The Soviet Fighter Everyone Feared (Until They Saw It In Action)

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The vast expanse of the Arabian Sea stretched out as far as the eye could see, calm and still.

But aboard the deck of carrier cruiser Minsk, the atmosphere was anything but quiet. It was December 1982, and two Yak-38 Forger jets, the Soviet Union’s first—and only—vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, were finally prepping for a mission six years into their operational service.
Ahead of them loomed the ship’s distinctive ski-jump ramp, designed to give the jets a boost, conserving precious fuel and allowing them to carry heavier payloads.

The road to this moment had been long. Hundreds of tests, countless modifications, and the dedication of engineers and pilots had brought these unconventional aircraft to operational service. With their three-engine configuration and folding wings, the journey had not been without challenges. Now, they were finally ready to prove themselves.
The VTOL fighters were being armed and fueled for a task few had imagined—intercepting American planes from the carrier USS Enterprise patrolling nearby in the contested Cold War waters.

As the engines roared to life, the now airborne fighters headed toward the unknown, eager to prove they could take on their Western adversaries…

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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.