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Yak-201

YAK-201, with the factory designation "product 201" (Izdeliye 201), was a proposed development of the Yak-41M 'Freehand' equipped with Kuznetsov NK-321 engines. The Yakovlev aircraft design bureau developed the first domestic vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in the USSR and Russia. The successful Yak-38 for many years stood in the arsenal of naval aviation units of the Air Force Navy. Its less fortunate counterparts, Yak-141 and Yak-43, caused Yakovlev's OKB to continue work in this direction. But if all the previous models got a real embodiment in the metal, then the next sample of the Yak-201 plane existed only in drawings.

The Soviet Yak-141 was not a fifth-generation aircraft - it was designed as a fourth-generation aircraft along with its contemporaries MiG-29 and Su-27. It was assumed that his next modification - Yak-201, would be the next generation aircraft. As always, the design bureau began work on a new air vehicle as an initiative in the last years of Soviet power. The engineers expected to create a new plane with a vertical take-off and landing, which should have been different from its predecessors, primarily the range and, correspondingly, the radius of flight, which left much to be desired in previous instances.

The new project was supposed to be attributed to the fifth generation aircraft already at the beginning of its preliminary design. The smoothness of the forms and the absence of right angles, the materials of the fuselage were intended to reduce the radar visibility of the new machine. In other words, a deck fighter-invisible was created, capable of solving combat missions at high speeds, altitudes and radius of flight. At the same time, it had to be maneuverable and able to win the advantage in aerial combat with enemy aircraft. The

The design of the aircraft was based on the traditional twin-tail ["two keel" - Dvuhkilevoi] scheme. The double vertical empenage received a large angle of slope. Unlike its predecessors, the Yak-201 would have one power unit, which would be located immediately behind the pilot's cabin. The only lifting and propulsion engine of the fighter would receive a mechanical drive for the lift fan.

Depending on the flight mode, the engine would work for different tasks. On take-off, the engine would create a lift, changing the direction of air flow to the underlying surface of the take-off site. After climbing, the overlapping flaps are opened and a thrust is created for horizontal flight. The makers of the Yak-201 "broke their heads" over the shape of the engine's nozzle. Two variants were considered - round and flat. But the only thing that can not be doubted is that the nozzles must be rotary. What would give the aircraft super maneuverability in the air. Very important and necessary quality for the fighter. Like weapons, which would be located in a ventral fuselage vetrifizyuzelyazhnom] compartment.

It was assumed that the aircraft would be single seat, as there was not enough space for the second crew member because of the engine behind the cabin. Estimated flight speed of the aircraft at the ground should be 1250 km / h, and when typing a higher altitude, the speed would increase to 1800 km / h. The practical ceiling of the aircraft would be 15,000 meters. It is supposed to arm the plane with the GSH-23 air cannon with 120 rounds of ammunition. To defeat air targets, guided long-range and medium-range air-to-air missiles would be used. Depending on the tasks to be performed, containers with unguided missiles may be suspended.

Unfortunately, the development of the Yakovlev Design Bureau was not approved: the Ministry of Defense did not have enough money to develop a new aircraft. In the mid-90s, it became clear at Yakovlev Design Bureau that the new Yak-141 and Yak-43 aircraft would not go into the troops, for obvious reasons of that time. The Design Bureau decided to develop a new aircraft on their own, and in 1996 they proposed a new aircraft to the Moscow Region. Due to the uncertainty of the then leadership of the MiG LFI and Su-47 programs, the project was pushed far into the background.

According to unconfirmed reports, the Yakovlevites at that time, in order to survive without funding, actively collaborated with the American Lockheed Martin. In particular, reliably accurately, the technology of a rotary nozzle and a lifting-marching engine was sold. According to most, this step greatly helped in the creation of the F-35, which became similar to the projected Yakovlev 201.