text: New Sovietskiy Yak-141S Freestyle VSTOL Fighter
  New Sovietskiy Yak-141S Freestyle VSTOL Fighter:
  Before their disastrous war against the United States, the Indian Navy used the Sea Harrier on their carriers. The Indian fighters attempted an air strike against the U.S.S. Bunker Hill and all of the Indian fighters were destroyed or damage. Before the war, the Indian government was negotiating to purchase the VTOL version of the Joint Strike Fighter. These negotiations were stopped due to the war and the Indians were blocked by the United States from buying more Sea Harriers from Great Britain.
  All purchases of military hardware from Western Nations were blocked by the United States and the Indian military had to rely heavily on Russia and China. Yakovlev had developed the Yak-141 (formally the Yak-41) for the Kiev class carrier but had never entered production. It had been the first Mach capable VTOL fighter but had been for the most part forgotten with the Joint Strike Fighter entering service in several nations. Yakovlev approached leaders in the Indian military and offered to design and manufacture an upgraded version of the Yak-141 for the Indian Naval Forces. The first squadron of the new VTOL fighter, as the Yak-141D, entered Indian service in 2018 and the Indians purchased a total of 36 of these fighters. The Russian Navy purchased a few of these fighters as well for experimental but with strapped budgets of the Russian Government, a large number of the fighters were never purchased.
  In 2027, the Soviet Government reformed and took control of Russia. The increase in the military was a very high priority and soon after the new government took power, there was a revolution in high strength materials and weapons which made most designs obsolete overnight. Yakovlev immediately began design work on a version of the Yak-141 which used these new materials. They also refitted the fighters already in service with the Indian navy with the new materials but the refitted old fighters were nowhere near as strong as the new construction version of the fighter. A few years later, the Indian Navy decided to replace their old Yak-141D fighters with the new model of the Yak-141. The new model, known as the Yak-141K, had several other improvements beyond the use of new materials. The radar was improved, the engines were of a more fuel efficient model, and takeoff weights were increased. The reformed Soviet Union also purchased a number of these models and Argentina bought a small number of these fighters as well.
  In the next two decades, fusion turbines were developed for aircraft which gave aircraft virtually unlimited endurance. At the same time, the Soviet military was planning to develop a multi-role amphibious vessel and they wanted a VTOL fighter for use on the new class. It was decided that a fusion turbine powered version of the Yak-141 would be developed for the new vessel to save on development costs. Development of the fusion powered version of the Yak-141 began in 2051 with the first prototype rolling from the Yakovlev facility. Production began in 2056, just two years after the Su-47D Foxfire fighter.
  It was never produced in large numbers and production has recently been terminated in favor of a new VTOL fighter which is planned as a replacement for both the Yak-141 and the Su-47D Foxfire fighter. A total of about 300 fighters have been produced for Soviet naval forces with about 250 still in service. As well, a total of 75 of these fighters are in service with the Indian navy. A small number have been sold to other nations including 24 fighters to Argentina and the same number to China. It is likely that some of the Yak-141S will be retained in Soviet naval reserve forces but it is believed that most will be sold to Soviet allies.
  The fighter has never been considered the equal of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter or the FV-38 Panther II VTOL fighters but was still an effective aircraft. The body of the Yak-141S is made out of high strength composites and alloys. Like most moderns aircraft, the fighter uses a fly by wire system which in the case of the Freestyle is triple redundant. Radar on the Yak-141S was fairly primitive and generally the electronics were conservative to reduce costs on the fighter. The fighter has a single fusion turbine which produce about 12,000 kg of thrust and two lift engines which each produce about 4,500 kg of lift. Payloads were increased though the various models but the weight that can be carried was less in vertical take-off and landing. The fighter has a total of eight hard points with one light hard-points on the tip of each wing, two heavy hard points each wing, and two heavy hard points on the fuselage. Often the wingtip hard-points carry towed decoys instead of missiles. The fighter originally carried a 30 mm cannon which was replaced by twin 20 mm rail guns.
  Designation: Yak-141 (NATO Name Freestyle)
  [4] Main Engines (2): 80 each
  Flying: The jet propulsion system enables the Yak-141 to reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (1,334.6 mph / 2,147.9) and climb to an altitude of 52,495 feet (16,000 meters). When the fighter is carrying ordnance on its external hard points, the fighter has a top speed of Mach 1.5 (1,112.1 mph / 1,789.8 kph.) The fighter has a minimum glide-speed of 120 mph (192 kph); if it goes any slower, the wings cannot provide sufficient lift and the aircraft will crash unless VTOL engines are engaged. Cruising speed tends to be between 250 mph (400 kph) and Mach 1.0 (741.4 mph/ 1193.3 kph).
  Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited. Thrusters overheat after 6 hours of use from 200 mph (321.9 kph) to 600 mph (965.6 kph), and 4 hours of use over 600 mph (965.6 kph).
  Length: 60.7 feet (18.5 meters)
  Weight: 36,376.3 pounds (16,500 kilograms) empty, 40,124.1 pounds (18,200 kg) maximum takeoff in VTOL mode, and 44,312.9 pounds (20,100 kilograms) fully loaded
  Black Market Cost: Can be found scattered around the world having been sold by the Soviet government. It is also operated by some mercenaries. The aircraft would sell for around 15 to 20 million credits on the open market.
  One DP GSh-301 30 mm cannon: Mounted on the original version of the Yak-141S but replaced by a rail gun in later models and many older fighters were refitted with the rail gun as well. The gun was mounted in the original Yak-141 and is a fairly old weapon system. The standard ammunition has been replaced by high density ramjet ammunition which inflicts heavy damage and enables the fighter to hold its own against other fighter weapons.
  Standard 20 mm Railguns (2): Replaces the 30 mm cannon on later models of the Yak-141S and refitted on many of the earlier fighters. The rail gun has the same range as the conventional cannon but has a much higher payload. Rail gun fires standard 20 mm rail gun rounds at a very high speed and is very effective against both other aircraft and ground targets.
  External Hard Points (8): The Yak-141 has a total of eight hard points with two hard-points on the wingtips, four hard-points on the wings, and two hard-points on the fuselage of the aircraft. The wingtip hard-points and not stressed for as heavy an ordnance and is limited to missiles. As well, towed decoys can be carried on the wing-tips. Each hard points must carry the same type of ordnance but different hard points may carry different ordnance types but ordnance is normally carried in symmetrical pairs. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried by the aircraft.
  Phazontron N-025P Pulse Radar: 100 miles (160.9 km), can identify and track up to 32 targets simultaneously, It is also capable of Terrain Following for low altitude flight. With Combat & Targeting Computer, the Rapier can fire missiles at up to eight targets at the same time.