Data Quality84%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the ground attack / cas aircraft category.
01 / Overview
Yakovlev Yak-38
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1977–1981
Quantity
231
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT · COLD WAR
48
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
15
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the ground attack / cas aircraft category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- First Flight1971
- Service Entry Year1976
- Crew1
- Primary RoleVTOL strike aircraft
- In ServiceNo
◈Powerplant4MOD.4
- Engine ModelR-28V-300 and RD-38
- Number of Engines3
- AfterburnerYes
- Thrust VectoringYes
▣Performance3MOD.3
- Top Speed1,050 km/h
- Top Speed (Mach)0.95 Mach
- Service Ceiling12,500 m
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Length11.36 m
- Wingspan9.73 m
- Height4.2 m
- Wing Area24.5
- Empty Weight7,370 kg
- Loaded Weight10,300 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight10,300 kg
◆Armament2MOD.2
- Weapons Payload907 kg
- Air-to-Air MissilesYes
▤Production3MOD.3
- Total Built231
- Operators2
- Variants4
⬢Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year1991
- Production Start1975
- Production End1981
- Operational StatusRetired
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1977Production started
- 1981Production ended
49
years in service
4
years in production
231
units produced
2
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
06 / MASS Score
GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT RANKING Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
175GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT48COLD WAR · GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT1272RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS236PERFORMANCE/PRICE · GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT
ⓘ Rankings are within theGround Attack / CAS Aircraftcategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE3terms
An afterburner is a device that injects fuel into a jet engine's hot exhaust gases, generating additional thrust through combustion.
Air-to-air missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to engage other aircraft. They are used for self-defense and to gain air superiority.
The ability to direct engine thrust in varying directions to control aircraft attitude or trajectory.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources