Yakolev Yak-38 Forger

Yakolev Yak-38 Forger

Jenis pesawat tempur Yak-38 Forger merupakan pesawwat generasi pertama yang dioerasikan dikapal induk. Kelebihan Yak-38 adalah kemampuannya mendarat secara vertical (VTOL) sehingga sangat cocok berpangkalan dikapal induk. Tak hanya Rusia yang mengoperasikannya, Argentina yang pernah terlibat perang dengan Inggris juga mengoperasikan sejumlah Yak-38 dikapal induk Agostino Neto. Sebagai pengaman, Yak 38 sudah dilengkapi kursi pelontar. Selama dioperasikan, kasus ejection berlangsung sampai 31 kali dan semua pilotnya selamat.

Persenjataan yang dimiliki Yak-38 untuk masa itu (1973-1987) termasuk sederhana seperti senapan mesin yang merupakan pinjaman dari Mig-21, ASP-PDF 21, rudal udara ke udara tipe ringan R-60 (AA-8 Aphid), rudal berbasis radio control Kh-23 (AS-7 Kerry), sejumlah roket dan bom seberat 500 kg.

Role VTOL

fighter National origin Soviet Union

Manufacturer Yakovlev F

irst flight 1971 Introduced 1976

Status Retired Primary user Soviet Navy

Number built 231

Unit cost US$18.5 million in 1996

Developed from Yakovlev Yak-36

General characteristics

• Crew: One

• Length: 16.37 m (50 ft 1 in)

• Wingspan: 7.32 m (24 ft 0 in)

• Height: 4.25 m (14 ft 5 in)

• Wing area: 18.5 m² (199 ft²)

• Empty weight: 7,385 kg (16,281 lb)

• Loaded weight: kg (lb)

• Max takeoff weight: 11,300 kg (28,700 lb)

• Powerplant: 1 x Tumansky R-28 V-300 turbojet, 66.7 kN (15,000 lbf)

• Powerplant: 2× Rybinsk RD-38 turbojets, 31.9 kN (7,870 lbf>) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1 280 km/h (795 mph)

• Range: 1,300 km[3] (807 miles)

• Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,089 ft)

• Rate of climb: 4,500 m/min (14,760 ft/min)

• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)

• Thrust/weight: 1+

Armament

[4]

• Guns: GSh-23L 23mm gun pod (GP-9). This gun could be carried in one or two PUK-23-250 pods fixed under the external pylons of wings.

• Bombs: two FAB-500 or four FAB-250 under pylons, two incendiary ZB-500, or two nuclear tactical RN-28.

• Rockets: various types of rockets (up to 240 mm).

• Missiles: two anti-ship or air-to-surface Kh-23. Each missile weighed 285 kg, was radiocontrolled and had 10 kilometres of range. The Kh-23 requires a guidance pod on one of the pylons. R-60 or R-60M air-to-air missiles could be carried under the external pylons.

• Other: external tanks.