Although the first vertical take ? off and landing (GDP) aircraft in the USSR-the Yak-36 deck attack aircraft-did not go into mass production, it gave invaluable experience. This allowed the Yakovlev Design Bureau to continue working on similar projects. In 1967, the development of a new VTOL deck attack aircraft Yak-36M was started, which would later receive the designation Yak-38. On September 22, 1970, the first flight of the Yak? 38 deck attack aircraft was launched.
It was a medium-sized plane with a retractable landing gear. Combined power plant ? 1 ? lifting and marching engine R27V-300 with a thrust of 59 kN and 2 ? lifting engines RD-36-35FVR with a thrust of 29 kN. The maximum speed is 1210 km / h, the combat radius is 195 km. Armament ? up to 1500 kg of bombs/missiles on 4 suspension points.
Despite a number of disadvantages? a short flight range, the absence of an on-board radar, etc., the Yak-38 was adopted and put into mass production. It became the second GDP aircraft in the world, after the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, adopted into service. 231 Yak-38 attack aircraft were built.