 - an early VTOL demonstration design.

The new aircraft, designated Yak-36M, was being developed for immediate frontline service, operating both from land bases as well as aircraft-carrying ships. The aircraft's primary role was that of a strike aircraft, engaging ground and surface targets while also being suited to intercept enemy aircraft and helicopters if necessary.

Not too long after work on the project began, the first prototype saw completion and conducted its maiden flight in December 1970. Subsequent prototypes and trials continued testing the aircraft's performance, particularly its novel VTOL capabilities. By 1973, the aircraft was considered ready and serial production commenced.

After some further testing and crew training, the aircraft officially entered service with the Soviet Navy in August 1977, receiving the designation Yak-38. By 1982, over 140 Yak-38's were built, all of which served aboard the then new Kiev-class aircraft carriers. In the mid 1980's, the modernized Yak-38M version came into service, most prominently featuring more powerful engines as well as other improvements. About 50 Yak-38M's were built before the type was ultimately decommissioned in 1991.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Development] Yak-38 & Yak-38M: Hover Jet